Ethno botanical and Phytophrmacological potential of Abrus precatorius L.: A review

Abstract

Medicinal plants are being widely used, either as a single drug or in combination in health care delivery system. Medicinal plants can be important source of previously unknown chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects. Abrus precatorius L. is commonly known as Gunja or Jequirity and abundantly found all throughout the plains of India, from Himalaya down to Southern India and Ceylon. This plant is having medicinal potential to cure various diseases. The roots, leaves and seeds of this plant are used for different medicinal purpose. It principally contains flavonoids, triterpene glycosides, abrin and alkaloids. The plant have been reported for neuromuscular effects, neuro-protective, abortifacient, antiepileptic, anti-viral, anti-malarial, antifertility, nephroprotective, immunomodulator, immunostimulatory properties, anti-inflammatory activity, antidiabetic effect, etc. As this is a potential medicinal plant, present review reveals chemical constituents of leaf, root and seeds of Abrus precatorius. The plant is considered as a valuable source of unique natural products for development of medicines against various diseases and also for the development of industrial products.

Anticancer Activity of Uncommon Medicinal Plants from the Republic of Suriname: Traditional Claims, Preclinical Findings, and Potential Clinical Applicability against Cancer

“…The sweet-tasting leaves of the plant are used in West Tropical Africa to sweeten foods [96]. These parts of the plant along with the seeds (after denaturing abrin at high temperatures [97]) are also used in various traditional medicinal systems for treating or preventing tetanus, inflammation, snake bites, rabies, and leukoderma; as aphrodisiacs; as oral contraceptives and abortifacients; and for treating cancer [42,98].…”

“…Pharmacological studies with preparations from A. precatorius seeds and leaves revealed that many of their biological activities may be attributable to abrin [98]. This compound consists of a dimer with a B subunit that facilitates its entry into cells by binding to plasma membrane-associated transport proteins, after which the A subunit inactivates the 26S subunit of ribosomes, preventing protein synthesis [99].…”

Establishment of Quality Standards of Abrus precatorius Linn. Seeds

“…Seeds are useful in diarrhoea, dysentery and have antidiabetic [12] , antitumor and proapoptotic [13] , antibacterial, anthelmintic [14,15] and protective effect against alcohol-induced renal damage [16] . Seeds are considered to be purgative, emetic, tonic, antiphlogistic, aphrodisiac, antiophthalmic [17] and abortifacient [18] . Seeds are also poisonous but after mitigation are said to have very powerful aphrodisiac property.…”

Plants Producing Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins in Traditional Medicine

“…The use of jequirity was also recognized to produce therapeutic effects including anti-tumour, expectorant, purgative, anti-diabetic, abortifacient, anthelmintic and anti-bacterial effects, in particular against ulcers and wounds. After being boiled, the seeds can be safely eaten in a similar fashion as nutritious beans ( [13], reviewed in [162]). …”