Abrus precatorius Linn.

Family:

Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.

Habitat:

Throughout the country, ascending to an altitude of about 1,050 m in the outer Himalayas.

English:

Indian Wild Liquorice, Jequirity, Crab's Eye, Precatory Bean.

Ayurvedic:

Gunjaa, Gunjaka, Chirihintikaa, Raktikaa, Chirmiti, Kakanti, Kabjaka, Tiktikaa, Kaakananti, Kaakchinchi. (Not to be used as a substitute for liquorice.)

Unani:

Ghunghchi, Ghamchi.

Siddha/Tamil:

Kunri.

Folk:

Chirmiti, Ratti.

Action:

Uterine stimulant, abortifacient, toxic. Seeds—teratogenic. A paste of seeds is applied on vitiligo patches.

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India has indicated the use of seeds in baldness.

Seeds contain abrin, a toxalbumin, indole derivatives, anthocyanins, sterols, terpenes. Abrin causes agglutination of erythrocytes, haemolysis and enlargement of lymph glands. A non-toxic dose of abrin (1.25 mcg/kg body weight), isolated from the seeds of red var., exhibited a noticeable increase in antibody-forming...