|
 Indian licorice is a beautiful but deadly weed. Commonly known as rosary pea, the very pretty red seeds with black top are used as rosary prayer beads. The seeds are also used to make jewelry and used in percussion instruments. The seeds are, however, highly toxic and contain abrin which is a poison very similar in properties to that of snake venom. It might sound unreasonable but this deadly plant has medicinal value and is used in pacifying vata and pitta doshas. Some botanists also say that this plant is so sensitive to electrical and magnetic influences, it can be used as ‘weather plant’ for predicting cyclones, hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
Botanical name: Abrus precatorius
Family: Fabaceae
English name: Rosary pea, Indian licorice
Hindi name: Ratti, Gunchi, Yastimadhu, Gunja
Rosary pea is a deciduous wiry climber with tough branches. Leaves: abruptly pinnate with many pairs of leaflets.
Leaflets: oblong, rounded on both sides, and thinly membranous.
Flowers: pink or white, clustered.
Fruit: pods are turgid with a sharp deflexed beak.
Seeds: oval in shape, color varies from scarlet red with a black / white/ green/ black spots.
Parts used as medicine: leaves, root, seeds.
Ayurvedic recommendations
Gunchi is of two varieties - red and white. White ones are used in Tantra karma.
Gunchi has a sweet, astringent taste, and possess dry and cool qualities. The seeds are useful in conditions like cough, diseases of the pharynx, pectoralgia, inflammation, and vata diseases. Gunchi, as an herb, is useful in treating conditions such as hair loss, dandruff, itching, skin diseases, infestations, and eye diseases. It is also known to improve complexion and promote hair growth.
Therapeutic uses
1. Purified seeds are purgative, emetic, and tonic in action.
2. In traditional medicine, oil extracted from the leaves is used as a cure for all types of joint swellings.
3. In traditional medicine, a paste of Gunchi roots and fresh rhizome of turmeric is applied on sores and wounds caused by dogs, cats, and mice.
4. Leaves are crushed and applied to white patches to treat leukoderma.
5. Leaves processed with milk are aphrodisiac in action.
6. Leaves of Gunchi have anti-suppurative properties. They are ground with lime and applied on acne, boils, and abscesses.
7. Paste of processed seeds is applied to relieve sciatica, stiffness of the neck and shoulder, and other nervous disorders.
Side effects: 1. The seeds of Gunchi are highly toxic due to presence of a protein - ‘abrin’. The seeds swallowed as such will not produce any poisonous action. When it is powdered or the outer skin is removed it acts as an irritant poison. The seeds may cause vomiting and giddiness, and symptoms are similar to that of cholera. Death occurs due to cardiac depression and blood remains liquid after death.
2. Roots may cause pain and enlargement of the abdomen.
Research
1. A research study published in the European Journal of Scientific Research investigated the renal protective activities of the seed extract of Abrus precatorius in alcohol induced renal damage in experimental animals. The results suggested that aqueous seed extract of A. precatorius had a protective effect on alcohol induced kidney injury that was related to reduction in alcohol induced lipid peroxidation. [http://www.eurojournals.com/ejsr_25_3_08.pdf]
2. A research was conducted to investigate the anti-microbial activities of aqueous and methanolic extracts of A. precatorius leaves, stem, and seed oil against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., Bacillus species, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and few other pathogens. The results substantiated the ethno-botanical use of A. precatorius for treatment of various bacteria-related diseases. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18408781]
 |
