%0 Journal Article
%T Toxicity of the Anti-ribosomal Lectin Ebulin f in Lungs and Intestines in Elderly Mice
%A Manuel Garrosa
%A Pilar Jim¨¦nez
%A Jes¨²s Tejero
%A Patricia Cabrero
%A Dami¨¢n Cordoba-Diaz
%A Emiliano J. Quinto
%A Manuel J. Gayoso
%A Tom¨¢s Girb¨¦s
%J Toxins
%P 367-379
%D 2015
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/toxins7020367
%X All parts of dwarf elder ( Sambucus ebulus L.) studied so far contain a ribosome-inactivating protein with lectin activity (ribosome-inactivating lectin; RIL), known as ebulin. Green fruits contain ebulin f, the toxicity of which has been studied in six-week-old mice, where it was found that the intestines were primary targets for it when administered intraperitoneally (i.p.). We performed experiments to assess whether ebulin f administration to six- and 12-month-old mice would trigger higher toxicity than that displayed in six-week-old mice. In the present report, we present evidence indicating that the toxicological effects of ebulin f after its i.p. administration to elderly mice are exerted on the lungs and intestines by an increased rate of apoptosis. We hypothesize that the ebulin f apoptosis-promoting action together with the age-dependent high rate of apoptosis result in an increase in the lectin¡¯s toxicity, leading to a higher lethality level.
%K ebulin f
%K Sambucus ebulus
%K ribosome-inactivating proteins
%K elderly mice
%K toxicity
%U http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/7/2/367