Chemicals and Drugs

Plant Lectins

Protein or glycoprotein substances of plant origin that bind to sugar moieties in cell walls or membranes. Some carbohydrate-metabolizing proteins (ENZYMES) from PLANTS also bind to carbohydrates, however they are not considered lectins. Many plant lectins change the physiology of the membrane of BLOOD CELLS to cause agglutination, mitosis, or other biochemical changes. They may play a role in plant defense mechanisms.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Protein or glycoprotein substances of plant origin that bind to sugar moieties in cell walls or membranes. Some carbohydrate-metabolizing proteins (ENZYMES) from PLANTS also bind to carbohydrates, however they are not considered lectins. Many plant lectins change the physiology of the membrane of BLOOD CELLS to cause agglutination, mitosis, or other biochemical changes. They may play a role in plant defense mechanisms.

MeSH Record

Classification

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

9 entry terms
  • Lectins, Plant
  • Plant Lectin
  • Lectin, Plant
  • Agglutinins, Plant
  • Phytagglutinin
  • Phytagglutinins
  • Plant Agglutinin
  • Plant Agglutinins
  • Agglutinin, Plant

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

28 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

2003; use LECTINS 1979-2002

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Lectins (1963-2002)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Plant Lectins. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D037121. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D037121
  2. Plant Lectins. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q75011310