www.unal.edu.co/icn/publicaciones/caldasia.htm Caldasia 31(2):227-245. 2009 LECTIN PROSPECTING IN COLOMBIAN LABIATAE. A SYSTEMATIC-ECOLOGICAL APPROACH – III. MAINLY EXOTIC SPECIES (CULTIVATED OR NATURALISED) Prospección de lectinas en especies de Labiadas colombianas. Un enfoque sistemático-ecológico – III. Principalmente especies exóti- cas cultivadas o naturalizadas JOSÉ LUIS FERNÁNDEZ-ALONSO Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Apartado 7495, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.
[email protected] Real Jardín Botánico CSIC, Plaza de Murillo 2, 28014 Madrid, España,
[email protected] NOHORA VEGA Chemistry Department, Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. Colombia.
[email protected] GERARDO PÉREZ Chemistry Department, Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. Colombia.
[email protected] ABSTRACT This is the third study of lectin and mucilage detection in Labiatae nutlets from Colombia. It was carried out on 30 taxa; 15 of them belonging to 14 genera in which no previous studies have been carried out in this fi eld, the other 15 belonging to previously studied genera. A differential response was observed in the group of genera and species studied in terms of mucilage presence as well as lectin activity which consistently increased after extract treatment with Pectinex. Lectin activity was detected in 26 species, being important (more than 60% activity) in at least 75% of them. Genera such as Aegiphila, Agastache, Ballota, Mentha and Origanum, whilst not presenting mucilage, did present lectin activity, with high activity in most cases. This is the fi rst time that a lectin has been reported in these genera. Salvia (in all but Salvia sections studied) presented mucilage and important lectin activity.