Seven kinds of lectins were examined for their effects on platelet aggregation. Three lectins separated from Ulex europeus, Ricinus communis and Glycine max (Soybean) induced the aggregation of human platelets. Furthermore, lectins from Ricinus communis and Glycine max (Soybean) aggregated the platelets from rabbits ; only soybean agglutinin induced the aggregation of platelets from rats. ADP was released in the reaction between soybean agglutinin and human platelets and the addition of D-galactose or N-acetyl-D-galactosamine to this reaction mixture inhibited aggregation.
