Crude drug sample data base

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Crude drug name

Market nameKali rati
Formal nameGunja
Other names　　　

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Gunchi, Rattee (T), Kuncha (B), Rati (H), Gulganji (K), Kunnikuru (M), Guruvenda (Te), Kunthumani (Ta), Ola-masi-dmar-po (Ti), Lalgedi, ratigedi (N)
English nameJequirity, Crab's Eye, Indian Liquorice
Original plant nameAbrus precatorius Linn., Jequirity, Crab's Eye, Indian Liquorice
Family nameLeguminosae
Used partClassificationPlant origin
Sub classification seed
Collection informationIndia, New Delhi, Hans Raj & Sons
Collection date1991/05/07
CollectorTsuneo Namba, et al.
TMPW No.11973

The capital city, provincial capital city or the representative　　
location of its administrative area is indicated.　　
Production area information
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28.6139391
77.20902120000005
Collection information
India,New Delhi
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Scientific information data base

Crude drug nameAyurvedic name or
Sanskrit name, English name		Gunja, Jequirity, Crab's Eye, Indian Liquorice
SynonymsGunjavalli, Cincapatri, Simbika, Krsnakambojika, Raktika, Kakanantika, Cudamani, Sitapaki, Krsnala, Lata, Svetakamboji, Durmukha, Kakapiluka, Kakadani, Kakabhindi, Vakrasalya, Kiritika, Saumya, Sikhandi, Tamrika, Ucchata, Krsnacudika, Rakta, Raktika, Kamboji, Bhillibhusana, Vanyasya, Manacuda, Svetakamboji, Svetagunja, Bhirintaka, Vakrasalya, Kakapilu
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Original plant nameAbrus precatorius Linn.
Family nameLeguminosae
Used partRoot, leaves, Seed
Distribution areaThroughout tropical India.
RemarksCommon.
Common usesSeeds are used, in the form of a paste as an external application, after detoxification, in skin diseases, baldness, sciatica, and stiffness of shoulder joints and paralysis. Detoxified seed of white variety is employed in certain aphrodisiac drug formulations under the name Ucchata. Seeds are useful as abortifacient. Seed extract is used in the treatment of ulcers and skin affections. In Ayurvedic medicine, the oil expressed from the seeds is said to promote the growth of human hair.
Therapeutic usesVatapittajvara (Fever caused by Vata and Pitta), Mukhasosa (Dryness of mouth), Bhrama (mental instability), Svasa (respiratory disorders), Trsna (thirst), Mada (intoxication), Netramaya (eye diseses), Kandu (itching), Vrana (wounds), Krmi (worms), Kustha (skin diseases), Visa (poison), Indralupta (Alopecia), Sirsaruja (headache), Vata (rheumatic condtions)
Chemical constituentTriterpenoids
Abrisapogenol J (*C5), Abrisapogenol G (*C5), (20S,22S)-3beta,22-Dihydroxtycucurbita-5(10),24-diene-26,29-dioic acid delta-lactone (*C12), Sophoradiol (*C5, *C12), Sophoradiol-22-O-acetate (*5), Hederagenin methyl ester (*C5)

Triterpenoid saponins
Abrusogenin (*C3), Abrusoside A (*C3, *C4), Abrusoside B (*C3), Abrusoside C (*C3), Abrusoside D (*C3), Sophoradiol (*C5), Sophoradiol-22-O-acetate (*C5), Hederagenin methyl ester (*C5), Abrusoside E (*C6), Abrus-saponin I(*C11), Abrus-saponin II (*C11), 3-O-[beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-Oleanolic acid (*C11), Kaikasaponin III (*C11), Kaikasaponin III methyl ester (*C5, *C11), Phaseoside IV (*C11), 3-O-[6'-methyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-3beta,22beta-Dihydroxyolean-12-en- 29-oic acid methyl ester (*C12), 3-O-beta-D-Glucuronopyranosylsophoradiol methyl ester (*C12),

Quinones
Abruquinone A (*C9, *C10), Abruquinone B (*C9, *C10, *C15), Abruquinone C (*C9), Abruquinone D (*C9, *C10, *C14), Abruquinone E (*C9, *C10, *C14), Abruquinone F (*C9, *C11, *C14), Abruquinone G (*C9, *C15),

Flavones & Flavonols
4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one, 8-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) (*C1), Abrusin (*C2), Abrusin 2"-O-beta-D-Apiofuranoside (*C2, *C11), Precatorin I (*C11), Precatorin II (*C11), Precatorin III (*C11), Arbrusin (*C5, *C11), Abrusin 2”-O-beta-D-apiofuranoside (*C5, *C11), 5,4’-Dimethoxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone (*C11), 5,7,4’-Trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone (*C11), 7,3',5'-Trimethoxy-4'-hydroxy-flavone-3-O-beta-D-galactosyl-(1->4)-alpha-L-xylose (*C13), Luteolin (*C18), Abrectorin (*C18), Orientin (*C18), Desmethixycentauredin 7-O-rutinoside (*C18)

Flavanones & Dihydroflavonols
4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) (*C1)

Isoflavones
5,7-Dihydroxy-4',6-dimethoxyisoflavone 7-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (*C7),

Alkaloids
N,N,N-Trimethyl tryptophan (*C5, *C11), Abrine (*C5, *C8, *C11), Methyl ester of N,N-dimethyltryptophan metho cation (*C17), Precatorine (*C17), Trigonelline (*C17)　

Others
Arbin-A (*C16), Arbin-B (*C16)

Pharmacological effectAbrine exhibited anti-tumour activity in mice. Powdered seeds disturb the uterine function and prevent conception in women. Methanolic extract of the seeds inhibited movement of human spermatozoa. Oral administration of agglutinins isolated from the seeds is useful for the treatment of Aids and hepatitis. Abrin the toxic compound may be used to treat certain sex hormone related diseases such as prostate and breast cancer.
Medical systemAyurveda (Traditional Indian medicine)
Traditional conceptRasa (Taste)Tikta (Bitter), Kasaya (Astringent)
Virya (Potency)Usna (Hot)
Guna (Quality)Laghu (Light), Ruksa (Dry), Tiksna (Sharp)
Vipaka
(Post digestive taste)		Katu (Pungent)
Karma
(General action)		Vrsya (aphrodisiac), Balya (strengthening), Rucya (appetising)
Dosakarma
(Action on dosa)		Decreases Kapha, Pitta
Dhatukarma(Action
on body tissues)		Sukrala (increasing reproductive tissue)
Avayava
(Action on organ)		Netra (eye), Kesya (good for hair), Tvacya (good for skin)
Traditional usage1. The part is incised with fine razor and the paste of Gunja (Abrus precatorius) seeds is applied thereon. It alleviates "Avabahuka" (pain in shoulder), "Visvaci" (pain in arm), "Grdhrasi" (sciatica) and other pains caused by Vata.

2. Oil cooked with roots and seeds of Gunja and double the quantity of water destroys, by massage and snuff, chronic "Gandamala" (tumours/tumors in the neck).

3. Root of either Gunja or Asvagandha (Withania somnifera) is chewed with teeth. This relieves the pain caused by dental caries.

4. Oil cooked with Gunja seeds along with Bhrngaraja (Eclipta alba) juice destroys itching, dandruff and other diseases of scalp.

5. Snuffing with Gunja root is useful in all types of head diseases.

6. Gunja root pounded with goat's urine removes defects of vision and blindness.

7. Butter extracted of the buffalo's milk with Gunja powder, by massage, promotes, growth of earlobes.

8. In erysipelas caused by Pitta, paste of Gunja leaves is applied.

9. Application of paste of Gunja powder with butter removes skin diseases. If the part pasted with buttermilk kept in a copper vessel, it prevents relapse of the disease.
FormulationGunjabhadrarasa, Gunjadya taila
CommentsSeeds are emetic, pain relieving, antitoxic. Rroots and leaves are also analgesic. Roots are unctuous and sweet.

Red and white varieties have separate synonyms. Most commonly white variety is used. Synonyms having suffix "valli" denote that it is a climber, Raktika - reddish colour, Vakrasalya - spines on the rachis.

Gunja is grouped under Mulavisa by Susruta and Upavisa by Bhavaprakasa.
ReferencesReference book　

Tips！

[2] Indian Medicinal Plants - A Compendium of 500 species, Varier, P.S., Orient Longman Ltd. Chennai (Madras)
Vol. 1 (Repr.1996), pp 10-14.

Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, 1956. Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L. and Chopra, I.C., Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi. - New Edition (1996) National Institute Science Communication; Supplement
p 1.

Illustrated Manual of Herbal Drugs Used in Ayurveda, 1996. Sarin, Y.K., Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi
p 230.

Ayurvedic Drugs and Their Plant Sources, 1994. Sivarajan, V.V. and Balachandran, I., Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
p 158.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol I, Ed. I, 1989. Govt. of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dept. of Health, New Delhi
pp 44.

Plants in Ayurveda (A Compendium of Botanical and Sanskrit Names), 1997. Abdul Kareem, M., Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Bangalore
9.

Dravyagunavijnana, Vols. 1-5, reprint 1998. Sharma, P.V., Chowkhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi
Vol. 2, pp 771- 773.

Classical uses of Medicinal Plants, 1996. Sharma, P.V., Chaukhambha Visvabharati, Varanasi
p 127.

Research paper*C1 El-Gengaihi, S., Karawya, M. S., Wassel, G. and Ibrahim, N.; Herba Hung., 27, 27-33 (1988).
*C2 Markham, K. R., Wallance, J. W., Babu, Y. N., Murty, V. K. and Rao, M. G.; Phytochemistry, 28, 299-301 (1988).
*C3 Choi, Y. H., Hussain, R. A., Pezzuto, J. M., Kinghorn, A. D. and Morton, J. F.; J. Nat.Prod., 52, 1118-27 (1989).
*C4 Choi, Y. H., Kinghorn, A. D., Shi, X., Zhang, H. and Teo, B. K.; J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun., (13), 887-88 (1989).
*C5 Kinjo, J., Matsumoto, K., Inoue, M., Takeshita, T. and Nohara, T.; Chem. Pharm. Bull., 39, 116-19 (1991).
*C6 Kennelly, E. J., Cai, L., Kim, N.-C. and Kinghorn, A. D.; Phytochemistry, 41, 1381-83 (1996).
*C7 Saxena, V. K. and Sharma, D. N.; Fitoterapia, 70, 328-29 (1999).
*C8 Anitha, B., Arivalangan, M., Sundari, M. S. N. and Durairaj, G.; Indian J. Exp. Biol., 37, 415-17 (1999).
*C9 Song, C.-Q.,and Hu, Z.-B.; Zhiwu Xuebao, 40, 734-39 (1998).
*C10 Kuo, S.-C., Chen, S.-C., Wu, J.-B., Teng, C.-H. and Wang, J. P.; U.S. US 5856352 A, 7pp (1999).
*C11 Ma, C.-M., Nakamura, N. and Hattori, M.; Chem. Pharm. Bull., 46, 982-87 (1998).
*C12 Kim, N. C., Kim, D. S. and Kinghorn, A. D.; Nat. Prod. Lett., 16, 261-66 (2002).
*C13 Yadava, R. N. and Reddy, V. M.; J. Asian. Nat. Prod. Res., 2, 103-107 (2002).
*C14 Kuo, S.-C., Chen, S.-C., Chen, L.-H., Wu, J.-B. Wang, J.-P. and Teng, C.-M.; Planta Med., 61, 307-12 (1995).
*C15 Limmatvapirat, C., Siriopannaporn, S. and Kittakoop. P.; Planta Med., 70, 276-78 (2004).
*C16 Lin, J. Y., Lee, T. C. and Tung, T. C.; Int. J. Pept. Protein Res., 12, 311-17 (1978).
*C17 Ghosal, S. and Dutta, S. K., Phytochemistry, 10, 195-98 (1971).
*C18 Bharadwaj, D. K., Bisht, M. S. and Metha, C. K.; Phytochemistry, 19, 2040-41 (1980).
RemarksThe sample is a mixture of red, black and white varieties of seeds. For medicinal purposes all can be used. The red one is more potent.
Last renewal date2023/11/29
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