EFFECT OF LECTINS FROM SELECTED MALAYSIAN LOCAL FRUITS ON HUMAN BLOOD GROUP ANTIGENS

Many individuals nowadays enjoy eating various types of local fruits without realising the impact of the fruits on blood group antigens. The fruit lectin can cause damage to the mucosal surface in the gut when the lectin is incompatible with blood group antigens. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the in vitro plant lectins reaction from the extraction of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Jackfruit), Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson ex F.A.Zorn), Fosberg (Breadfruit), Carica papaya (Papaya), Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen (Sapota) and Salacca zalacca (Gaertn.) Voss (Salak) with specific human blood group antigens. The local fruit extract was tested with human blood groups A and B for hemagglutination assay. The agglutination titer of the hemagglutination assay results was then evaluated. The total of 3+ reactions for jackfruit was 11%, salak (4%) and papaya(6%) for both blood groups. The breadfruit shows the highest titer reaction, 19% against A and 16% against B. In comparison, 19% was against A for sapota but only 4% towards group B. The highest titer value of erythrocytes by crude lectins of selected local fruits on blood groups A and B was given by extraction of sapota while for blood group B on papaya. This discovery proves that plant lectins from five varieties of local fruits react with blood group antigens and that comparable interactions may occur at the mucosal surface of the gut in susceptible individuals, causing significant inflammation, swelling, and ulceration. The mechanism and effect of fruit lectin on human blood types should be investigated further.