Abrus Precatorius Toxic, Ornamental and Medicinal Herbal Vine Plant

Abrus precatorius (Jequirity, Crab's Eye, Rosary Pea, Precatroy Bean, Gunja in Indian language and other acronyms) is a medicinal and toxic woody herb vine. China refers to the herb plant as 'ji mu zhu' : A symbol of love in China. "The seeds of Arbus precatorius much valued in native jewelry for their bright coloration.". 1 The herbal plant grows in tropical regions throughout the world, including Florida, Hawaii, South America and West Indies (Also, native to northern parts of Western Australia. 5). 2 "It grows by the seashore among the undergrowth and hedges." 8 The rosary pea grows as a vine supported by a perennial root system, and leaves with eight to sixteen leaflets. "In one season, the vine can grow 20 feet, twining over other plants.". 4 Pea seeds of the herbal plant are found inside short pods (20 - 35 mm long) appear bright red and black colored. 5 Herbal plant produces sometimes star-shaped flowers related to morning glory. 3 Along fences and woodlands the vine shaped herb is commonly observed. 5 Abrus precatorius easily propagate from seeds and develop deep roots, difficult to eradicate: Hand pick tools or mechanically removal is constrained by identifying the vines among other plant life and removal of subsequent sprouts. 3

Seeds of the Rosary Pea are dispersed onto properties where annuals, shrubs, perennials, vegetables and fruits grow by wind, birds, people, and infested soils and from other plant materials in pots. 3 Advisable not to grow Abrus precatorius plants in home gardens. 13

Abrus precatorius leaves, roots and seeds provide medicinal uses:

Leaves of the herb provide treatment for itching and other skin problems or diseases. Decoction of the leaves applied to treat coughs, cold and colic. "Juice employed as a cure for hoarseness, mixed with oil, applied to painful swellings." Dried leaves are made into paste to treat as a germicide on wounds in cattle. 6 Extracted juice from the paste of Abrus precatorius leaves promote growth of human hair. 8 "The leaf is used to treat fowl pox in poultry." 2

Roots of the Rosary pea used as diuretics and prepared to treat Jaundice, and gonorrhea. 6 Evil spirit is removed immediately when a piece of the root is tied on the arm. 8

Seeds of the herb are prepared into a paste to treat stiffness or shoulder join and paralysis. Said to be useful to treat dysentery. 6 According to folk medicine the seeds taken orally to induce an abortion, contraceptive (Two seeds combined with a ripe banana are digested after menstruation following three days as treatment 8), treat diabetes and provide pain relief as an analgessic for terminally ill patients. 7 Worm infection is treated by one teaspoon of dried powder seeds of the herbal plant once a day for two days. 8 According to folk witchcraft practitioners, Obeah religion in West Africa believed wearing the seeds of the herbal plant make one invisible to the evil eye. Slaves - worn the black spot seeds during their voyage from Africa to the New World as protection against evil spirits. "In parts of Africa the pulverized seed is added to women's traditional eye makeup." 14 The attractive color of the seeds made into beads and necklaces (Also, curtains, trays, collars and other ornamental articles 14) for children and rosaries, but if cracked open extremely poisonous (The poisonous content known to cause death among those who have pricked their fingers trying to drill holes in the seeds as jewelry.12) or fatal when swallowed. 8 "Unfortunately, teething toddlers sitting in their mother's or grandmother's lap and chewing on her necklace / rosary were poisoned." 4

When seeds of the Abrus precatorius are ingested raw maybe toxic enough to cause death to humans and livestock. (It is claimed that cooking destroys the poison of seeds. 11) . 5 Reported in Florida (USA) in 1949, 1958, and 1962 deaths related to children who had ingested one or more seeds of the herbal plant. In 1963 a child who had ingested a seed of the Precatroy Bean, forced to vomit and survived by swallowing only half of the seed. 13 In India, seeds proven as means of committing suicide by ingestion. 15 The seeds contain a poisonous principle called abrin.11 Currently no antidotes are available to treat the toxic poison of the Abrus precatorius seeds. 13

"In case of eye exposure, irrigate eyes with copious amounts of water or saline." 13

Common symptoms linked to ingestion of seeds after hours or days include vomiting, nausea, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, burning in the throat, ulcerative lesions of the mouth and esophagus. 9 Also, circulatory collapse, hypertension, and coma. Those who are fortunate to not die by ingesting Abrus precatorius may develop kidney or liver damage, pulmonary hemorrhage or emphysema, and dyspnea (difficulty breathing). 10

Laboratory experiments: When mice were exposed to abrin shown to inhibit tumor growth by ninety percent and affective against sarcoma cells. When albino male rats where orally administered fifty percent extract of the seeds (250 mg) for thirty and 60 days induced complete infertility, which was reversible. 2

References:

1.) Abrus precatorius - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrus_precatorius

2.) Abrus Precatorius - http://www.divineremedies.com/abrus_precatorius.htm

3.) Get to know these weedy vines - http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive4/042405/tp8de8.htm?date=042405&story=tp8de8.htm

4.) Abrus precatorius Linnaeus - http://www.killerplants.com/plant-of-the-week/20030407.asp

5.) Crab's eye creeper (Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus) - http://www.ctpm.uq.edu.au/software/enviroweeds/example/Abrus_precatorius_subsp._africanus.htm

6.) Abrus Precatorius - http://www.eco-planet.com/herbalextracts/AbrusPrecatorius.htm

7.) Abrus precatorius - http://www.healthline.com/natstandardcontent/jequirity

8.) JEQUERITY (Abrus precatorius) - http://www.rain-tree.com/abrus.htm

9. Abrus preatorius - Characteristics - http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Abruspr.htm

10.) Abrus precatorius - http://www.healthline.com/natstandardcontent/jequirity/2

11.) Rare Herb of Patalkot: Abrus precatorius - http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/abrus-precatorius.shtml

12.) Abrus Precatorius / Jequerity Misc. Notes - http://www.erowid.org/plants/other/abrus_precatorius_info1.shtml

13.) Abrus precatorius L. - http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/abruspre.htm

14.) Abrus precatorius L. - Rosary pea; Jequirity - Facaceae - http://www.botanicalbeads.com/BBB_page_50.html

15.) An unusual manifestation of Abrus precatorius poisoning: A report of two cases - http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a787578876~db=all~jumptype=rss