Moringa oleifera seed lectin inhibits Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell growth by inducing apoptosis through the regulation of Bak and NF-κB gene expression

A Moringa oleifera seed lectin (MOSL) was purified by using chitin column with the molecular mass of 17±1kDa. The lectin agglutinated mouse, cow and human erythrocytes and the hemagglutination activity was inhibited by methyl-α-d-mannopyranoside, methyl-β-d-galactopyranoside, lactose and glucose. The lectin exhibited 100% hemagglutination activity at the pH range from 8.0 to 9.0 and temperature range from 30 to 60°C. Additionally, the lectin gradually lost its activity in the presence of urea but the activity abolish completely when treated with EDTA. MOSL showed mild toxicity against brine shrimp nauplii with a LC 50 value of 131.0μg/ml. Antiproliferative activity was studied against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells and 71.08% cell growth inhibition was observed in vitro at 200μg/ml. The lectin was injected…