A purified lectin with larvicidal activity from a woodland mushroom, Agaricus semotus Fr.

This study investigated the larvicidal activity on Culex quinquefasciatus of lectin purified from fresh fruiting bodies woodland mushroom, Agaricus semotus. A. semotus (ASL) was via ion-exchange chromatography DEAE-cellulose A-25 and size exclusion Sephadex G-100 matrix. Molecular weight (16.6 kDa) estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The effects temperature, pH, metal chelation- ASL were also investigated. indifferently agglutinated erythrocytes human ABO blood system stable at acidic pH below 50 °C whereas 66% its lost 60 with complete inactivation 70 °C. is a metalloprotein requiring barium ion as chelation metals mM EDTA rendered inactive, while addition BaCl2, among other salts, restored activity. showed against C. larvae after 24 h mortality 5 95% 25 mg/mL respectively, LC50 13.80 mg/mL. concluded that impressive activity, which could be exploited in development an insecticidal agent.