What exactly is the difference between hairy Abrus herb and Abrus herb?

Both hairy Abrus herb and Abrus herb are called Abrus herb, so many people wonder whether these two names refer to the same thing. Here is a brief introduction for everyone.

1. The difference between hairy Abrus herb and Abrus herb

The scientific name of hairy Abrus herb is Abrus mollis, the dried whole herb without pods of plants in the genus Abrus of the Fabaceae family, Papilionoideae, with about twelve species in the genus, mostly growing in valleys, sparse forests by roadsides, and thickets. Abrus herb, however, is a traditional Chinese medicine, the dried whole plant of the Fabaceae plant Abrus cantoniensis, with the effects of draining dampness and reducing jaundice, clearing heat and detoxifying, and soothing the liver and relieving pain.

The difference between Abrus herb and hairy Abrus herb is that the stems and leaves of hairy Abrus herb are densely covered with hairs, while Abrus herb is sparsely hairy. Abrus herb leaves are smaller and oblong, while hairy Abrus herb leaves are larger and long-oblong. There are also obvious differences in the protrusion of the leaf tips of the two. In addition, the leaf surface of Abrus herb has obvious grid-like texture. The leaf surface texture of hairy Abrus herb is not obvious.

2. The value of hairy Abrus herb and Abrus herb

Hairy Abrus herb is mainly used to treat acute and chronic hepatitis, ascites due to cirrhosis, stomach pain, rheumatic arthralgia and other conditions. The nutritional value of Abrus mollis is also very rich, containing abrus triterpene glycoside A, abrus triterpene glycoside B, abrus triterpene glycoside C, abrine, choline, trigonelline and various other substances, with a strong effect of causing red blood cell agglutination, and also anti-tumor, anti-allergic, anti-histamine and other effects.

Abrus herb is often used for damp-heat jaundice, discomfort in the hypochondrium, distending pain in the stomach duct, and swollen painful breast abscess. Abrus herb can also be used to make soup for dietary therapy in the damp spring and summer seasons. Its effects are also recorded accordingly in the "Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Medicinal Plants": treating rheumatic bone pain and internal injuries from falls and bruises with blood stasis; and used as a cooling and antipyretic medicine.

That is all for hairy Abrus herb and Abrus herb. The names of the two are often confused on the market, so they must be carefully distinguished when used medicinally.