Abrus precatorius

abrus precatorius

1. ABRUS PRECATORIUS Dr Nikita Prabhakaran Junior resident Dept of Forensic M edicine GMC, Tvm

2. Other names Jequirity Indian liquorice Rosary bead Gunja Rati Coral bead vine

3. Plant characteristics: Slender Twinning Climbing Woody at base All over India Almost all parts  poisonous

4. Part characteristic Leaves Compound 10-15 leaflets Flowers Pea like Purple/pink/yellowish Seed pot Clusters ( green  brown ) Splits open exposing seeds 2.5 cm-5 cm Seeds- tasteless odourless Egg shaped Bright scarlet red Large black spot 8 mm*6 mm 105 mg ABRIN-toxalbumin

5. Suis Seeds decorticate Datura Opium Onion 2 needles stuck into a wooden handle Blown over the animal Spirit + water  sharp pointed needles sun dried ( 15 mm long , 90 to 120mg weight )

6. ABRIN Active principle in the seed Toxalbumen ~ viperine snake venom Inhibits protein synthesis and causes cell death Others: Abrine - N-methyltryptophan Hemagglutinin Lipolytic enzyme Abralin - a glucoside

7. Signs and symptoms Nausea vomiting Abdominal pain Rectal bleeding Weakness Perspiration Trembling Weak pulse miosis few hours – 2 to 3 days

8. Delayed cytotoxic effects – 2 to 5 days after exposure CNS Liver Kidney Adrenal glands

9. Viperine similarities At the site of injection of its extract inflammation oedema oozing of haemorragic fluid sometimes necrosis develops

10. Ingestion Haemorrhagic gastritis Faintness Vertigo Vomiting Dyspnoea General prostration Convulsions Death  cardiac failure

11. Fatal dose 90-120 mg ( 1to 2 seeds) Abrin is 100 times more poisonous thru subcutaneous route Fatal period 3-5 days

12. Treatment gastric lavage  activated charcoal  purgative  Antiabrin source dissected out  sod bicarb 10g /day

13. PM Appearance Oedema at the site of injection Petechial haemorrhages under skin, pleura, pericardium Organs- congested + haemorrhages

14. Circumstances of poisoning Cattle- to obtain leather  Suis For homicide needle kept between fingers and slapped Powdered seeds- to produce conjunctivitis +malingering Internally – prevent conception + abortion Arrow poison