Saracin: A lectin from Saraca indica seed integument induces apoptosis in human
T/​lymphocytes.

Ghosh S, Majumder M, Majumder S, Ganguly NK, Chatterjee BP.

Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute
of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160 012, India.

Saracin, a seed integument lectin from Saraca indica is highly specific for
binding N/​acetyl/​neuraminyl/​N/​acetyllactosamine
[Neu5Ac/​alpha/​(2/​6)/(2/​3)/​D/​Gal/​beta/​(1/​4)/​D/​GlcNAc]. This lectin has been found
to be mitogenic for human lymphocytes, and this mitogenic activity could be
inhibited in presence of fetuin. Further, treatment with saracin could induce
secretion of IL/​2 in a culture of resting human peripheral blood mononuclear
cells (PBMC) after 48 h. Saracin has a higher affinity for the CD8(+) than
CD4(+) T cells as revealed by FACS analysis. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA
isolated from lymphocytes cultured under different conditions has shown that
this lectin could induce apoptosis in activated T/​lymphocytes, as also confirmed
by flow cytometric studies. Phenotypic analysis of the apoptotic cells reveals
that they belong to CD8(+) T cells lineage. Four surface glycoproteins of PBMC
have been found to interact with saracin in a trisaccharide
[Neu5Ac/​alpha/​(2/​6)/(2/​3)/​D/​Gal/​beta/​(1/​4)/​D/​GlcNAc]/​sequence specific manner.
Saracin seems to be an interesting immunomodulator for the mammalian immune
system. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 10545202 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

2: Phytochemistry. 1995 Oct;40(3):643/​9.

Saracin: a lectin from Saraca indica seed integument recognizes complex
carbohydrates.

Ray S, Chatterjee BP.

Department of Biological Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of
Science, Calcutta, India.

A lectin isolated from Saraca indica seed integument was purified by affinity
chromatography on porcine thyroglobulin Sepharose followed by Sephadex G/​50 and
shown to be homogeneous by PAGE. It showed a single band on SDS/​PAGE in the
absence and presence of 2/​mercaptoethanol corresponding to a M(r) of congruent
to 12,000, thus indicating it to be a monomer. The lectin agglutinated
erythrocytes of human A, B, O and AB blood group, animal erythrocytes as well as
Ehrlich ascites cells. It is a thermostable glycoprotein containing 11.6%
carbohydrates and large proportions of acidic amino acids. In
haemagglutination/​inhibition assays, among the tested glycoproteins, porcine
thyroglobulin having the NeuAc alpha (2/​6)/(2/​3)D/​Gal beta (1/​4)D/​GlcNAc
sequence was found to be the most potent; however, its asialo counterpart was
non/​inhibitory. The lectin is present solely in the seed integument even in the
immature stage. During maturation of the seed the lectin activity declined and
was completely absent when totally matured and dried. Studies in vitro showed
that on incubation at 37 degrees the seed gradually lost its lectin activity
which was completely absent after 62 days with 88.5% loss of water. Similar
studies on scraped seed integument revealed that the lectin activity was lost in
22 days with 87.5% dehydration.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study

PMID: 7576454 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

3: Indian J Med Res. 1985 Aug;82:188/​9.

Antibacterial activity of flowers & flower buds of Saraca indica Linn.

Pal SC, Maiti AP, Chatterjee BP, Nandy A.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 4054982 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

4: Indian J Hist Sci. 1972 Nov;7(2):99/​114.

Asoka (Saraca Indica Linn)/​a cultural and scientific evaluation.

Biswas TK, Debnath PK.

Publication Types:
Historical Article

PMID: 11619603 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

5: Indian J Med Res. 1970 Jul;58(7):947/​60.

Further studies on the uterine activity of Saraca indica Linn.

Satyavati GV, Prasad DN, Sen SP, Das PK.

PMID: 5531000 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

6: Indian J Med Res. 1970 May;58(5):660/​3.

Oxytocic activity of a pure phenolic glycoside (P2) from Saraca indica Linn
(Ashoka): a short communication.

Satyavati GV, Prasad DN, Sen SP, Das PK.

Publication Types:
In Vitro

PMID: 5473266 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]