Bryothamnion seaforthii Lectin Relaxes Vascular Smooth Muscle: Involvement of Endothelium and NO Synthase

Bryothamnion seaforthii lectin (BSL) induced reversible concentration-related relaxation of endothelized aorta, maximal at 30μg/ml (IC50= 4.8 ± 0.6μg/ml). This effect was inhibited by L-NAME and reversed by mucin, probably via interaction with a specific lectin-binding site on the endothelium activating nitric oxide synthase.