Interaction and in vivo growth inhibition of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells by jacalin.

ABSTRACT

Jacalin has been found to agglutinate Ehrlich ascites cells. The agglutination was inhibited by a-glycosides of D-Gal and ß -D-Gal(1 → 3)-D-GalNAc suggesting that the lectin-ascites interaction was carbohydrate-specific. There was 21·8% inhibition of tumour (ascites) cell growth in vivo in mice administered 50μg of jacalin by injection for 6 days following intraperitoneal injection of ascites cells. Administration of 100, 150 and 200 μg jacalin resulted in 40·2, 57·5 and 83% inhibition respectively. The in vivo inhibition of tumour cells growth by jacalin was due to its preferential binding with D-Gal-a -( 1→6) present as terminal residues in the glycoprotein on tumour cell surface.