Effect of Feeding of Lectins from Lentils and Peas on the Intestinal and Hepatic Enzymes of Albino Rats

Abstract

The lectins from lentils and peas after isolation and purification have been fed to albino rats and their effects on the various intestinal and hepatic enzymes have been studied after 7 d and 14 d of feeding. The feeding of the lectins resulted in significant growth retardation of the animals. In general, the lectins decreased the activities of intestinal disaccharidases and proteolytic enzymes and increased the activities of the intestinal alkaline and acid phosphatases and Ca⁺⁺-ATPase. The activities of some hepatic dehydrogenases decreased after feeding of the lectins. The decreased activities of intestin al disaccharidases and proteases may be partly responsible for the growth inhibitory effect of the ingested lectins but a fter some time the animals seem to adapt to the inimical effect of lectins.