Surface changes of the erythrocytes membrane in alcoholics--a study of lectin binding.

Erythrocytes from 30 alcoholic patients as well as age and sex matched healthy control were examined, for hemagglutination titre, against, a purified galactose specific lectin from the latex of Pedilanthus tithymalodies. Mean hemagglutinin titre was significantly elevated (P < 0.001) in alcoholics as compared to controls. The results indicate that alcohol abuse is associated with adoptive cell surface changes on erythrocytes, measurable by its lectin binding capacity.

Hemagglutination pattern of galactose specific lectin from Pedilanthus tithymaloides in diabetes mellitus.

The usefulness of a galactose specific lectin from P. tithymaloides was examined to study the hemagglutination pattern in 193 patients with diabetes mellitus out of which 34 cases were of insulin dependent. A control of 72 normal subjects was also included. The hemagglutination titre against a partially purified lectin from P. tithymaloides of control group ranged from 9.1 to 170 units per mg protein with a mean value of 54 units per mg protein. Significantly low titre was observed in the cases with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, while non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus cases did not show any significant change. Further significant reduction in the titre in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus group was shown to occur along with the increased duration of the diabetic condition, reflecting measurable erythrocyte surface alterations.

Effect of onion and garlic on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in vitro.

The effects of aqueous extracts of onion and garlic as well as of garlic oil were studied on the process of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in vitro. Only onion was found to exhibit anti-coagulant and fibrinolytic activity while garlic extract as well as garlic oil were inactive.