Abrus precatorius - Buddhist Rosary Bead

❏ Binomial Name : Abrus precatorius L

❏ Synonym : Abrus abrus,Abrus precatorius,Glycine abrus

❏ Family :  Leguminosae

❏ Common Name : Buddhist Rosary Bead

❏ Tamil Name : Kundu Mani, Gundu Mani

❏ Hindi Name : Gunchi

❏ IUCN Status : Not Evaluated

Abrus precatorius Botanical Description

Woody perennial twining shrubs; young stems puberulent. Leaves even-pinnate; leaflets 12-16 pairs, 0.8-2.5 x 0.4-1 cm, oblong to elliptic, base and apex obtuse, lower surface sparsely pubescent. Flowers pink, in axillary racemes; bracts deltoid, minute; bracteoles c. 1mm across, suborbicular. Calyx 2-4 mm long, hispid. Petals 9-12 mm long. Stamens 9, monadelphous. Ovary subsessile, many ovuled; style incurved. Pods 3-4 x 1-1.5 cm, oblong, slightly inflated, fulvo-puberulent. Seeds many, 5-7 x 4-5 mm, subglobose, scarlet red with black eyes. Fl. &Fr.: October-May.

Abrus precatorius Medicinal uses

❀ The seeds are used externally in the treatment of sciatica, hair loss, skin disease, leprosy, nervous debility and paralysis

❀ The leaves and roots contain glycyrrhizin and minute amounts of the toxin abrin

❀ Leaves used internally to treat sore throats and a range of chest conditions including asthma, bronchitis and dry coughs

❀ The leaves are boiled with the leaves of Tamarindus indica, Annona muricata and Lantana camara to make a syrup used to treat chest colds

❀ A decoction of stem is used as a treatment for stomach-ache, thrush, colds, coughs, sore throat and asthma

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