ABSTRACT
Cancer is a fatal disease and current research focuses on natural resources with potential antimalignant properties. Plant lectins are a heterogeneous protein group implicated in several cellular physiological processes. Lectins are a diverse group of bioactive proteins existing in almost every kind of organism. A broader, species-based classification separates the group into three major categories: Lectins of Microorganisms, Animal Lectins, and Plant Lectins. Lectins display great potential in cancer therapy and diagnosis by being molecules able to specifically recognize carbohydrates on the cellular membrane and their glycosylation resulting from malignancy. Lectin anti-cancer activities generate from diverse mechanisms such as immune system modulation, autophagy, apoptosis, and inhibition of tumor growth. Plant lectins are bioactive molecules able to identify and recognize animal cell carbohydrates. Lectins exhibit significant properties for cancer diagnosis and treatment owing to their unique characteristic of distinguishing subtle alterations in cellular glycosylation. Plant lectins are promising tools for cancer treatment and diagnosis.
