Antibacterial and antifungal activities of Myracrodruon urundeuva heartwood

The aim of this work was to isolate a lectin from Myracrodruon urundeuva heartwood and to evaluate its antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi that attack plants, including woods. The lectin was isolated from heartwood through affinity chromatography on a chitin column monitored by hemagglutination assay. The lectin inhibited Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and was more effective than antifungal Cercobin in growth inhibition of phytopathogenic fungi. The detected antimicrobial activity reveals the possible role of the lectin in the resistance of M. urundeuva heartwood against deteriorative biological agents. The M. urundeuva lectin is the first bioactive peptide found in heartwood, probably stored as a chemical protection against biodegradation.