Gunja or Ratti
(Abrus precatorius): Health Benefits
Botanical Name - Abrus precatorius Linn.
English Names - Indian Wild Liquorice (not to be used as a
substitute for liquorice), Jequirity, Crab’s Eye, Precatory Bean.
Ayurvedic Names - Gunjaa, Gunjaka, Chirihintikaa, Raktikaa, Chirmiti,
Kakanti, Kabjaka, Tiktikaa, Kaakananti, Kaakchinchi.
Common Names - Ghunghchi, Ghamchi, Kunri, Chirmiti, Ratti.
Traditional
Uses of Abrus precatorius (Gunja or Chirmiti):
In
India, the extract of the root of the plant is used for application to relieve
eye diseases. The plant is also used in Ayurveda and is said to promote hair
growth. It is sometimes used as an ingredient in Indian hair products. Abrus
laevigatus (Shveta Gunjaa) is preferred to use for the same medicinal purposes
as Abrus precatorius.
In
Africa, the root of Abrus Precatorious is used to relieve tapeworm infestation,
bilharzias, asthma and gonorrhea.
In
Brazil, the water extract of dried leaves of the plant is taken orally and also
applied on cuts as well as swellings.
In
Siddha medicine, the white variety is used to prepare oil that is claimed to be
an aphrodisiac. A tea is made from the leaves and used for fevers, coughs and colds.
Seeds are poisonous and therefore are used after mitigation.
Medicinal
Properties of Gunja or Chirmiti (Abrus precatorius):
Uterine
stimulant, abortifacient, toxic. Seeds—teratogenic. A paste of seeds is applied
on vitiligo patches.
·
Seeds contain
abrin, a toxalbumin, indole derivatives, anthocyanins, sterols, terpenes. Abrin
causes agglutination of erythrocytes, haemolysis and enlargement of lymph
glands. A nontoxic dose of abrin, isolated from the seeds of red var.,
exhibited a noticeable increase in antibody-forming cells, bone marrow
cellularity and alpha-esterase-positive bone marrow cells.
·
Oral
administration of agglutinins, isolated from the seeds, is useful in the
treatment of hepatitis and AIDS.
·
Theseed extract
exhibited antischistosomal activity in male hamsters.
·
The methanolic
extract of seeds inhibited themotility of human spermatozoa.
·
The roots contain
precol, abrol, glycyrrhizin and alkaloids—abrasine and precasine. The roots
also contain triterpenoids—abruslactone A, methyl abrusgenate and abrusgenic
acid.
·
Alkaloids/bases
present in the roots are also present in leaves and stems.
The seed of Abrus Precatorius is known to be extremely
poisonous when taken without proper prescription. Its high toxic levels can
cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, tachycardia, coma, cold sweats and
nausea. Prolonged use of Abrus can lead to anemia and can increase the white blood
cell count tremendously. It is therefore best taken under professional guidance
and avoided by pregnant women and infants.
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