Abrus precatorius, commonly known as jequirity bean or rosary pea, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. (wikipedia.org)
This image depicted a bean necklace that included the small, red beans from the Jequirity plant, or Crab's eye plant, Abrus precatorius . (cdc.gov)
Abrin is a toxalbumin made by Abrus precatorius (Rosary Pea, Crab's Eyes, Jequirity), a vine that produces pea-sized bright red with a black splotch seeds that are used as beads and to make rattles. (drugsandpoisons.com)
Rosary1
Abrin is a natural poison that is found in the seeds of a plant called the rosary pea or jequirity pea. (cdc.gov)
Seeds6
Jewelry-making with jequirity seeds is rumoured to be somewhat hazardous. (wikipedia.org)
Ricin is a toxin contained in the seeds (beans) of the castor oil plant ( Ricinus communis ). (medscape.com)
Ricin is present in all parts of the plant but is most highly concentrated in the beans or seeds. (medscape.com)
Ricin is a toxalbumin present in the seeds ( beans , although not true beans) and other parts of Ricinus communis (Castor Bean). (drugsandpoisons.com)
Abrin is similar to ricin, a toxin that also is found in the seeds of a plant (the castor bean plant). (cdc.gov)
Jewelry-making with jequirity seeds is dangerous, and there have been cases of death by a finger-prick while boring the seeds for beadwork. (akkaretty.com)
Abrin3
Jequirity beans contain abrin, a related and even more potent toxin. (msdmanuals.com)
However, the seed coating of the jequirity bean is often not intact, and simple bacterial digestion can release the abrin toxin. (msdmanuals.com)
Even though these beans are toxic, containing a toxic plant protein known as abrin, a toxalbumin, they are still widely used as jewelry ornaments, and in percussive musical instruments. (cdc.gov)
Relatively impervious1
The beans are covered by a hard, relatively impervious outer shell that must be chewed or broken in some way in order for the toxalbumin to be released and, thus, present a toxic hazard. (medscape.com)
Ladybug2
Most beans are black and red, reminiscent of a ladybug, though other colors exist. (wikipedia.org)
The third of the bean with the hilum (attachment scar) is black, while the rest is bright red, suggesting a ladybug. (akkaretty.com)
Ricin1
Castor beans contain ricin, an extremely concentrated cellular poison. (msdmanuals.com)
Toxin1
thus, the bean must be chewed to release the toxin. (msdmanuals.com)
Made1
In December 2011 a recall was issued for bracelets made using jequirity beans sold by the Eden Project and other outlets in the UK. (wikipedia.org)
Cause severe2
Poisoning from castor beans or jequirity beans may cause severe vomiting and diarrhea (often bloody) after a delayed period. (msdmanuals.com)
In addition, castor beans are notably antigenic and may cause severe cutaneous hypersensitivity and systemic reactions. (medscape.com)
Poison1
Highly toxic and potentially fatal plants include castor beans and jequirity beans, poison hemlock and water hemlock, and oleander and foxglove. (msdmanuals.com)
Toxic1
The beans are covered by a hard, relatively impervious outer shell that must be chewed or broken in some way in order for the toxalbumin to be released and, thus, present a toxic hazard. (medscape.com)
Black1
Most beans are black and red, reminiscent of a ladybug, though other colors exist. (wikipedia.org)
Native1
One of the contenders for the world's most poisonous plant is the castor bean, a shrub native to Africa and widespread in hot, tropical regions. (bbvaopenmind.com)