Abrus precatorius - Gunja

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Abrus precatorius, Gunjaa

Gulaganji

Abrus precatorius is a severely invasive plant in warm temperate to tropical regions, so much so that it has become effectively pantropical in distribution. It had been widely introduced by humans, and the brightly coloured and hard-shelled seeds had been spread by birds.

Uses

migraines, headaches, vomiting, piles, burning sensation, perspiration problems, burning sensation in the vagina.

Parts Used

mature seeds, stem, leaves, Root.

Chemical Composition

Mature seeds contain alkali like abrine, precatorine, etc., abraline; toxalbumin like abrin I, II, III, etc., abrus agglutinin I, II (A. P. A Ⅰ, Ⅱ), sterols like abricin, squnalene, alcohol likeβ-amyrin, cycloartenol, 5β-cholanic acid, abrussic acid, sophoradiol, trimethyltryptophan abrusin galactose, arabinose, xylose, polysaccharide and flavonoids compounds, Seed covers contain gallic acid, abranin), delphinidin.

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	Gulaganji
Hindi	Gaungchi, Gunchi
Malayalam	Kunni, Kunnikkuru
Tamil	Gundumani, Kundumani
Telugu	Gurivinda or Guriginja
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	Gunja
English	equirity

Habit

Herb

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
glabrous	sessile	The leaves are variable in shape and size

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Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Unisexual	2-4cm long	white–violet	10-18	Flowers are Large, hooded and occur in slender racemes or lax leafy panicles. Corolla is hairy. Carpels are five in number

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
	7–10 mm (0.28–0.4 in.) long pome		s		{{{6}}}

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Vishatinduka Taila as root juice extract

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Tuber segment.

How to plant/cultivate

The more common species of Aconitum are generally those cultivated in gardens, especially hybrids. They typically thrive in well-drained evenly moist garden soils like the related hellebores and delphiniums, and can grow in the shade of trees.

Commonly seen growing in areas

Belize, Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, pinelands, hammocks.

Photo Gallery

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  White variety of seeds.

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  Abrus precatorius leaves and flowers

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  Abrus precatorius flowers

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  Abrus precatorius seeds

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