Bauhinia pentandra (Bong) Vog. ex. Steua seeds were investigated with respect to phenologic aspects (size, mass, hilum and length) and with respect to their chemical composition. The total nitrogen content of the seed flour was determined, and the flour was extracted in different pH values. A lectin was isolated from the seeds by Sepharose-4B affinity chromatography. The homogeneity of the lectin was demonstrated by SDS-PAGE in the presence of beta-mercaptoethanol. Only one protein band with an apparent molecular mass of 30 kDa was found. The B. pentandra lectin showed a carbohydrate specificity for D-galactose, a requirement for divalent metal cations (Ca2+ and Mn2+) for full activity and amino acid composition with a high content of aspartic acid, glutamic acid and alanine and low levels of methionine, cysteine and tryptophan. The lectin agglutinated rabbit and human A group erythrocytes and was relatively stable to heat treatment, retaining half of its original activity after 60 min at 70 ºC.
Bauhinia; Leguminosae; phytohemagglutinin; seed protein; D-galactose
