Therapeutic potential of medicinal climber Abrus precatorius L. (Fabaceae)

Abrus precatorius L. (Fabaceae), commonly referred to as rosary pea or jequirity bean, is a perennial medicinal climber widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions. The plant has long been utilized in traditional medical systems for the management of numerous ailments, with different parts such as leaves, roots and seeds exhibiting distinct therapeutic applications. Beyond its medicinal relevance, the seeds of A. precatorius are historically notable for their remarkably uniform weight (approximately 0.1 g), which has been traditionally employed as a standard unit of measurement. In recent decades, increasing scientific attention has been directed toward validating its ethnomedicinal claims, resulting in the identification of diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory and anticancer effects. Nevertheless, the presence of potent toxic constituents, particularly abrin in the seeds, raises significant safety concerns. Present study critically synthesizes available literature on the traditional uses, pharmacological properties and toxicity of A. precatorius, highlighting recent experimental advances while identifying key research gaps that must be addressed to facilitate its safe and effective therapeutic development.