Abrus Precatorius
Abrus precatorius
Rosary pea or jumbee bead, a vine whose leaves are used in traditional medicine. Its bright red-and-black seeds contain abrin, one of the deadliest poisons known.
Safety at a glance
- PregnancyNothing recorded
- BreastfeedingNothing recorded
- MedicinesNothing recorded
- Who should avoid itNothing recorded
- AllergiesNothing recorded
- Toxicity3 notes →
Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.
What is Abrus Precatorius?
- Plant family
- Fabaceae, the pea and bean family
- Parts used
- The leaves are used in traditional medicine; the red-and-black seeds are deadly poisonous
- Genus
- Abrus
- Species
- precatorius
Also called
Rosary Pea, Crab's Eye, Jequirity, Indian Liquorice, Precatory Bean
Regional names
Jumbee Bead, Gunja
Traditionally used for
- Traditional medicine (leaves)
- Joint inflammation (studied only by computer)
Traditionally described as
Health topics
Where Abrus Precatorius appears in symptom search, and why. Being listed doesn't mean it's a proven treatment.
- Joint Discomfort
Warning: the leaves were studied for arthritis only in a computer and chemistry study; the seeds are deadly poisonous.
- Poisonous Plants
The seeds contain abrin, one of the deadliest poisons known.
How it's prepared
Common ways Abrus Precatorius is prepared or sold. This isn't advice on how to take it; see Safety below.
Safety
Toxicity testing
The seeds contain abrin, one of the deadliest poisons known and considered even more fatal than ricin. Swallowed whole, the hard shell may pass through, but if the seeds are chewed or crushed, as little as 1 or 2 seeds has killed people. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain and bleeding from the gut.[2]Study
Children are drawn to the brightly coloured seeds and can swallow them by accident.[2]Study
In St Kitts, jumbee bead was found on almost half the farms surveyed and is known to poison livestock, causing stomach pain, vomiting, bleeding in the gut and nervous system signs.[3]Study
What does the research say?
Traditional use
These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.
Abrus is a plant with bright red-and-black seeds, also known as rosary pea or crab's eye. It's often used in traditional medicine, and its leaves have been studied for joint inflammation.[1]Study
In the Caribbean it's known as jumbee bead. A 2026 survey found it growing widely across St Kitts.[3]Study
Laboratory & animal research
Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.
A 2025 computer and chemistry study of the leaves found flavonoids and other compounds predicted to reduce inflammation, suggesting possible use in arthritis. This was not tested in animals or people.[1]Study
In short
Deadly poisonous seeds: chewing 1 or 2 has killed people, and children are drawn to them.
Sources
- [1] The potential of Abrus precatorius leaves in arthritis alleviation computational approaches through LC-MS analysis · DOI: 10.1080/20565623.2025.2483131Peer-reviewed study
- [2] Fatal Curiosity: A Case of Suicidal Attempt by Abrus Seeds Consumption Through Online Research · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.38458Peer-reviewed study
- [3] Toxic Plants Potentially Impacting the Health Status of Livestock in St. Kitts—A Surveillance Study · DOI: 10.3390/toxins18090380Peer-reviewed study
This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.