EFSA Compendium of Botanicals

Draft - work in progress

Abrus precatorius L.

Family:: Fabaceae
Approval state:: Approved
Number of articles retrieved:: 1188
Number of processed references:: 10

Compositions

#1: Abrin (Lectins) in seeds #2: Alkaloids in leaves #3: Saponins in leaves #4: Tannins in leaves #5: hypaphorine in seeds #6: Abrin in seeds (indole alkaloids)

Endpoint Studies

#1: abortifacient activity #2: LD50 leaves water extracts in rats #3: histopathological changes (hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity) and significat loss of body weight #4: Vascular hemodynamic changes (edema and hemorrhage) #5: Single intake of Abrus Precatorius with suicidal intention leading to hemorrhagic colitis #6: cardiac adverse effects related to ingestion of A. precatorius seeds #7: brain - demyelination in the bilateral medial temporal lobes #8: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting associated with intake of the seeds of A. precatorius #9: 112 case reports of abrin toxicity in humans

Genotoxicity

Composition #1: Lin, Jung-Yaw., Yan, Tyan-Fuh., Ting, Ling-Pai., Tung, Ta-Cheng. Toxic and nontoxic lectins from Abrus precatorius and Ricinus communis.. toxicon, 1978, vol. Suppl. 1, no. Toxins: Anim., Plant Microb., p. 837–53. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

5% mercaptoethanol
Substance:

Abrin (RF-00000336-TOX)
Analytical method code:

Standard Chromatographic tests (paper- thin layer- and column chromatography) (F016A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

Abrin (Lectins) in seeds

Composition #2: Ogbuehi, Ijeoma H., Ebong, Omotayo O., Obianime, Atuboyedia W. Oral acute toxicity (LD50) study of different solvent extracts of Abrus precatorius Linn leaves in wistar rats.. european journal of experimental biology, 2015, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 18–25. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Leaves (as part-nature) (A0EKT)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

70 % methanolic, acetone
Substance:

Alkaloids (RF-00004360-PAR)
Analytical method code:

Phytochemical screening (F604A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

Alkaloids in leaves

Composition #3: Ogbuehi, Ijeoma H., Ebong, Omotayo O., Obianime, Atuboyedia W. Oral acute toxicity (LD50) study of different solvent extracts of Abrus precatorius Linn leaves in wistar rats.. european journal of experimental biology, 2015, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 18–25. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Leaves (as part-nature) (A0EKT)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

aqueous, 70 % methanolic, acetone and petroleum ether extraction
Substance:

Saponins (RF-00004333-PAR)
Analytical method code:

Phytochemical screening (F604A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

Saponins in leaves

Composition #4: Ogbuehi, Ijeoma H., Ebong, Omotayo O., Obianime, Atuboyedia W. Oral acute toxicity (LD50) study of different solvent extracts of Abrus precatorius Linn leaves in wistar rats.. european journal of experimental biology, 2015, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 18–25. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Leaves (as part-nature) (A0EKT)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

70 % methanolic, acetone and petroleum ether extraction
Substance:

Tannins (RF-00004337-PAR)
Analytical method code:

Phytochemical screening (F604A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

Tannins in leaves

Composition #5: Singh, G D., Banerji, R., Mahrotra, S. Effect of shodhana on the toxicity of abrus precatorius.. ancient science of life, 1998, vol. 18, no. 2, p. 127–9. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

hexane
Substance:

L-Hypaphorine (RF-00004261-PAR)
Additional substance description:

hypaphorine
Analytical method code:

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)/Liquid Chromatography (LC) (F018A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

hypaphorine in seeds

Composition #6: Singh, G D., Banerji, R., Mahrotra, S. Effect of shodhana on the toxicity of abrus precatorius.. ancient science of life, 1998, vol. 18, no. 2, p. 127–9. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Drying (dehydration) (A07KG)
Additional extraction description:

powdering
Substance:

Abrin (RF-00000336-TOX)
Analytical method code:

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)/Liquid Chromatography (LC) (F018A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

Abrin in seeds (indole alkaloids)

Endpoint study #1: Johri, P. K., Tiwari, Divya., Johri, Reeta. RESORPTION/ABORTIFACIENT AND TERATOGENIC ACTIVITY OF SELECTED INDIGENOUS MEDICINAL PLANTS IN FEMALE ALBINO RATS . biochemical and cellular archives, 2009, vol. 9, no. 2, p. 211–216. .

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Preparation/Extraction method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional plant/substance description:

alcoholic extract of dried seeds and inflorescence
Type of toxicological test:

reproduction toxicity (CHD009TT)
Tested organism:

Rat (as animal) (A0CNV)
Sex:

Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: FEED (OECD2230PL)
Exposure duration:

10.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Day (G134A)
Number of organisms dosed:

10
Control groups used:

no data
Endpoint measured:

Concentration level (CHD013EP)
Concentration unit:

Milligrams per kilogram body weight (G225A)
Effect concentration:

250
Critical effect:

REPRODUCTIVE (TOX05A)
Target tissue:

urogenital: Uterus (TT052A)
Effect description:

100% abortifacient activity
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

reproduction (CHD014BE)
Internal remarks:

abortifacient activity

Endpoint study #2: Ogbuehi, Ijeoma H., Ebong, Omotayo O., Obianime, Atuboyedia W. Oral acute toxicity (LD50) study of different solvent extracts of Abrus precatorius Linn leaves in wistar rats.. european journal of experimental biology, 2015, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 18–25. .

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Leaves (as part-nature) (A0EKT)
Preparation/Extraction method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional plant/substance description:

aqueous
Type of toxicological test:

acute toxicity (CHD016TT)
Tested organism:

Rat (as animal) (A0CNV)
Strain of test organism:

Wistar (CHD013ST)
Sex:

Male/Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Exposure duration:

1.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Meal (G109A)
Number of organisms dosed:

5
Control groups used:

yes
Endpoint measured:

Dose producing lethality in 50% of experimental organisms (CHD024EP)
Concentration unit:

Milligram/kilogram (G061A)
Effect concentration:

2345
Critical effect:

SYSTEMIC (TOX01A)
Effect description:

fatigue, paw licking, watery stool, salivation, writhing and loss of appetite, mortality
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

mortality (CHD010BE)
Internal remarks:

LD50 leaves water extracts in rats

Endpoint study #3: Ogbuehi, Ijeoma H., Ebong, Omotayo O., Obianime, Atuboyedia W. Oral acute toxicity (LD50) study of different solvent extracts of Abrus precatorius Linn leaves in wistar rats.. european journal of experimental biology, 2015, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 18–25. .

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Leaves (as part-nature) (A0EKT)
Preparation/Extraction method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional plant/substance description:

aqueous, methanolic, petroleum ether and acetone extraction
Type of toxicological test:

acute toxicity (CHD016TT)
Tested organism:

Rat (as animal) (A0CNV)
Strain of test organism:

Wistar (CHD013ST)
Sex:

Male/Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Exposure duration:

1.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Meal (G109A)
Number of organisms dosed:

5
Control groups used:

yes
Endpoint measured:

Dose level (CHD014EP)
Concentration unit:

Milligram/kilogram (G061A)
Effect concentration:

5000
Critical effect:

SYSTEMIC (TOX01A)
Effect description:

histopathological changes (hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity) and significant loss in body weight
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

histopathology non neoplastic (CHD025BE)
Internal remarks:

histopathological changes (hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity) and significat loss of body weight

Endpoint study #4: Martinez, N., Angélica, A., Mariana, A., Rosa, B., Edmundo, C. Toxic effects of Abrus precatorius L. seeds on laboratory rats. emirates journal of food and agriculture, 2012, vol. 24, no. 2, p. 159–164. .

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Preparation/Extraction method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional plant/substance description:

water extract
Type of toxicological test:

acute toxicity (CHD016TT)
Tested organism:

Rat (as animal) (A0CNV)
Strain of test organism:

Sprague-Dawley (CHD012ST)
Sex:

Male/Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Exposure duration:

1.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Meal (G109A)
Number of organisms dosed:

12
Control groups used:

yes
Endpoint measured:

Dose level (CHD014EP)
Concentration unit:

Gram (G148A)
Effect concentration:

0.1
Critical effect:

SYSTEMIC (TOX01A)
Target tissue:

cardiovascular / haematological: Blood Coagulation (TT010A)
Effect description:

Vascular hemodynamic changes (epistaxis, congestion and pulmonary hemorrhage, sub-epicardial hemorrhage, brain and splenic hemorrhage, brain edema and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis)
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

mortality (CHD010BE)
Internal remarks:

Vascular hemodynamic changes (edema and hemorrhage)

Endpoint study #5: Ganesan, R., Ettiyan, R. Abrus precatorius induced hemorrhagic colitis. american journal of pharmacology and toxicology, 2015, vol. 10, no. 2, p. 40–45. DOI: 10.3844/ajptsp.2015.40.45. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Substance:

Abrin (RF-00000336-TOX)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Sex:

Female
Route of exposure:

OTHER (OECD0PL)
Exposure duration:

1.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Meal (G109A)
Number of organisms dosed:

1
Control groups used:

no
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

Digestive (TOX18A)
Target tissue:

Digestive (TT002A)
Effect description:

hemorrhagic colitis documented colonoscopy, bradycardia
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

histopathology non neoplastic (CHD025BE)
Internal remarks:

Single intake of Abrus Precatorius with suicidal intention leading to hemorrhagic colitis

Endpoint study #6: Wooten, Joe Valentine., Pittman, Christopher T., Blake, Thomas A., Thomas, Jerry D., Devlin, John J., Higgerson, Renee A., Johnson, Rudolph C. A case of abrin toxin poisoning, confirmed via quantitation of L-abrine (N-methyl-L-tryptophan) biomarker. . journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the american college of medical toxicology, 2014, vol. 10, no. 4, p. 392–4. DOI: 10.1007/s13181-013-0377-9. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Substance:

Abrin (RF-00000336-TOX)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Number of organisms dosed:

1
Endpoint measured:

Dose level (CHD014EP)
Concentration unit:

Piece (G133A)
Effect concentration:

20
Critical effect:

PULMONARY AND CARDIAC (TOX08A)
Target tissue:

cardiovascular / haematological: Heart (TT011A)
Effect description:

She was tachycardic (HR=134 bpm); slightly elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN; 16 mg/dL) and serum creatinine (0.4 mg/dL)
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

cardiac adverse effects related to ingestion of A. precatorius seeds

Endpoint study #7: Sahoo, Ratnakar., Hamide, Abdoul., Amalnath, S. Deepak., Narayana, B. Srikant. Acute demyelinating encephalitis due to Abrus precatorius poisoning - complete recovery after steroid therapy . clinical toxicology, 2008, vol. 46, no. 10, p. 1071–1073. DOI: 10.1080/15563650802334671. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Substance:

Abrin (RF-00000336-TOX)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Number of organisms dosed:

1
Endpoint measured:

Dose level (CHD014EP)
Concentration unit:

Piece (G133A)
Effect concentration:

10-15
Critical effect:

NEUROTOXICITY (TOX04A)
Target tissue:

neurologic: Brain (TT034A)
Effect description:

demyelination in the bilateral medial temporal lobes
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

neurology (CHD027BE)
Internal remarks:

brain - demyelination in the bilateral medial temporal lobes

Endpoint study #8: Alhamdani, Mazin., Brown, Brande., Narula, Pramod. Abrin Poisoning in an 18-Month-Old Child. american journal of case reports, 2015, vol. 16, p. 146–148. .

Study relevance:

Human health
Substance:

Abrin (RF-00000336-TOX)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Exposure duration:

1.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Meal (G109A)
Number of organisms dosed:

1
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

Digestive (TOX18A)
Target tissue:

Digestive (TT002A)
Effect description:

vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting associated with intake of the seeds of A. precatorius

Endpoint study #9: Karthikeyan, Aishwarya., Amalnath, S. Deepak. Abrus precatorius Poisoning: A Retrospective Study of 112 Patients. indian journal of critical care medicine, 2017, vol. 21, no. 4, p. 224–225. DOI: 10.4103/ijccm.IJCCM_320_16. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Substance:

Abrin (RF-00000336-TOX)
Plant part:

Seed (as part-nature) (A066P)
Additional plant/substance description:

crushed seeds
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

Male/Female
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Number of organisms dosed:

112
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

SYSTEMIC (TOX01A)
Target tissue:

Digestive (TT002A)
Effect description:

Gastrointestinal (vomiting, loose stools, blood in stools, abdominal pain), fever, neurotoxicity (altered sensorium, seizures, tremors); cardiovascular toxicity and nephrotoxicity
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

other (CHD003BE)
Internal remarks:

112 case reports of abrin toxicity in humans