title: Momordica charantia seed lectin: toxicity, bacterial agglutination and antitumor properties.
abstract: In last three decades, several studies were carried out on the D-galactose-specific lectin of Momordica charantia seeds (MCL). In the present study, in vitro growth inhibition (8-23 %) at different concentrations (6-24 μg/ml) of MCL was observed against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. MCL also showed 28, 45, and 75 % growth inhibitions against EAC cells when administered 1.2, 2.0, and 2.8 mg/kg/day (i.p.), respectively for five consequent days in vivo in mice. After lectin treatment, the level of red blood cell and hemoglobin was increased significantly with the decrease of white blood cell and maintained the normal level when compared with EAC-bearing control and normal mice without EAC cells. Although MCL caused cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase of EAC cells, any irregular shape or apoptotic morphological alterations in the lectin-treated EAC cells was not observed by an optical and fluorescence microscope. Lectin showed toxicity against brine shrimp nauplii with an LC50 value of 49.7 μg/ml. Four out of seven pathogenic bacteria were agglutinated by MCL in the absence of inhibitory sugar D-lactose/D-galactose. In conclusion, MCL showed strong cytotoxic effect and therefore can be used as a potent anticancer chemotherapeutic agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh, rashelkabir@ru.ac.bd.
authors.forename: Syed Rashel
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kabir
authors.forename: Md Mahamodun
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nabi
authors.forename: Md
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nurujjaman
authors.forename: Md
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abu Reza
authors.forename: A H M Khurshid
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Rokon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uz Zaman
authors.forename: Khandaker Md
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Khalid-Bin-Ferdaus
authors.forename: Ruhul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Md Masudul Hasan
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Md Anowar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Md Salim
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.forename: Zahid Hayat
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Mahmud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D029777:Momordica charantia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037121:Plant Lectins