ABSTRACT
Since the presence of a lectin-like substance in Aloe was first reported in 1978, several kinds of aloe lectins have been characterized. Lectins are basically characterized by their cell agglutinating activities, particularly by their hemagglutinating activities. However, biological and pharmacological activities differ among the respective lectins. To date, characteristic activities and chemical properties of aloe lectins have not yet been sufficiently evaluated. Therefore, this paper reviews the characteristic features of the respective aloe lectins along the course of studies on these substances.
