Hemagglutenins

Food Standard and Quality Control

Hemagglutenins

The seeds of legumes may contain hemagglutenins and lectins that may cause destruction of the epithelia of the gastrointestinal tract; interfere with cell mitosis; cause hemorrhage; impede renal, cardiac, and hepatic function; and produce red blood cell agglutination

Many of these compounds are rendered inactive by moist heat, and the toxicity may be further reduced or neutralized by digestive enzymes, making them poorly absorbed. Because lectins reach the colon mostly in an inactive state, they appear to protect humans from colon cancer by causing hyper secretion of intestinal mucus, or by direct toxic effect on tumor cells

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Last modified: Saturday, 18 February 2012, 7:49 AM