Inhibition of the Growth of Rats by Purified Hemagglutinin Fractions Isolated from Phaseolus vulgaris

Abstract

A study was made of the growth-promoting properties of raw and heated samples of a number of legumes including Phaseolus vulgaris, Cicer arietinum, Cajanus cajan, and Phaseolus aureus. Two beans classified as Phaseolus vulgaris, the black bean and kidney bean, were highly toxic in the raw state, but this toxicity could be largely eliminated by autoclaving beans that had received prior soaking in water. The other legumes were relatively nontoxic in the raw states and were little affected by heat treatment. Fractions possessing high hemagglutinating activity, but which were devoid of antitryptic activity, were isolated from black beans and kidney beans and fed to rats supplied with a basal diet containing 10% of protein derived from casein. These fractions inhibited growth markedly and caused death at levels as low as 0.5% of the diet.