Participation of Lectin in Biological Effects of Raw Winged Bean Seeds on Rats

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The biological effects of raw winged bean seeds were investigated with feeding experiments on rats, and the effects of lectin (phytohemagglutinin) present in the seeds are discussed. Administration of a 30%raw winged bean diet caused strong growth depression in young rats, and led to death within 10-20 days, inducing severe damage to the small intestine of the rats. Significant morphological changes of the intestinal mucosa were observed with a microscopic investigation. As the lethal effect was eliminated by autoclaving but not removed with supplementation of 0.5% L-methionine to the raw winged bean diet, the lectin was assumed to be closely related to the deleterious effects of raw winged bean. In vitro and in vivo digestion tests of the lectin revealed that the winged bean lectin had resistance to peptic, pancreatic and membrane digestions. The hemagglutinating activity was also detected in the intestinal mucosa and faeces from rats ingesting the raw winged bean or its purified lectin. The binding action of lection to mucosal epitheliums of the gastrointestinal tract is suggested to be the initial step of the deleterious effects induced by the winged bean lectin.