Patient handout for Jequirity
Jequirity
Jequirity
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Abrus precatorius, synonym Glycine abrus
FAMILY
Fabaceae/Leguminosae

+ Other Common Names

  • Bead Vine, Black-Eyed Susan, Buddhist Rosary Bead, Chanothi, Chashami -Khurosa, Chunhali, Crab's Eye, Gaunchi, Ghunchi, Grain D'Église, Gumchi, Gunchi, Gundumani, Gunja, Guruginia, Gurugunii, Haricot Paternoster, Herbe de Diable, Herbe du Diable, Indian Bead, Jequirity Bean, Jequirity Seed, Koonch, Kunch, Kundumani, Kunni, Liane Réglisse, Love Bean, Lucky Bean, Mulati, Ojo de Pajaro, Pater Noster, Pois Rouge, Prayer Beads, Prayer Head, Precatory Bean, Rati, Rati Gedi, Regaliz Americano, Réglisse Marron, Rosary Pea, Saga, Seminole Bead, Shangir, Soldat, Weather Plant, Weglis, Xian Si Zi.

Overview

Jequirity is a legume climber characterized by red seeds that have a black band at the base. It is native to India but now also grows in tropical parts of South America, Africa, and Asia. The roots, leaves, and seeds of jequirity have been used in traditional medicine (90900).

+ History

Jequirity beans have traditionally been used in art, rosaries, rattles, and toys because of their bright color and black band (17,90900).

Jequirity beans have previously been used as a measure of weight, as they are very consistent in size (90900).

The abrin from jequirity beans was once used as poison on arrow tips (95221).

People Use This For

Orally, jequirity root is used for asthma, fever, sore throat, bronchitis, hepatitis, snakebites, abdominal pain, labor induction, malaria, seizures, and tapeworms. Jequirity leaves are used orally for fever, cough, the common cold, flu, insect bites, constipation, and gonorrhea. Orally, jequirity bean is used as an abortifacient, oral contraceptive, and analgesic in terminally-ill patients. Jequirity bean is also used to quicken labor. The whole plant is used orally for ophthalmic inflammation.

Safety

LIKELY UNSAFE ...when used orally. Ingesting 5 mg of abrin, a constituent of jequirity beans, is toxic to humans (6). Significant jequirity bean ingestion causes severe gastroenteritis, followed by diarrhea and vomiting that can become bloody. Symptoms can occur within hours or days after ingestion (3499,100257). Death can occur after 3-4 days of persistent gastroenteritis caused by jequirity use (17,3499).

CHILDREN: UNSAFE ...when used orally. Ingestion of one seed in young children can be fatal (3499,5607). Older children aged 9-13 years have been reported to experience severe abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody stools (5607,11473), and pulmonary edema after ingesting just one or more seeds (11473).

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: LIKELY UNSAFE ...when used orally (6,26196); avoid using.

+ Adverse Effects

General: Orally, jequirity is associated with serious adverse effects. Chewing jequirity seeds or consuming seeds with cracked shells can cause stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea (possibly bloody), cold sweats, fever, drowsiness, anxiety, weakness, hypertension, tachycardia, pulmonary edema, kidney failure, liver toxicity, coma, circulatory collapse, cerebral edema, and death (3499,5608,11473,95220,95221,100257). Signs of toxicity, including gastroenteritis, may occur several hours after ingestion of the seeds, followed by the development of bloody diarrhea. More often, however, there can be a latent period of approximately 3-4 days after ingestion of the seeds prior to the development of toxic symptoms. Adverse events, including death, may occur up to 10-14 days after ingestion of the seeds (11473). Iron deficiency anemia, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, and mild thrombocytosis have been reported in a 2-year old who consumed crushed jequirity seeds (95221).

Topically, jequirity seeds can cause dermatitis when worn as a necklace (6). Eye contact with the seed's contents can cause necrotizing conjunctivitis (3499).
  • + Cardiovascular

    Orally, chewed or cracked jequirity beans can cause hypertension, tachycardia, or circulatory collapse (3499,11473).
  • + Dermatologic

    Topically, wearing jewelry made with jequirity beans can cause dermatitis (6).
  • + Gastrointestinal

    Eating, chewing, or sucking on jequirity beans with cracked or crushed shells can cause stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea that may be bloody (6,3499,26893,27025,95220,95221,100257). Other symptoms include erosions of the intestinal epithelium (27027). Death, occurring in approximately 5% of patients consuming cracked or crushed jequirity beans, is usually due to severe fluid loss occurring with profuse bloody diarrhea (95220).
  • + Hematologic

    Iron deficiency anemia, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, and mild thrombocytosis have been reported in a 2-year old who eventually died after experiencing bloody diarrhea related to consumption of crushed jequirity seeds (95221).
  • + Hepatic

    Orally, crushed or cracked jequirity beans have been reported to cause liver toxicity (11473).
  • + Neurologic/CNS

    Orally, jequirity beans can cause cold sweats, fever, drowsiness, anxiety, cerebral edema, coma, increased intracranial pressure, acute demyelinating encephalitis, and seizures (3499,27025,27026,27027,95220,95221,100257).
  • + Ocular/Otic

    Topically, constituents or extract of jequirity beans may cause necrotizing conjunctivitis when applied to the eye (3499,27028,27029).
  • + Pulmonary/Respiratory

    Orally, crushed or cracked jequirity beans can cause pulmonary edema (11473).
  • + Renal

    Orally, crushed or cracked jequirity beans have been reported to cause kidney failure (11473,95221). Death has occurred following kidney failure in a 2-year old child who ingested crushed jequirity beans (95221).
  • + Other

    Orally, jequirity is associated with serious adverse effects. Chewing jequirity seeds or consuming seeds with cracked shells can cause toxicity and death (3499,5608,11473,95220,95221,100257). Signs of toxicity may occur several hours after ingestion of the seeds, followed by the development of bloody diarrhea. More often, however, there can be a latent period of approximately 3-4 days after ingestion of the seeds prior to the development of toxic symptoms. Adverse events, including death, may occur up to 10-14 days after ingestion of the seeds (11473).

    Effective management of jequirity and abrin toxicity can include gastric lavage, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) with hemoperfusion, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, as well as liver protection, hemostasis, and normalization of blood volume and electrolytes (100257).

Effectiveness

There is insufficient reliable information available about the effectiveness of jequirity.

Dosing & Administration

  • Adult

    No typical dosage.
  • Standardization & Formulation

    There is insufficient reliable information available about the standardization of jequirity.

Interactions with Drugs

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Interaction RatingModerate Be cautious with this combination.
Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D
Evidence from in vitro research suggests that constituents of jequirity beans can inhibit platelet aggregation (3841). Theoretically, jequirity might increase the risk of bleeding when used with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs. Some anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Interaction RatingModerate Be cautious with this combination.
Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D
Evidence from animal research suggests that an extract of jequirity can reduce blood glucose levels (27016). Theoretically, jequirity might have additive effects with antidiabetes drugs and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments might be necessary. Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Interaction RatingMinor Be watchful with this combination.
Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Unlikely •  Level of Evidence = D
In vitro research shows that jequirity extract inhibits CYP3A4 enzymes (112199). Theoretically, taking jequirity may inhibit the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates.

Interactions with Supplements

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS: Evidence from in vitro research suggests that constituents of jequirity beans can inhibit platelet aggregation (3841). Theoretically, concomitant use with herbs that affect platelet aggregation may increase the risk of bleeding in some people. These herbs include angelica, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, red clover, turmeric, willow, Panax ginseng, and others.
HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS WITH HYPOGLYCEMIC POTENTIAL: Evidence from animal research suggests that an extract of jequirity can reduce blood sugar levels (27016). Theoretically, jequirity might have additive effects when used with herbs and supplements with hypoglycemic potential. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Some herbs and supplements with hypoglycemic potential include devil's claw, fenugreek, guar gum, Panax ginseng, Siberian ginseng, and others.

+ Interactions with Conditions

+ BLEEDING DISORDER

Jequirity beans might inhibit platelet aggregation (3841). Although this has not been observed in humans, theoretically, jequirity may increase the risk of bleeding in patients with bleeding disorders. Use with caution.

+ DIABETES

Jequirity might affect blood glucose levels (27016). Theoretically, jequirity might interfere with blood glucose control in patients with diabetes. Dosing adjustments for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents may be necessary.

+ SURGERY

Jequirity beans might inhibit platelet aggregation (3841) or affect blood glucose levels (27016). Theoretically, jequirity might cause excessive bleeding if used perioperatively or interfere with blood glucose control during and after surgical procedures. Tell patients to discontinue jequirity at least 2 weeks before elective surgical procedures.

+ Interactions with Lab Tests

+ BLOOD GLUCOSE

Theoretically, jequirity might decrease blood glucose levels and test results (27016).

+ PLATELET FUNCTION

Theoretically, jequirity might inhibit platelet function and measures of platelet aggregation time test results (3841).

Overdose

Abrin, a protein found in the seeds of jequirity, prevents cellular protein synthesis and causes cell death (27036,27037,95220). There is no known antidote to these effects which can impact various cells in the body. Additionally, there is no method for enhancing the elimination of abrin. As such, patients seen within 4 hours of seed ingestion should be treated with usual decontamination methods including lavage, charcoal, and cathartics. In cases of diarrhea, the need for cathartics may be unnecessary. In some cases, intravenous methylprednisolone and oral prednisone have been administered (17,27001,27025,27027,27032).

In mice, the LD50 of an ethanolic jequirity leaf extract was more than 1300 mg/kg when given intraperitoneally (95222). An acute toxicity study in rats suggests that an aqueous extract of jequirity leaf is safe in doses up to 1000 mg/kg (27002) and a methanolic leaf extract is safe in doses up to 2000 mg/kg (95223). However, histological evidence from animal research shows that an aqueous jequirity leaf extract given orally at doses up to 1600 mg/kg can cause testicular degeneration, reduced sperm cell count, and scattered Sertoli cells (27034).

Seed extracts have been shown to impact reproduction in animal models. A methanolic jequirity bean extract caused reversible disruption in the estrous cycle and completely blocked ovulation (27038). In males, jequirity bean extract reduced testicular weight, sperm count, and sperm motility and altered sperm morphology (27039,27040,27041). The effects on spermatogenesis are thought to be related to a decrease in the production and release of testosterone (27039).

Commercial Products Containing: Jequirity


Pharmacokinetics

There is insufficient reliable information available about the pharmacokinetics of jequirity.

Mechanism of Action

General: The applicable parts of the jequirity plant are the leaves, root, and beans. The leaves of the jequirity plant contain the indole alkaloids abrine and precatorine, as well as the triterpene glycosides, abrusosides, and glycyrrhizin. The root contains hypaphorine, abrol, abrasine, precasine, precol, and abruquinones, among many other alkaloid and triterpenoid constituents. The beans, or seeds, contain many of these constituents, as well as albuminous proteins, the abrins (90900).

Anthelmintic effects: Jequirity root and leaves are traditionally used to treat tapeworms. In vitro, stem and root extracts of jequirity have demonstrated anthelmintic activity against tapeworms (26897). The mechanism of these effects is unclear.

Anti-allergy effects: Some abruquinone constituents isolated from the root of jequirity possess potent antiallergic effects by inhibiting the activity of mast cells in vitro (3841). In animal research, jequirity leaf extract also inhibited the activity of mast cells (95222).

Antibacterial effects: Jequirity leaves and roots are traditionally used for various infections. In vitro. the leaf and stem extracts have antimicrobial effects against various Gram positive bacteria (26898).

Anti-inflammatory effects: Some abruquinone constituents isolated from the root of jequirity possess anti-inflammatory effects, including inhibiting antioxidant activity and the activity of neutrophils in vitro (3841). The anti-inflammatory effects of the abruquinones are possibly related to the inhibition of mast cell activity (3842). The leaf extract also appears to have anti-inflammatory effects in animal arthritis models (27002).

Antiplatelet effects: In vitro research shows that some abruquinone constituents isolated from the root of jequirity inhibit platelet aggregation (3841). The mechanism of this effect is unclear.

Antitumor effects: In vitro, various jequirity leaf extracts have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in a manner possibly related to antioxidant effects of the flavonoid constituents (95219). Peptide fractions of the toxic agglutinin compound, abrin, also appear to have anti-cancer effects in animal models, resulting in a reduction in solid tumor mass and volume as well as increased life span and decreased proliferation of various cancer cell lines (27012). The antiproliferative effects of these peptides may be due to DNA fragmentation and apoptosis, following altered cell signalling (27007,27008,27009,27010,27011,27013).

Antiviral effects: Jequirity leaves and roots are traditionally used for various infections. In vitro, an abruquinone constituent of jequirity aerial parts has demonstrated antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) (27015).

Hypoglycemic effects: Extracts of jequirity have hypoglycemic effects in animal diabetic models. A methanolic leaf extract improved levels of both glucose and insulin, possibly by increasing the secretion of insulin (95223).

Immunomodulating effects: Animal and in vitro studies show that peptides or inactivated lectins from jequirity have immunostimulating effects, including production of cytokines and activation of white blood cells and macrophages (27017,27018,27020,27042,27043,27045).

Toxicity effects: Abrin, isolated from jequirity seeds, is a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis and a moderate inhibitor of DNA synthesis. Abrin has two chains (95220). The B chain binds to the cell surface, facilitating entry of the A chain (95220). The A chain is a type II ribosome inhibiting protein that binds to 28S rRNA when internalized into a cell and causes inactivation of protein synthesis and cell death (27036,27037,95220). When abrin damages endothelial cells, increased capillary permeability occurs, leading to fluid and protein leakage (27031). This can result in bloody diarrhea (95220). In vitro, aqueous extracts of the seeds have been shown to agglutinate human red blood corpuscles (6369).


Classifications


References

See Monograph References


Monographs are reviewed on a regular schedule. See our Editorial Principles and Process for details. The literature evaluated in this monograph is current through 3/30/2023. This monograph was last modified on 2/1/2024. If you have comments or suggestions, please tell the editors.