Cytotoxic and antibacterial activity of naturally occurring agglutinin produced from the root of Rhizophora mucronata Poir

Lectins are naturally occurring agglutinins which are produced more from plants sources compared to animal sources. The present study aims to screen the potential applications of lectin isolated from the mangrove plant, Rhizophora mucronata Poir. This root agglutinin of R. mucronata showed highest HA titre with buffalo erythrocytes. The agglutinin activity was pH dependent, thermolabile, calcium dependent and sensitive to divalent EDTA chelators. The agglutinability was dominantly inhibited by simple sugars, glucose and melibiose. The agglutinin was partially purified by biospecific adsorption using formalinized buffalo erythrocytes yield 21.81 fold increase in activity. Purified R. mucronata root lectin (RmrL) showed cytotoxic activity against HeLa (Cervical cancer) cell lines (IC50 value-161.305 µg/ml) and also exhibited antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant bacterial strains.