Lectin purified from Lonchocarpus campestris seeds inhibits inflammatory nociception

Lonchocarpus campestris (tribe Dalbergieae) possess a mannose biding lectin (LCaL) purified by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, HiTrap DEAE FF and TSKgel engaged in AKTA-HPLC system. LCaL agglutinates trypsinized rabbit erythrocytes and its activity was maintained after incubation in a wide range of temperature (4–100 °C) and pH (4–9). The lectin had its apparent molecular weight evaluated by size-exclusion chromatography and SDS-PAGE and presented a profile of 10 kDa and 25 kDa in denaturing and native conditions, respectively. LCaL injected by intravenous route in mice showed antinociceptive activity in the behavioral tests of Formalin and Writhing. In the formalin test LCaL inhibited the licking time by 37% in the neurogenic phase and by 73% in the inflammatory phase. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test LCaL showed inhibitory effect at 0.1 mg/kg (72%), 1 mg/kg (74%) and 10 mg/kg (70%). The lectin also inhibited the increase in vascular permeability at 10 mg/kg and leukocyte migration at 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg concentrations. Additionally, LCaL inhibited paw edema (mainly from 1 to 3 h by 46%) and hyperalgesia (1 h: 82%; 3 h: 63%) induced by carrageenan. In conclusion, LCaL presents an antinociceptive action mainly via inhibition of inflammation.