Peanut seed lectin

FIGURE 3.21 Breakthrough curves for peanut seed lectin and ricin solution moving through a Brownfield line sand. (Basinger 2003)... 

Movement of the biological material ricin with soil-size fractions are shown in Figures 4.6 and 4.7. Studies on peanut (Arachis hypogaea) seed lectin show similar results (Zartman et al. 2005). These lectin data are similar in distribution to published values (Ravi et al. 2004). The inhalation of dust generated from ricin-contami-nated soils could pose a serious hazard to war fighters. Work of A. H. Corwin cited in Lamanna (1961) stated that ricin particles with a median diameter of 2 /(ui are 2.75 times as toxic as particles with a maximal particle size of 4.2 pm. 

Non-toxic lectins are lectins of garlic, onions, leeks, tomatoes and amaranth. Of the common lectins, those of peanuts, lentils, peas, common beans and soya beans are slightly toxic, wheat lectins are moderately toxic, and lectins of some beans (such as Jack beans) are highly toxic, while castor seed lectins are lethal (Table 10.21). Some lectins (such as lectins of garlic) have prebiotic effects and inhibit undesirable intestinal microflora Escherichia coli). Often, lectins are not the only toxic substances of the plant material. For example, lectins of soybean seeds participate in their antinutritional and toxic effects at a level of about 25%, but trypsin inhibitors are about 40% and the rest is covered by saponins and other substances. 

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