A lectin was isolated from rapidly boiled cauliflower, Brassica oleracea var. botrys, and partially purified by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The boiled cauliflower had higher hemagglutinating activity than the fresh vegetable.
The cauliflower lectin was intraperitoneally injected to mice weighing approximately 20 g. The injection of this lectin resulted in growth retardation and a decline in the intestinal enzyme activity. A decrease in plasma lipids was also observed, together with the promotion of lipid peroxidation in various tissues.
These results indicate that, when the heat-stable cauliflower lectin was administered by injection, growth inhibition, a decline in villus enzyme activity and increased catabolic breakdown of body lipids occured in mice. The mechanism for the toxicity of this cauliflower lectin resembles that of a bean lectin ingested orally.