ABH-Lectin Activity in Some Tropical Edible Fruits And Seeds Extracts And Its Impact on Health Conditions in Plateau, Jos

ABSTRACT  

The ABH-lectin activity was carried out on fourteen (14) tropical edible fruits sourced from Terminus market in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Haemagglutination techniques were carried out on fruit juices and seed/nut extracts using standard A, B, O(H) cells. Three hundred (300) subjects administered with questionnaires were tested for ABH-fruit incompatibility. Cashew; red and yellow (Anacardiumoccidentale), apple; green (Maluspumila) and guava; red (Psidumguajava) juices agglutinated the A, B, O(H) cells. The nut extracts of pea (Pisumsativa) and the four (4) different species of mangoes (Mangiferaindica) were the only ones that gave agglutinations amongst the twelve (12) seed/nut extracts tested. Very low titres of 4 and 8 were recordedfor the fruit juices while the nut extracts had higher titres of 1024, 2048 and 4096. The nut extracts gave strong visible agglutinations when used as grouping antisera.A greater number of individuals are blood group O, 134(44.7%), all having H antigens. Blood group AB showeda much more number of people that lack the H antigen, 13(4.3%) as against 9(3.0%). 50% of subjects were negative for H antigens 22(7.3%) when compared with those that have 44(14.7%) among blood group A. With blood group B,there was not much difference between presence 45(15.0%) and absence of H antigens 33(11.0%). A few, twenty eight (28) complained of diarrhoea, fatigue, headache, constipation, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting and inability to pass stool (hard stool or faeces)and implicated cashew, pineapple, cucumber, mango and guava. ABH-lectins in juices were minimal and potency lost. These resultant very low titres of the ABH-lectin activity in juices and its loss of potency might be a way of getting rid of it and considered safe for consumption with regard to its lectins. The interesting aspect of this study is the detection of high concentration of ABH-lectins in nut extracts of pea and mangoes as far as the 13th tube (4096). Though not mono-specific (discrete), but can be used as a broad-spectrum ABH reagent since reactivity were not compromised even with a long storage at -200 C. No need to allay the fears about these high ABH-lectins nuts asany community neither processes nor consumes them. Majority of people possessed H antigens. Danger might be imminent in the consumption of nuts from fruits and other sources or even using them as snacks. The general public are therefore adviced to eat foods that are free from lectins and also compatible with their blood groups. This work is believed will challenge more researches into the field of lectinology. Eat what is right and good for your body system in order to stay healthy and live a happy life.