Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Abrus precatorius is documented in Kew’s SEPASAL inventory. This notice identifies the taxon and a selection of attributed historical uses. It does not recommend medicinal use.
Also known as: Abrus precatorius L.
The accepted name is reconciled with GBIF; historical source names remain visible as synonyms. Other species and plant parts are not interchangeable. A photograph cannot confirm an identification for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Historical record: aphrodisiac
SEPASAL records an earlier use involving roots under “aphrodisiac” (use group 56459). This is a documentary report, not a demonstrated action in humans. The entry does not establish an effective dose, safety or a suitable home preparation. The original publications are cited by Kew; they have not all been consulted directly.
Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.
Read the sourceHistorical record: female infertility
SEPASAL records an earlier use involving roots under “female infertility” (use group 56460). This is a documentary report, not a demonstrated action in humans. The entry does not establish an effective dose, safety or a suitable home preparation. The original publications are cited by Kew; they have not all been consulted directly.
Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.
Read the sourceHistorical record: malaise/fatigue
SEPASAL records an earlier use involving seeds under “malaise/fatigue” (use group 56462). This is a documentary report, not a demonstrated action in humans. The entry does not establish an effective dose, safety or a suitable home preparation. The original publications are cited by Kew; they have not all been consulted directly.
Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.
Contraindications & precautions
- Toxicity is reported in SEPASAL. No home preparation or ingestion.
- A complete clinical contraindication assessment is not available in the references used here. Missing information is not evidence of safety.
- Historical uses of roots or seeds do not establish safe uses.
Medicine interactions
- Interactions have not been systematically assessed in this historical inventory. Compatibility with medicines cannot be established.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- Seed abrin can cause severe poisoning, including vomiting and diarrhoea with dehydration and organ injury.
- These sources do not define a safe quantity or a complete list of drug interactions.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established here. No medicinal use is recommended.
Children & adolescents
No paediatric preparation or dose is validated by this notice. Do not extrapolate historical adult uses to children.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- SEPASAL, use group 56462 — Leffers, A. — 2003 — Gemsbok bean & Kalahari truffle. Traditional plant use by Jul'hoansi in North-Eastern NamibiaAccessed on 09/10/2026
- GBIF — Abrus precatorius L.Accessed on 09/10/2026
- CDC / NIOSH — Abrin: BiotoxinAccessed on 09/10/2026
Image: Cheryl Stinchcomb · CC BY 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.