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Abrus precatorius - Gunja

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Abrus precatorius W IMG 1578.jpg

Abrus precatorius is a severely invasive plant in warm temperate to tropical regions. The plant is best known for its seeds, which are used as beads and in percussion instruments, and which are toxic because of the presence of abrin.

Uses

Blisters in mouths, Mouth sores, Bleeding piles, Leucorrhoea, Mild diabetes, Cough, Physical weakness, Ulcer, Urinary trouble, Snakebite, Infection in intestine.

Parts Used

Seeds, Stem, Leaves, Roots.

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 like β-amyrin, cycloartenol, 5β-cholanic acid, abrussic acid, sophoradiol, trimethyltryptophan abrusin galactose, arabinose, xylose, polysaccharide and flavonoids compounds, Seed covers contain gallic acid, abranin), delphinidin.[1]

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


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapha, Vata

Prabhava

Habit

Deciduous climber

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Paripinnate Obovate Leaves are alternately arranged, leaflets 12-16 pairs, 0.8-2.5 x 0.4-1 cm, oblong to elliptic, base and apex obtuse

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Bisexual 2-4cm long Pink/white 9 Flowering July to March in short axillary racemes

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Oblong pod Thinly septate, pilose, wrinkled Seeds upto 5 Fruiting throughout the year

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

[3]

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings

How to plant/cultivate

Seeds naturally have a low germination rate. The hard and impenetrable seed coat is one of the reasons. For better germination, the seeds are first scarified and then planted in sterile potting soil. Cuttings of green stems can also be tried, in polybags. [4]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical area, Subtropical area.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links