Eutirucallin: A Lectin with Antitumor and Antimicrobial Properties

Abstract

Eutirucallin is a lectin isolated from the latex of <i>Euphorbia tirucalli</i>, a plant known for its medical properties. The present study explores various characteristics of Eutirucallin including stability, cytotoxicity against tumor cells, antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities. Eutirucallin was stable from 2 to 40 days at 4°C, maintained hemagglutinating activity within a restricted range, and showed optimal activity at pH 7.0-8.0. Eutirucallin presented antiproliferative activity for HeLa, PC3, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7 tumor cells but was not cytotoxic for non-tumorigenic cells such as macrophages and fibroblasts. Eutirucallin inhibited the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma <i>in vivo</i> and it was also observed that Eutirucallin inhibited 62.5% of <i>Escherichia coli</i> growth. Also, Eutirucallin showed to be effective when tested directly against <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infection <i>in vitro</i>. Therefore, this study sheds perspectives for pharmacological applications of Eutirucallin.