Evaluation of Chemical Composition among the Multi Colored Germplasm of Abrus precatorius L.

The medicinal plant Abrus precatorius L. was traditionally used in the Siddha and Ayurvedic systems of medicine in India. The Indian center of origin holds a vast variability in its seed color. The objective of this study was to assess the total monomeric anthocyanin, flavonol, as well as the antioxidative potential, protein content and ash content among the accessions. A total of 99 accessions conserved in the Indian National Genebank were used in this study. The methods used for the estimation of total monomeric anthocyanin, flavonol, as well as the antioxidative potential, protein content and ash content were the pH differential method, Oomah method, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential, Dumas method and gravimetric method, respectively. The completely black colored accession was recorded with highest total monomeric anthocyanin (51.95 mg/100 g of cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalent) and flavonol content (66.41 mg/g of quercetin equivalent). Red + black colored accessions have recorded the maximum value with respect to antioxidants (14.18 mg/g of gallic acid equivalent). The highest amount of protein content was found in a completely white colored accession (20.67%) and the maximum ash content was recorded in red + black colored accession (4.01%). The promising accessions identified can be used by pharmaceutical companies in drug development and in curing degenerative diseases.

Arthritis alleviation: unveiling the potential in Abrus precatorius macerated oil.

Aim: This study endeavors to explore the anti-arthritic effects of macerated oil derived from the plant's aerial parts. Methods: The macerated oil was prepared using maceration in coconut oil, and its phytochemical composition was elucidated using GC-MS. To assess its anti-arthritic activity, in-vitro studies were conducted using various assays. Results & conclusion: The macerated oil showed better antioxidant and anti-arthritic potential by in-vitro investigations. Molecular docking studies elucidated potential binding interactions between specific constituents of the oil and critical molecular targets implicated in the pathogenesis of arthritis, further substantiating its therapeutic potential. The results demonstrated that Abrus precatorius macerated oil could ameliorate arthritis severity in a dose-dependent manner.

The study explores whether the oil from the Abrus precatorius plant can help people with arthritis. Arthritis is a painful condition that causes swelling and stiffness in the joints. Researchers are curious if this plant oil can ease the pain and reduce inflammation associated with arthritis. They are conducting experiments to see if it works and is safe to use. In the research, we study the effects of this plant oil on arthritis symptoms. This oil is obtained by soaking Abrus precatorius plant parts in coconut oil. Our results could offer a new and natural way to alleviate arthritis symptoms for those who suffer from it. This would be a significant finding as it might provide a less invasive and potentially more accessible option for managing arthritis discomfort. However, it is important to remember that more research is needed to ensure the oil is both effective and safe for arthritis relief.

Study on the potential hypoglycemic flavonoids in Abrus precatorius leaves: purification process, quality profile and activity mechanisms by transcriptomics and network pharmacology.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between flavonoids in Abrus precatorius leaves (APL) and their hypoglycaemic effects, which have not been studied before. An efficient purification process, transcriptomics and network pharmacology analysis were applied for the first time. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the content of total flavonoids. The results showed that D101 resin was most suitable for purification of flavonoids of APL, which could increase its purity from 25.2% to 85.2% and achieve a recovery rate of 86.9%. The analysis of transcriptomics and network pharmacology revealed that flavonoids of APL could play a hypoglycaemic role by regulating 31 targets through AGE-RAGE and other signal pathways. Flavonoids of APL could exert hydroglycaemic effects by inhibiting AGEs, α-glucosidase and DPPH. This study provides a solid basis for hypoglycaemic product development and in-depth research of flavonoids in APL.

Fatal Curiosity: A Case of Suicidal Attempt by Abrus Seeds Consumption Through Online Research.

Abrus precatorius (Jequirity, Indian liquorice, rosary bead, Gunja, or rati) seeds are highly toxic and are often ingested as a means of suicide in India. Gastric symptoms like bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting, and epigastric pain are the common manifestations of this toxicity. Abrin, a toxic substance found in the seeds, is structurally and functionally similar to ricin and is considered even more fatal. We report the first case of Abrus precatorius poisoning, where the internet was utilized to procure a potentially deadly poison with the intention to commit suicide in north India. Such actions are relevant to the medical field, particularly regarding the potential risks associated with the unsupervised procurement and misuse of toxic substances. The case highlights the potentially fatal consequences of ingesting Abrus seeds and the need for prompt medical attention in such cases.

LCMS Determination and Cytotoxicity of Abrus precatorius on L6 and SK-N-MC Cell Lines.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effect of various extracts derived from Abrus precatorius Linn. leaves on rat L6 and human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cell lines and determine the secondary metabolites responsible for the cytotoxicity of Abrus precatorius. METHODS: Successive solvent extraction of A. precatorius leaves was carried out using the Soxhlet apparatus with solvents such as petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. HPTLC fingerprinting and LC-MS studies were performed to assess the presence of secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids and phenols, in the ethyl acetate extract. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of extracts was tested on rat skeletal muscle cell line L6 and human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC using MTT assay. RESULTS: The total phenolic content of ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of A. precatorius were 72.67 and 60.73 mg, respectively, of GAE/g dry weight of the extract. The total flavonoid content of ethyl acetate and ethanol extract of A. precatorius were 107.33 and 40.66 mg of Quercetin equivalents/g dry weight of the extract. LCMS analysis demonstrated that the flavonoids in specific Naringenin, Diosmetin, Glycitin, and Genistein might play a prominent role in the cytotoxicity of A. precatorius. The cytotoxicity study revealed that the extracts of A. precatorius were non-toxic to rat L6 myotubes, and the IC50 values of the various extracts, such as APPE, APCH, APEA, and APET, were >100 µg/ml. The extracts exhibited cytotoxic activity against human neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells, and the IC50 values of APPE, APCH, APEA, APET, and the standard drug "Cisplatin" were >100, >100, 64.88, >100, and 3.72 µg/ml, respectively. CONCLUSION: It was concluded from the study that the extracts of Abrus precatorius were cytotoxic to neuroblastoma cell lines but non-toxic to normal cell lines. HPTLC and LC-MS studies confirmed that flavonoids in the ethyl acetate extract could be responsible for the biological activity.

Green Synthesis of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles by Using Abrus precatorius Bark Extract and Their Photocatalytic, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Cytotoxicity Activities.

The current research is concerned with the synthesis of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles (NPs) from Abrus precatorius L. bark extract via the green chemistry method. The synthesized MgO NPs was confirmed by using several characterization methods like XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and UV-visible analysis. The synthesized MgO NPs displayed a small particle size along with a specific surface area. Abrus precatorius bark synthesized MgO NPs with a higher ratio of dye degradation, and antioxidant activity showed a higher percentage of free radical scavenging in synthesized MgO NPs. Zebrafish embryos were used as a model organism to assess the toxicity of the obtained MgO nanoparticles, and the results concluded that the MgO NPs were nontoxic. In addition, the anticancer properties of MgO nanoparticles were analyzed by using a human melanoma cancer cell line (A375) via MTT, XTT, NRU, and LDH assessment. MgO NPs treated a human melanoma cancer cell line and resulted in apoptosis and necrosis based on the concentration, which was confirmed through a genotoxicity assay. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms in necrosis and apoptosis were conferred to depict the association of magnesium oxide nanoparticles with the human melanoma cancer cell line. The current study on MgO NPs showed a broad-scope understanding of the use of these nanoparticles as a medicinal drug for melanoma cancer via its physiological mechanism and also a novel route to obtain MgO NPs by using the green chemistry method.

Inclusion of partly purified protease from Abrus precatorius Linn in Ca-alginate gel beads.

Abrus precatorius is an edible endemic plant in Cameroon. In the northern regions of Cameroon, the leaves of this plant are used as traditional medications, for the liquefaction of wort obtained after mashing of sorghum or millets for processing the local fermented beer called bili-bili, and to sweeten gruels made from red millet. Abrus precatorius has also being explored as a potential source of proteolytic enzymes. In this work, a partially purified protease from the leaves and stems of the plant was immobilized in a calcium alginate gel beads and the protease activity (PA), investigated using a central composite design plan under the conditions: alginate content (1-5%) (w/v), enzyme/alginate ratio (10-30%) (v/v), and CaCl2 concentration (100-400 Mmol/L). Results showed that the optimum activity was obtained for an alginate content of 1% (p/v), an enzyme/alginate ratio of 10% (v/v) and a CaCl2 concentration of 400 mmol/L. At the optimum, kinetic parameters of the immobilized enzyme (KM: 6.83 mg mL-1; Vmax: 46.95 g.L-1. min-1) were comparable to those of free enzyme (KM: 1.26 mg mL-1; Vmax: 153.85 g.L-1. min-1). The beads have been preserved at room temperature and reused for four days before loosing 88% of its activity. This indicates that the protease activity of the leaves and stems of A. precatorius can be immobilized in calcium alginate beads and preserve four days at ambient temperature.

The traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Abrus precatorius L.: A comprehensive review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Abrus precatorius L. (AP) is a folk medicine with a long-term medicinal history worldwide, which is extensively applied to various ailments, such as bronchitis, jaundice, hepatitis, contraception, tumor, abortion, malaria, etc. Meanwhile, its leaves are also served as tea in China, and its roots are employed as a substitute for Glycyrrhiza uralensis or as a raw material for the extraction of glycyrrhizin in India. Thus, AP is considered to be a plant with dual values of medicine and economy as well as its chemical composition and biological activity, which are of growing interest to the scientific community. AIM OF REVIEW: In the review, the traditional application, botany, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and toxicity are comprehensively and systematically summarized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An extensive database retrieval was conducted to gather the specific information about AP from 1871 to 2022 using online bibliographic databases Web of Science, PubMed, SciFinder, Google Scholar, CNKI, and Baidu Scholar. The search terms comprise the keywords "Abrus precatorius", "phytochemistry", "pharmacological activity", "toxicity" and "traditional application" as a combination. RESULTS: To date, AP is traditionally used to treat various diseases, including sore throat, cough, bronchitis, jaundice, hepatitis, abdominal pain, contraception, tumor, abortion, malaria, and so on. More than 166 chemical compounds have been identified from AP, which primarily cover flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, organic acids, esters, proteins, polysaccharides, and so on. A wide range of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological functions of AP have been reported, such as antitumor, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antiprotozoal, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antifertility, antidiabetic, other pharmacological activities. The crushed seeds in powder or paste form were comparatively toxic to humans and animals by oral administration. Interestingly, the methanolic extracts were non-toxic to adult Wistar albino rats at various doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) daily. CONCLUSIONS: The review focuses on the traditional application, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of AP, which offers a valuable context for researchers on the current research status and a reference for further research and applications of this medicinal plant.

Integrating Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Approaches to Decipher the Multi-Target Pharmacological Mechanism of Abrus precatorius L. Acting on Diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a notable health care load that imposes a serious impact on the quality of life of patients. The small amount of reported data and multiple spectra of pathophysiological mechanisms of T2DM make it a challenging task and serious economic burden in health care management. Abrus precatorius L. is a slender, perennial, deciduous, and woody twining plant used in various regions of Asia to treat a variety of ailments, including diabetes mellitus. Various in vitro studies revealed the therapeutic significance of A. precatorius against diabetes. However, the exact molecular mechanism remains unclarified. In the present study, a network pharmacology technique was employed to uncover the active ingredients, their potential targets, and signaling pathways in A. precatorius for the treatment of T2DM. In the framework of this study, we explored the active ingredient-target-pathway network and figured out that abrectorin, abrusin, abrisapogenol J, sophoradiol, cholanoic acid, precatorine, and cycloartenol decisively contributed to the development of T2DM by affecting AKT1, MAPK3, TNFalpha, and MAPK1 genes. Later, molecular docking was employed to validate the successful activity of the active compounds against potential targets. Lastly, we conclude that four highly active constituents, namely, abrusin, abrisapogenol J, precatorine, and cycloartenol, help in improving the body's sensitivity to insulin and regulate the expression of AKT1, MAPK3, TNFalpha, and MAPK1, which may act as potential therapeutic targets of T2DM. Integrated network pharmacology and docking analysis revealed that A. precatorius exerted a promising preventive effect on T2DM by acting on diabetes-associated signaling pathways. This provides a basis to understand the mechanism of the anti-diabetes activity of A. precatorius.

Genome Estimation and Phytochemical Compound Identification in the Leaves and Callus of Abrus precatorius: A Locally Endangered Plant from the Flora of Saudi Arabia.

Abrus precatorius is considered to be a valuable source of natural products for the development of drugs against various diseases. Herein, the genome size and phytochemical compounds in the leaves and callus of A. precatorius were evaluated. The endangered A. precatorius was collected from the Al-Baha mountains, Saudi Arabia and identified based on the phylogenetic analysis of a DNA sequence amplified by ITS1 and ITS4 primers. The callus was induced by the culture of stem explants onto Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with various combinations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D) and 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP). The callus with the highest fresh weight (2.03 g) was obtained in the medium containing 0.5µM BA and 5 µM 2,4-D after 8 weeks of culture; thus, the callus of this combination was selected for the genome estimation and phytochemical compound extraction. The genetic stability of the leaves from the donor as well as in the regenerated callus was analyzed by flow cytometry with optimized tomato (2C = 1.96 pg) as an external reference standard. The 2C DNA content was estimated to 1.810 pg ± 0.008 and 1.813 pg ± 0.004 for the leaves and callus, respectively. Then, the total phenol and total flavonoid contents in the methanol extract of the callus and leaves were measured using a spectrophotometer and the High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC ) methods. The results showed that the methanolic extract of the leaves was higher in total phenols and total flavonoids than the callus extract. Finally, the extracts of callus and leaves were analyzed for phytochemical compound through the Gas chromatography and Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). A total of 22 and 28 compounds were detected in the callus and leaves, respectively. The comparative analysis showed that 12 compounds of the secondary metabolites were present in both extracts.

Isoflavanquinones from Abrus precatorius roots with their antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects.

Phytochemical studies on the root of Abrus precatorius Linn. (Fabaceae), leads towards the identification of four undescribed (abruquinones M, N, O, and P), and seven known abruquinones, (abruquinones A, E, B, F, I, D, and G). Spectroscopic analyses (1D, and 2D NMR, HRESI-MS) were used in elucidating structures of the all compounds. Evaluation of anticancer activities of the isolated isoflavanquinones revealed that abruquinones M, and N showed cytotoxicity against oral CAL-27 (IC50 values 6.48 and 5.26 µM, respectively), and colon (Caco-2) cell lines (IC50 values 15.79 and 10.33 µM, respectively). Abruquinone M also inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells (NCI-H460) with IC50 of 31.33 µM. The isolated isoflavanquiones also showed potent anti-inflammatory potential through phagocyte oxidative burst and pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α inhibition in vitro. These findings suggest isoflavanquinones from A. precatorius roots as candidates for further research in cancer treatment.

Differentiation, Quantification and Identification of Abrin and Abrus precatorius Agglutinin.

Abrin, the toxic lectin from the rosary pea plant Abrus precatorius, has gained considerable interest in the recent past due to its potential malevolent use. However, reliable and easy-to-use assays for the detection and discrimination of abrin from related plant proteins such as Abrus precatorius agglutinin or the homologous toxin ricin from Ricinus communis are sparse. To address this gap, a panel of highly specific monoclonal antibodies was generated against abrin and the related Abrus precatorius agglutinin. These antibodies were used to establish two sandwich ELISAs to preferentially detect abrin or A. precatorius agglutinin (limit of detection 22 pg/mL for abrin; 35 pg/mL for A. precatorius agglutinin). Furthermore, an abrin-specific lateral flow assay was developed for rapid on-site detection (limit of detection ~1 ng/mL abrin). Assays were validated for complex food, environmental and clinical matrices illustrating broad applicability in different threat scenarios. Additionally, the antibodies turned out to be suitable for immuno-enrichment strategies in combination with mass spectrometry-based approaches for unambiguous identification. Finally, we were able to demonstrate for the first time how the developed assays can be applied to detect, identify and quantify abrin from a clinical sample derived from an attempted suicide case involving A. precatorius.

[Peripheral facial palsy in children: an unusual manifestation of foreign body in the ear]. / Paralysie faciale périphérique de l´enfant: une manifestation inhabituelle d´un corps étranger de l´oreille.

Foreign bodies in the ear are common in children but they rarely lead to complications. We here report a rare case of homolateral facial palsy in a 4-year old female child that occurred 15 days after introduction of toxic foreign body (Abrus precatorius seed) in her ear. The patients had signs of local necrosis associated with external otitis, without systemic involvement. Foreign body extraction was performed using micro-hook. Local and general treatments as well as corticosteroid therapy and physiotherapy were started with good outcome after three weeks. Prolonged stay of the foreign body in the ear can cause local infection resulting in potential functional complications. Early extraction and local treatment are the basis for treatment.

Glucose lowering and pancreato-protective effects of Abrus Precatorius (L.) leaf extract in normoglycemic and STZ/Nicotinamide - Induced diabetic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Abrus precatorius (L.) leaves are used as folk medicine by the local communities in the western region of Ghana to treat diabetes mellitus; however, this health claim remains unverified scientifically. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated glucose lowering and pancreato-protective effects of Abrus precatorius leaf extract (APLE) in normoglycemic and STZ/nicotinamide (NIC)-induced diabetic rats. METHOD: after preparation of APLE, it was subjected to phytochemical screening, proximate composition and elemental assessments by using standard methods. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and maltose, lactose and sucrose oral challenge were assessed in normoglycemic rats post-APLE. Morphological characteristics of glucose response curve (time of glucose peak and shape of glucose response curve) were determined. Subsequently, diabetes mellitus was experimentally established in normoglycaemic adult Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 150-250 g) of both sexes by sequential injection of Streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg ip)-reconstituted in sodium citrate buffer and NIC (110 mg/kg ip)-reconstituted in normal saline (1:1 v/v) for 16 weeks. Except control rats (normal saline 5 ml/kg ip; baseline fasting blood glucose [FBG] of 6.48 mmol/L), rats having FBG (stable at 11.1 mmol/L or ≥ 250 mg/dL) 3 days post-STZ/NIC injection were randomly re-assigned to one of the following groups: model (STZ/NIC-induced diabetic rats), APLE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively po) and metformin (300 mg/kg po) and treated daily for 28 days. Bodyweight and FBG were measured on weekly basis. FBG was measured by using standard glucometers. On day 28, rats were sacrificed under chloroform anesthesia, blood collected via cardiac puncture; kidney, liver and pancreas surgically harvested. While the pancreas was processed, sectioned and H&E-stained for histological examination, fresh kidney and liver were homogenized for assessment of total anti-oxidant capacity. Median cross-sectional area of pancreatic islets of Langerhans was determined for each group by using Amscope. RESULTS: Cumulatively, APLE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively) dose-dependently decreased the initial FBG by 55.22, 76.15 and 77.77% respectively compared to model (-1.04%) and metformin (72.29%) groups. APLE treatment recovered damaged pancreatic ß-cells and also increased median cross-sectional area (x106 µm2) of pancreatic islets compared to that of model group. APLE significantly (P < 0.05) increased total anti-oxidant capacity (5.21 ± 0.02 AscAE µg/mL) of plasma, kidney and liver compared to model (4.06 ± 0.04 AscAE µg/mL) and metformin (4.87 ± 0.03 AscAE µg/mL) groups. CONCLUSION: APLE has demonstrated glucose lowering and pancreato-protective effects in rats and arrested the characteristic loss in bodyweight associated with diabetes mellitus. This finding preliminarily confirms folk use of APLE as an anti-diabetic herbal medicine, whiles providing a rationale for further translational studies on APLE.

Three new pterocarpans from the aerial parts of Abrus Precatorius.

Three new pterocarpans, named abrusprecatins A-C (1-3), along with three known ones, namely medicarpin (4), maackiain (5), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-8,9-methylenedioxypterocarpan (6) were isolated from the aerial parts of Abrus precatorius. The structures of these compounds were established by extensive analysis of mass spectrometric data, 1 D and 2 D NMR spectroscopic data. In addition, the absolute configurations were determined by a combination of single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and circular dichroism spectroscopy.

Detection of Abrin-Like and Prepropulchellin-Like Toxin Genes and Transcripts Using Whole Genome Sequencing and Full-Length Transcript Sequencing of Abrus precatorius.

The sequenced genome and the leaf transcriptome of a near relative of Abrus pulchellus and Abrus precatorius was analyzed to characterize the genetic basis of toxin gene expression. From the high-quality genome assembly, a total of 26 potential coding regions were identified that contain genes with abrin-like, pulchellin-like, and agglutinin-like homology, with full-length transcripts detected in leaf tissue for 9 of the 26 coding regions. All of the toxin-like genes were identified within only five isolated regions of the genome, with each region containing 1 to 16 gene variants within each genomic region (<1 Mbp). The Abrusprecatorius cultivar sequenced here contains genes which encode for proteins that are homologous to certain abrin and prepropulchellin genes previously identified, and we observed substantial diversity of genes and predicted gene products in Abrus precatorius and previously characterized toxins. This suggests diverse toxin repertoires within Abrus, potentially the results of rapid toxin evolution.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis due to abrus precatorius poisoning - A case report.

Abrus precatorius, commonly known as 'Rosary pea' or 'Jequirity pea' and known as 'Shisham, Batrah-Hindi or Ain Alfreeth' in the Middle East, grows wild in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. The seeds of the plant contain one of the most potent toxins known to man. Poisoning with abrus seeds is a rare occurrence as the harder outer coat of the seeds generally resists digestion and such reports are scarce in the literature. We present here a case of a 22 year old lady who developed severe vomiting, diarrhoea and malena at the initial stages and later seizures and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis due to deliberate chewing and swallowing of abrus seeds. She was rescued with several sessions of membrane plasmapheresis and supportive care. The neuropathological process of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis due to abrus poisoning was reversed by plasmapheresis.

Isolation, Solid-state Structure Determination, In Silico and In Vitro Anticancer Evaluation of an Indole Amino Acid Alkaloid L-Abrine.

BACKGROUND: Abrus precatorius Linn. (Kunch in Bengali) is widely spread in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is a typical plant species which is well-known simultaneously as folk medicine and for its toxicity. OBJECTIVE: Phytoceutical investigation of the white variety seeds of Abrus precatorius Linn. METHODS: Traditional extraction, separation, isolation, and purification processes were followed. The structure was elucidated by various spectral analyses and the solid-state structure of this indolealkaloid was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Docking interactions of L-abrine had been studied against ten major proteins, responsible for various types of cancers. In silico studies were done by Schrödinger Maestro, AutoDock4, PyMOL and AutoDock Vina. The protein structures were downloaded from Protein Data Bank. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) colorimetric assay was used for in vitro anticancer evaluation against four human cancer cell lines. RESULTS: An indole-containing unusual amino acid alkaloid had been isolated from the white variety seeds of Abrus precatorius Linn. In silico docking studies demonstrated significant antiproliferative activity against four human cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION: The solid-state zwitterion structure of the indole-containing alkaloid (α-methylamino- ß-indolepropionic acid, L-abrine) has been confirmed for the first time by X-ray crystallography. Highly promising in silico and in vitro results indicate that L-abrine may find its space in future anticancer drug discovery research.

Two pairs of enantiomeric propylated flavonoids and a new lignan from the aerial parts of Abrus precatorius.

Two pairs of novel enantiomeric flavonoids (1a, 1b and 2a, 2b), along with one new lignan (3), were isolated from the aerial parts of Abrus precatorius. All of these enantiomeric flavonoids featured an unprecedented propylated flavonoid skeleton representing a new family of flavonoid, and the new lignan was found to have an attractive arachidate ester side chain. Their structures were extensively elucidated by means of detailed NMR and mass spectroscopic analysis. Moreover, biological evaluation of antibacterial activity for these compounds against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli were conducted.

Subchronic Toxicity Assessment of Orally Administered Methanol (70%) Seed Extract of Abrus precatorius L. in Wistar Albino Rats.

OBJECTIVES: Abrus precatorius L. is a famous medicinal plant of the family Fabaceae and is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. However, there are limited toxicological data available regarding its safety following repeated exposure; therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the 28-day subchronic toxicity of methanol (70%) crude extract of A. precatorius seeds in adult Wistar albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A subchronic toxicity experiment was conducted by oral administration of graded doses (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) of test extract daily for 28 days. Signs of toxicity, food and water consumption, body weight, and gross pathology as well as relative organ weight were evaluated. The toxic effects were also assessed using hematological and biochemical data followed by histopathological examination of various internal organs. All data collected were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni test was used for data interpretation and p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: No deaths or evident toxic signs were found during the experimental period. There were no significant differences in body weight, gross pathology, organ weight, or food and water consumption between the control and the treated groups. There were no treatment-related differences in hematological or biochemical indices. Moreover, no gross abnormalities or histological alterations were observed. CONCLUSION: The methanol extract of A. precatorius seeds was nontoxic in subchronic intake at the dosages tested. Thus, this study is expected to be beneficial for clinical and traditional applications for safe consumption and to utilize A. precatorius as a remedy at a recommended dosage.