DOI: 10.21276/sajp.2016.5.10.3

Pages: 399-405

The plant Abrus precatorius is found in tropical countries and widely used as an abortifacient, oral contraceptive and anti-nausea. Seeds are the most poisonous part of the plant due to a toxic poison - abrin. Ingested seeds can affect the gastrointestinal tract, the liver, spleen, kidney, and the lymphatic system. This work aimed at establishing the toxicity/safety status of A. precatorius seeds collected from Bunda District, Mara Region Powdered seeds were extracted with methanol using a Soxhlet apparatus. Cytotoxicity and Acute Oral Toxicity tests employed Artemia salina and albino mice respectively. Brine Shrimps Test gave the LC50 value of 169.36µg/ml regarded as non-toxic. Acute Oral Toxicity test showed no mortality up to the highest tested dose of 5000mg/kgBWT thus classified as practically nontoxic. However, after dissection, the morphological observation revealed gross pathological changes of lungs, small intestines and liver. Histological results indicated hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. This study has confirmed that, A. precatorius seeds from Bunda, Tanzania are also not safe for medicinal use. Therefore, the public have to be made aware about their toxicity through the media and other means including various bodies dealing with traditional medicine and complementary/alternative medicines such as a regulatory body; the ‘Traditional and Alternative Health Practice Council’ of Tanzania. A team work with clinicians is recommended to associate the use of A. precatorius seeds and development of liver and kidney diseases among the patients suffering from such problems