Abrus precatorius- A Poison of Pharmacological Therapeutic Potential
Vikas Gupta1*, Parveen Bansal1, Payal Mittal2, Sanjiv Kumar1, Savita Sharma3
1National Institute of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Research, Patiala, India.
2Akal College of Pharmacy and Techinical Education, Mastuana Sahib, Sangrur, India.
3RRI, Nagpur, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: vikas_4308@rediffmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Abrus precatorius is a weedy subtropical plant the seeds of which are a potent known poison whereas if these seeds are purified as per the methods given in the old Ayurvedic texts it proves to be a very good therapeutic agent with multidimensional usage. This communication intends to put all the pharmacological and therapeutic uses of this plant at a common platform so as to enable the scientists to explore other therapeutic characteristics inherent in this plant.
KEYWORDS: Abrus precatorius, poison, pharmacological potential.
INTRODUCTION:
Ayurveda is the most ancient health care system and is practiced widely in India, Srilanka and other countries. According to the WHO survey 80% of the populations living in the developing countries rely almost exclusively on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs. Exploration of the chemical constituents of the plants and pharmacological screening may provide us the basis for developing the leads for development of novel agents. In addition, herbs have provided us some of the very important life saving drugs used in the armamentarium of modern medicine. However, among the estimated 250,000-400,000 plant species, only 6% have been studied for biological activity, and about 15% have been investigated phytochemically.[1] Abrus precatorius is a weedy subtropical vine with leaves that are known to be sweet-tasting. [2] The seeds are considered to be poisonous. A process of detoxification is considered absolutely necessary to remove toxicity of seeds. The process involves boiling of pounded seeds in kanji (Fermented sour preparation from boiled rice kept in earthen pot with cloth mouth sealed) or cow’s milk for 3 hours.3 It is planted through out the greatest part of India, ascending the outer Himalayas to 3500 ft and sometimes planted in gardens. 4-7
Traditional Uses
It is widely used in Leucoderma, Itching, Wounds 8, Urticaria, Eczema, Stomatits, Conjunctivitis, Hair growth promoter, Migraine, Lymphomas, Malaria, and Dysmenorrhoea 3, 9
Chemical constituents
Abrin is a toxic protein obtained from the seeds of Abrus precatorius (jequirity bean), which is similar to Ricin (a poison from Ricinus communis) in structure and properties. Abrin is highly toxic, with an estimated human fatal dose of 0.1-1 µg/kg. Abrin A purified from the seeds of the plant contains carbohydrate moieties including both neutral and amine sugars but no metals.10, 11, 12
A new flavonol glycoside (C29H34O16, melting point 260-262OC) has been reported from the chloroform soluble fraction of the concentrated 80% methanolic extract of the seeds. It has been characterised as a new biologically active flavonol glycoside 7,3',5'-trimethoxy-4'-hydroxy flavone-3-O-beta-D-galactosyl-(l --> 4)-alpha-L-xyloside (1) by several colour reactions, spectral analysis and chemical degradations.[13] In addition to abrusoside A, abrusosides B, C, D and three further sweet glycosides based on the novel cycloartane-type aglycone, abrusogenin, have been isolated from an n-BuOH-soluble extract of the leaves. Using a combination of spectral methods, the structures of compounds have been assigned, respectively, as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl, 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----2)-beta-D-6 methyl glucuronopyranosyl+++, 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl, and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl derivatives of abrusogenin.14
Three new triterpenoids and one known triterpenoid were isolated from an acid hydrolyzed methanol-soluble extract of the leaves of Abrus precatorius. Their structures were identified as (20S, 22S)-3beta,22-dihydroxycucurbita-5(10),24-diene-26,29-dioic acid delta-lactone, 3-O-[6'-methyl-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl]-3beta,22beta-dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid methyl ester, 3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosylsophoradiol methyl ester, and sophoradiol respectively by spectroscopic techniques including 2D NMR.15
Degraded glucomannan was isolated from seed polysaccharide (Papilionaceae). Acid hydrolysis and methylation studies produced certain degraded methyl sugars as, 2, 3, 6-tri-O-methyl-D-glucose and 2, 3, 6-tri-O-methyl-D-mannose in 1:4 molar ratio. 16
Three toxins, abrin-I, -II, and -III, and two agglutinins, APA-I and -II, were purified from the seeds by lactamyl- Sepharose affinity chromatography followed by gel filtration and DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography. 17 The seeds have also been reported to contain lipids.17, 18 The seed proteins are rich in most of the essential amino acids, but deficient only in cystine and threonine, when compared to the WHO/FAO requirement pattern. 19 The seed coat contains colouring matter that is constituted of tannins. 20 It has also been reported to contain lectin. 21, 22, 23
Poisoning
Abrin has been reported to cause death after accidental and intentional poisoning. Many of the features observed in abrin poisoning can be explained by abrin-induced endothelial cell damage, which causes an increase in capillary permeability with consequent fluid and protein leakage and tissue oedema (the so-called vascular leak syndrome). Most reported cases of human poisoning involve the ingestion of jequirity beans, which predominantly cause gastrointestinal toxicity. 24
The extract of Abrus precatorius caused decreased levels of packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin. The extract also resulted in increased levels of total serum protein, albumin, alanine amino transaminase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. The study thus depicted that aqueous extract is toxic and caution should be exercised in its use for medicinal purpose. 25
Rats poisoned with abrin (2.5 µg/100 g body weight) died within 36 h with severe necrosis of acinar pancreatic cells.26 Poisoning from Abrus precatorius is attributed to a toxalbumin (abrin) that acts by inhibiting protein synthesis and rarely can cause immuno-mediated demyelination.27 Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis with erosions, hemolysis, acute renal damage, hepatotoxicity with elevated liver enzymes, seizures and pulmonary oedema and hypertension are common manifestations of toxicity 28, 29
Pharmacological Activity of Abrus precatorius
1. Anti-tumor activity
Abrus abrin derived peptide fraction (ABP) with molecular weight in range of 600-1500Da was shown to have potent antitumor activity in Dalton's lymphoma (DL) tumor bearing mice. ABP was found to have selective antiproliferative activity (10ng-100ng/ml) on several tumor cell lines in vitro without having any cytotoxic effect on normal cell lines with a dose of 1000ng/ml. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed an effective antitumor response (53 ILS%) with dose of 500 microg/kg body weight. Results of another study showed that the novel peptides present in Abrus agglutinin possess potent antitumor properties. Agglutinin protein purified from the seeds of Abrus precatorius depicted a high antitumour activity. 30, 31, 32, 33
2. Antibacterial activity
Root extracts of the plant has been tested for antibacterial activity. Chloroform extractable phytochemicals yielded promising molecules with antibiotic activity. At the different concentrations of the extracts used (512 µg /ml - 4 µg /ml), Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive organism with an MIC of 8 µg/ml for the leaf extract. Extract from the stem and seed oil have been potent against some of the gram-positive bacteria and Candida albicans but not against S anginosus, E. faecalis and gram-negative bacteria tested. 34, 35
3. Anthelmintic activity
Extracts of stem and root demonstrated the best results against tapeworms (schistosomules). Plant extracts from Abrus precatorius were lethal to adult schistosomes. [36, 37]
4. Anti-fertility activity
Effects of alcoholic seed extract investigated at a dose of 100 mg/Kg body wt./day/rat for 60 days on fertility, semen profile and sperm metabolism of orally administered sexually mature male albino rats using WHO protocols showed marked decline in average number of implantation sites in females after mating with the treated male rats. Contrarily, a significant increase in serum testosterone levels has been reported as a result of 60 days of administration. This decrease in fertility rate in extract receiving animals has been correlated with reduced sperm motility, metabolism and altered sperm morphology in epididymis. 38
5. Anti-inflammatory activity
Two triterpenoid saponins 1 and 2 isolated from the aerial parts of Abrus precatorius and their acetate derivatives, 3 and 4 have been tested for anti-inflammatory activity using the croton oil ear model. All the compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory activity but the acetates showed greater inhibition than the parent compounds. 39
6. Anti-tubercular and antiplasmodium activity
A known isoflavanquinone, abruquinone B, and a new derivative, abruquinone G, were isolated from the aerial parts. Chemical structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectral analysis. While abruquinone B exhibited antitubercular, antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities, compound abruquinone G showed mild antiviral and cytotoxic activities. 40
7. Alzheimer’s disease
Four lectins (Abrus precatorius (APA), Maackia amurensis (MAA), Momordica charantia (MCA) and Sambucus nigra (SNA)) have been used to identify glycohistochemically the microglial cells (MGC) activation in autoptic brain samples from Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects. 41
8. Immunopotentiator
A non-toxic dose of abrin, (1.25 µg/kg body wt) consecutively for five days in normal mice stimulated specific humoral responses. A noticeable increase was observed in total leucocyte count, lymphocytosis, weights of spleen and thymus, circulating antibody titre, antibody forming cells, bone marrow cellularity and alpha-esterase positive bone marrow cells. The results suggest that abrin can potentiate the humoral immune response of the host. 42
9. Antiepileptic
Abrus precatorius L. (Leguminosae), have been shown to have proven anticonvulsant activity. 43
10. Neuromuscular effects
Some neuromuscular effects of the crude extracts of the leaves of Abrus precatorius were investigated using isolated toad rectus abdominis and rat phrenic nerve diaphragm muscle preparations as well as young chicks. The ethanol extract of the leaves inhibited acetylcholine-induced contractions of both toad rectus abdominis and rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle preparations. The effects were concentration-dependent and reversible. Thus, the ethanol extract showed a similarity to d-tubocurarine in respect of the pattern of neuromuscular blockade. 44
11. Uterotonic activity
The seed oil of Abrus precatorius exhibited significant uterotonic activity. 45, 46
12. Anti-diarrhoeal activity
The seed of Abrus precatorius showed significant an anti diarrhoeal activity. [47]
13. Immunostimulatory
In vitro immuno stimulatory effect of Abrus lectins derived peptide fractions (AGP and ABP) was investigated in DL bearing mice. Both AGP and ABP were found to activate splenocytes and induced production of cytokines like IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha indicating a Th1 type of immune response. 48, 49, 50
CONCLUSION:
In recent years, ethno-botanical and traditional used compounds, especially of plant origin have received much attentions as they are well tested for their efficacy and generally believed to be safe for human use. Through screening of literature available on Abrus precatorius depicted the fact that it is popular drug for treatment of various diseases at the same time ancient literature also warns us about the raw usage of seeds which act as a potent poison. Today more of such evidence based studies are needed to establish these facts so that these wonder drugs with multifarious therapeutic activities can be put to human use.
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Received on 17.09.2009 Modified on 21.11.2009
Accepted on 09.12.2009 © RJPT All right reserved
Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 3(1): Jan. - Mar. 2010; Page 62-65