LECTINS AS BIOACTIVE MOLECULES: EMERGING APPLICATIONS AND THERAPEUTIC INSIGHTS-A REVIEW

Lectins are a broad group of carbohydrate-binding proteins that have attracted significant attention due to their therapeutic potential. This review focuses on four major types of lectins: plant, animal, fungal, and marine, and examines their unique properties and promising applications in medicine. Plant lectins are known for their ability to modulate immune responses and exhibit a range of biological activities, including anticancer, antiviral, and antibacterial effects. These properties make them strong candidates for the development of novel therapeutic agents. Animal lectins, found in both mammals and insects, play critical roles in innate immunity, and their potential in treating infections and inflammatory diseases has been a subject of extensive research. Marine lectins, derived from marine organisms, represent an underexplored yet promising source of bioactive compounds with unique binding specificities. Their potent biological activities suggest they may serve as effective tools for future drug development. Fungal lectins, which are less studied but no less important, also show potential in therapeutic applications, particularly in immune modulation and antimicrobial activity. This review highlights the current state of knowledge on the therapeutic potential of lectins across various biological sources and emphasizes the need for further research. Exploring the full range of lectin properties could lead to groundbreaking advancements in medicine, opening new avenues for treatments of infectious diseases, cancer, and other health conditions.