Dietary food components have the ability to affect immune function; following absorption, specifically orally ingested dietary food containing lectins can systemically modulate the immune cells and affect the response to self- and co-administered food antigens. The mannose-binding lectins from garlic (Allium sativum agglutinins; ASAs) were identified as immunodulatory proteins in vitro. The objective of the present study was to assess the immunogenicity and adjuvanticity of garlic agglutinins and to evaluate whether they have adjuvant properties in vivo for a weak antigen ovalbumin (OVA). Garlic lectins (ASA I and ASA II) were administered by intranasal (50 days duration) and intradermal (14 days duration) routes, and the anti-lectin and anti-OVA immune (IgG) responses in the control and test groups of the BALB/c mice were assessed for humoral immunogenicity. Lectins, co-administered with OVA, were examined for lectin-induced anti-OVA IgG response to assess their adjuvant properties. The splenic and thymic indices were evaluated as a measure of immunomodulatory functions. Intradermal administration of ASA I and ASA II had showed a four-fold and two-fold increase in anti-lectin IgG response, respectively, vs. the control on day 14. In the intranasal route, the increases were 3-fold and 2.4-fold for ASA I and ASA II, respectively, on day 50. No decrease in the body weights of animals was noticed; the increases in the spleen and thymus weights, as well as their indices, were significant in the lectin groups. In the adjuvanticity study by intranasal administration, ASA I co-administered with ovalbumin (OVA) induced a remarkable increase in anti-OVA IgG response (~six-fold; p < 0.001) compared to the control, and ASA II induced a four-fold increase vs. the control on day 50. The results indicated that ASA was a potent immunogen which induced mucosal immunogenicity to the antigens that were administered intranasally in BALB/c mice. The observations made of the in vivo study indicate that ASA I has the potential use as an oral and mucosal adjuvant to deliver candidate weak antigens. Further clinical studies in humans are required to confirm its applicability.

Objective: This study was aimed to access one of the hidden ANF in Indian bean and assessment of its antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antiangiogenic, and anti-cancer properties. Methods: Indian beans were processed and evaluated for the presence of ANF through HA activity. Bean-ANF was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation (ASP) and dialysis. Obtained Partially Purified bean-ANF (PPb-ANF) resolved on 12% SDS-PAGE, analyzed protease digestibility. The immunogenicity of PPb-ANF was characterized by producing polyclonal antibodies and checked for the presence of natural antibodies in healthy human sera. Pharmacological studies of PPb-ANF were assessed through anti-oxidant, immunogenic, anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer assays. Results: Partially purified Bean-ANF (PPb-ANF) showed significant specific HA activity up to 150 Units/mg compared to crude extract 9.3 of Units/mg. The PPb-ANF was identified to have more than 90% homogeneity in purity with an observed M W of 30-32 kDa. PPb-ANF showed significant pepsin digestive stability up to 2 h at 37 ᵒC and appears digestive resistant. Rabbit produced anti-PPb-ANF IgG polyclonal antibody on immunization and exhibited immunogenic properties. Natural human IgG and IgE antibodies were found in the non-atopic human sera against PPb-ANF, indicative of its immunogenicity. Pharmacological studies of PPb-ANF confirmed its potent antioxidant activity. At 400 µg of PPb-ANF showed the highest around 90% DPPH activity and at 150 µg of PPb-ANF showed 89% inhibitory lipid peroxidation activity. The PPb-ANF showed 70% (3 μg) and 40% (1.5 μg) inhibitory in blood vessel density compared to control and exhibited significant anti-angiogenic activity. The PPb-ANF showed a significant (*p<0.05.) reduction in solid tumor weight upon dose-2 treatment (50 mg/kg body weight) and also increased lifespan up to 70 d compared with the control tumor model. Conclusion: PPb-ANF was identified as digestive-resistant, hemagglutinin with a molecular weight of 30-32 kDa. The protein is immunogenic and has potential antioxidant, antiangiogenic and anti-cancer properties. Further purification and mechanistic-based pharmacological characterization might explore this protein as a potential anti-cancer molecule.

Introduction and Aim:The metabolic and oxidative stress induces highly reactive free radicals that are known to harm normal physiology and play a role in the development of cancer. Elevated levels of these free radicals contribute to excessive neovascularization leading to angiogenesis mediated cancer progression. Targeting these free radicals through dietary source is important strategy in regulation of cancer. Allium sativum L. (AsL) garlic has important multi pharmacological properties. On the other hand, dietary lectins are proven to be the best anti-cancer molecules. The study presents investigation that focus to assess the antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anticancer activities of partially purified garlic lectin (PPAsL). Materials and Methods:Fresh garlic bulbs were processed and evaluated for lectin induced HA activity. Further the garlic lectins (AsL) were partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and dialysis and analyzed through SDS-PAGE. Further lectins were characterized by producing Anti-AsL polyclonal antibodies and purification by affinity chromatography. Pharmacological evaluations of the lectins were assessed through antioxidant, anti-proliferative and antiangiogenic mediated anti-cancer activity.Results: Lectin positive activity was confirmed by HA activity and partial purification lectin identified ⁓12kDa protein having Glc/Man glycan specificity. The polyclonal antibodies raised against PPAsL, confirmed that it has potent immunogen. Pharmacological evaluation confirmed that PPAsL has potent antioxidant, antiangiogenic and antiproliferative effect both in-vitro and in-vivo. Conclusion:PPAsL is potent antioxidant, anti-proliferative and anti-cancer molecule. The dietary recommendation of the garlic lectin is an important therapeutic strategy against the cancer.