ABSTRACT
Lectins derived from legumes pertain to the most intensively studied family of simple lectins isolated from plant seeds. One of the major classes of plant lectins is phytohaemagglutinins (PHAs) which are carbohydrate-binding proteins that lead to agglutination of cells. This toxin is a major part of many varieties of beans, with the highest concentration found in red kidney beans. The major binding site is a soluble carbohydrate or a carbohydrate moiety being a part of either glycoprotein or glycolipid. These lectins are sensitive towards heat exhibiting high susceptibility towards wet-heat destruction. A vast majority of PHAs have been separated and purified from various legumes. Of late, these toxins have shown antiproliferative properties against cancer cells both in vivo and in vitro. PHA available on commercial basis plays a major role in human leucocyte cultures for cytogenetic studies. PHA can modulate plasma insulin and lipid catabolism apart from reducing obesity and hyperglycaemia. The major emphasis of this chapter is to shed light on identification, toxicity, safety and future scope of these very important class of lectins.
