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In the present study, a novel lectin was purified from the newly isolated cyanobacterium, Lyngabya confervoides MK012409 and tested for its antiviral and anticancer activity. Out of 30 isolates, Mabroka-s isolate which identified as Lyngabya confervoides MK012409 showed the highest agglutination titer. Lyngabyal lectin showed the greatest haemagglutination activity with pigeon/rabbit erythrocytes with a minimum concentration of 2.4 μg/ml. Physical characterization of Lyngabyal lectin showed ability to keep the activity at a higher temperature up to 80 °C with stability over a wide pH range (4–8) as well as its stability toward chemical denaturants. Carbohydrate specificity test revealed that the sugar alcohols completely inhibited the lectin haemagglutination activity. The electrophoretic analysis revealed that the lyngabyal lectin is a 140 kDa composed of two 70 kDa subunits. Lyngabyal lectin was able to inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 and Caco-2 cancer cell lines with IC 50 values of 246 ± 0.17 and 376.4 ± 0.34 μg/ml, respectively. Lyngabyal lectin also showed virucidal activity against HSV-1 with EC 50 of 167 ± 0.52 ng/ml and inhibited plaque formation in the HSV-1 infected Vero cells with EC 50 of 84.94 ± 0.34 ng/ml. These findings emphasize the ability of the lyngabyal lectin to fight breast and colon cancer besides it represents a promising antiviral agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]