Lectins from Aegopodium podagraria (APA), Bryonia dioica (BDA), Galanthus nivalis (GNA), Iris hybrid (IRA) and Sambucus nigra (SNAl), and a new lectin‐related protein from Sambucus nigra (SNLRP) were studied to ascertain whether they had the properties of ribosome‐inactivating proteins (RIP). IRA and SNLRP inhibited protein synthesis by a cell‐free system and, at much higher concentrations, by cells and had polynucleotide:adenosine glycosidase activity, thus behaving like non‐toxic type 2 (two chain) RIP. APA and SNAl had much less activity, and BDA and GNA did not inhibit protein synthesis.