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Jequirity

Jequirity

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  • Abrin, a constituent of jequirity (Abrus precatorius), is toxic and ingestion of one bean by a child may be fatal. However, the boiled seeds of Abrus precatorius L. are eaten by the residents of the Andaman Islands in India; boiling the seeds reportedly deactivates the toxins. Abrin is being investigated for the treatment of experimental cancers and is used as a "molecular probe" to investigate cell function.
  • In folk medicine, jequirity is used orally to quicken labor, as an abortifacient (induces abortion), oral contraceptive, to treat diabetes and chronic nephritis (kidney inflammation), and as analgesic (pain reliever) in terminally ill patients. The whole plant has been used for ophthalmic (eye) inflammations.
  • Anam EM. Anti-inflammatory activity of compounds isolated from the aerial parts of Abrus precatorius (Fabaceae). Phytomedicine. 2001;8(1):24-27.
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  • Dickers KJ, Bradberry SM, Rice P, et al. Abrin poisoning. Toxicol.Rev. 2003;22(3):137-142.
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  • Fernando C. Poisoning due to Abrus precatorius (jequirity bean). Anaesthesia 2001;56(12):1178-1180.
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  • Kuo SC, Chen SC, Chen LH, et al. Potent antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory and antiallergic isoflavanquinones from the roots of Abrus precatorius. Planta Med 1995;61(4):307-312.
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  • Moshi MJ, Kagashe GA, Mbwambo ZH. Plants used to treat epilepsy by Tanzanian traditional healers. J Ethnopharmacol. 2-28-2005;97(2):327-336.
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  • Nath D, Sethi N, Singh RK, et al. Commonly used Indian abortifacient plants with special reference to their teratologic effects in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 1992;36(2):147-154.
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  • Ndamba J, Nyazema N, Makaza N, et al. Traditional herbal remedies used for the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in Zimbabwe. J.Ethnopharmacol. 1994;42(2):125-132.
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  • Nwodo OF, Alumanah EO. Studies on Abrus precatorius seeds. II: Antidiarrhoeal activity. J Ethnopharmacol. 1991;31(3):395-398.
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  • Ohba H, Moriwaki S, Bakalova R, et al. Plant-derived abrin-a induces apoptosis in cultured leukemic cell lines by different mechanisms. Toxicol.Appl.Pharmacol. 3-1-2004;195(2):182-193.
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  • Ohba H, Toyokawa T, Yasuda S, et al. Spectroscopic analysis of the cytoagglutinating activity of abrin-b isolated from Abrus precatorius seeds against leukemic cells. Biosci.Biotechnol.Biochem. 1997;61(4):737-739.
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  • Pillay VV, Bhagyanathan PV, Krishnaprasad R, et al. Poisoning due to white seed variety of Abrus precatorius. J Assoc Physicians India 2005;53:317-319.
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  • Ramnath V, Kuttan G, Kuttan R. Immunopotentiating activity of abrin, a lectin from Abrus precatorius Linn. Indian J Exp Biol 2002;40(8):910-913.
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  • Ramos MV, Sampaio AH, Cavada, BS, et al. Characterization of the sugar-binding specificity of the toxic lectins isolated from Abrus pulchellus seeds. Glycoconj.J 2001;18(5):391-400.
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  • Ratnasooriya WD, Amarasekera AS, Perera NS, et al. Sperm antimotility properties of a seed extract of Abrus precatorius. J.Ethnopharmacol. 1991;33(1-2):85-90.
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  • Zambenedetti P, Giordano R, Zatta P. Histochemical localization of glycoconjugates on microglial cells in Alzheimer's disease brain samples by using Abrus precatorius, Maackia amurensis, Momordica charantia, and Sambucus nigra lectins. Exp.Neurol. 1998;153(1):167-171.
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