Partial Purification and Characterization of a Complex Sugar-Specific Lectin [CRL] from the Tubers of Coleus rotundifolius

The tubers of Coleus rotundifolius, commonly referred to as the Chinese potato, are widely consumed as a food source along the Konkan coast in India and various regions of Africa. These tubers are also utilized in traditional medicine due to their high polyphenol and alkaloid content 1. However, this plant has not been thoroughly explored for the presence of proteins with biomedical significance. The present study aims to identify, characterize, and partially purify a complex sugar-specific lectin from the tubers of Coleus rotundifolius. The crude extracts of the tubers agglutinate human erythrocytes of the O blood group. The lectin exhibits maximum activity at 30°C and a pH of 7. The lectin is inhibited by complex sugars and minimally inhibited by simple sugars, and can withstand high salt concentrations, as evident from salt stress experiments. Further characterization can establish the biochemical properties of the lectin, which will aid in proposing applications in health sciences or agriculture.