Toxic effects of Abrus precatorius L. seeds on laboratory rats

In traditional medicine people uses the seeds of Abrus precatorius L. plant (commonly known as peony) for multiple purpose. The objective of this investigation was to study the toxic effects of the seeds from the A. precatorius in experimental rats. An experimental study of diagnostic type with analytical, explanatory, and descriptive phases was made. The study consisted of two phases: Phase 1: diagnostic phase where a survey was conducted with 30 people without sex distinction. Phase 2: experimental phase where 15 rats of the Sprague- Dawley race, from both sexes and 300g of weight, were used, distributed in 2 groups. Group 1 (control): it consisted of 3 rats to which distilled water was administered; Group 2 (experimental): constits 12 rats to which the watery extract of the peony seeds was administered. The 83% of the 30 surveyed people (Phase 1), knows the peony seed; 40% uses it; and 67% ignores that the seed is toxic. The pathological and anatomic findings revealed that the extract of peony seeds had a poisonous effect on the endothelial wall in the rats of Group 2. These findings could be correlated with the observed clinical manifestations.