LECTINS FROM INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN WILDFLOWERS—DETECTION OF LECTINS FROM BAUHINIA CARRONII, HARDENBERGIA COMPTONIANA, PTILOTIS OBOVATUS AND RHADOGIA CRASSIFOLIA

SummaryExtracts from 21 indigenous Australian plant species, representing eight genera, were tested for haemagglutinating activity to human and animal erythrocytes. Extracts from Bauhinia carronii, Hardenbergia comptoniana, Ptilotis obovatus and Rhadogia crassifolia agglutinated at least one of the erythrocyte types tested. The extracts from B. carronii and R. crassifolia contained mitogens for human lymphocytes. Both the haemagglutinating and mitogenic activity of the B. carronii extract were inhibited by lactose. Both the haemagglutinating and mitogenic activity of R. crassifolia were inhibited by maltose and α-methyl-glucoside. The haemagglutinating activity of H. comptoniana was inhibited by raffinose and the haemagglutinating activity of P. obovatus by maltose and α-methylglucoside.Australian Journal of Experimental Biology and Medical Science (1984) 62, 763–769; doi:10.1038/icb.1984.72