Botanical Name : Mucuna pruriens
English/Common Name : Velvet Bean, Cowhage, Cow-itch, Buffalo bean
Ayurvedic Name : Kaunch, Atmagupta, Kapikacchu
Family : Fabaceae
Part Used : Seeds / Fruits
It is astringent, anthelmintic, nervine tonic, aphrodisiac. A vinous infusion of seeds is a good remedy for dropsy.
Habitat and Botany: M. pruriens is an herbaceous twining annual. The leaves are trifoliate; the leaflets, broadly ovate, ellipticor thomboid ovate and unequal at the base; the flowers, purple and in axillary, pendulous racemes, the pods, curved, longitudinally ribbed, turgid and densely clothed with persistent pale brown or gray, irritant bristles; the seeds, black, 4-6 in a pod and avoid. This Ayurvedic herb is an annual climbing shrub common in the tropics of India; legumes are eaten as a vegetable.
Active Compounds: M. prurita has been found to contain L-DOPA, 40 mg/g of the plant. (Parikh et al, Indian Drugs, 1990, 27, 353; Chem Abstr, 1993, 119, 234161, 245571). The plant/seeds contain the bioactive alkaloids mucunine, mucunadine, mucuadinine, pruriendine and nicotine, besides B-sitosterol, glutathione, lecithin, oils, venolic and gallic acids. The seeds with seed coat showed the presence of a number of bioactive substances including tryptamine, alkylamines, steroids, flavonoids, coumarins, cardenolides, etc. [Sihna, J Res Educ Indian med, 1992, 11(1), 15, Goyal, J Econ Taxon Bot, 1991, 15, 677].
History: Remedies for Anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, astringent, nervine, tonic, rejuvenative. (root is nervine/tonic).
Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Aphrodisiac, Ascaricide, Carminative, Diuretic, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypotensive, Hypoglycemic, Nervine, Vermifuge.
The total alkaloids from seeds of M. pruriens comprising 5 alkaloidal bases were found to bring about a note-worthy increase in the population of spermatozoa and in the weights of body testes, seminal vesicles and prostrate of the treated rats. The exhibited activity was found to stimulate testosterone-enanthate induced androgenic activity observed in another set of treated individuals. (Saksena, S. and Dixit, V.K., Ind. J. Nat. Prod, 1987, 3(1), 3-7).
Lower dose corresponding to the clinical dose significantly decreased the sleeping time, increased the motor activity and gave equivocal results in rotarod test in experimental animals. The high dose (3 times the clinical dose) significantly increased the sleeping time, decreased the motor activity and reduced the time for falling from the rod. Thus the drug possesses CNS stimulant effect at low doses and CNS depressant effect at high doses. (Ahmad, S., et al., Conference of Pharmacology and Symposium of Herbal Drugs. (New Delhi), March 1991, 15, 26.)
A seed diet produced a hypoglycemic effect in normal rats, however, such a diet had an insignificant effect on alloxan-treated rats (Pariksh et al, Indian Drugs, 1990, 27, 353; Gopal, J Econ Taxon Bot, 1991, 15, 677; Handa et al, Fitorerapia, 1989, 60, 210).
Indications: L-DOPA is a neurotransmitter precursor, an effective drug for relief in Parkinsons disease. The seed is prophylactic against oligospermia, useful in increasing sperm count, ovulation in women, etc. it prevents male and female sterility and acts as a nervine tonic.
Seeds-One of the best tonics and aphrodisiacs for the reproductive system. Indigestion, colic, debility, edema, impotence, infertility, leukorrhea, menorrhagia, roundworm, spermatorrhea, Parkinsons. Generally, this herb is used with amalaki, ashwagandha, shatavari, gokshura, white and black musali to make pills and jellies.Roots-fever, edema, elephantiasis (externally), nervous disorders, including facial paralysis.
Adverse effects were mild and were mainly gastro-intestinal in nature. No adverse effects were seen in clinical laboratory reports (lbid, 1995).
Safety: Do not use when congested.
In 15 psychiatric patients, M. pruiens (15 g of crude seed powder was found to significantly inhibit the prolactin response to chlorpromazine injection, as effectively as 0.5 g of L-dopa. No side effects were observed in these patients. (Vaidya, R.A., Neurology (India), 1978, 26, 177).
Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. Fabaceae. "Nescafe", "Nescao". Cultivated.
Toasted ground seeds are used as a coffee substitute (RVM). Elsewhere regarded as anodyne, antidotal aphrodisiac, diuretic, nervine, resolvent, rubefacient, and vermifuge; used for anasarca, asthma, cancer, cholera, cough, diarrhea, dogbite, dropsy, dysuria, insanity, mumps, pleuritis, ringworm, snakebite, sores, syphilis, tumors, and worms (DAW). Interesting that this reputedly aphrodisiac plant should contain l-doipa, side effects of which include priapism (JAD).
Mucuna pruriens, commonly known as velvet bean or cowitch, is a plant indigenous to India A clinical study confirmed the efficacy of the seeds in the management of Parkinsons disease by virtue of their L-dopa content1.
Mucuna pruriens, recognized as an aphrodisiac in Ayurveda, has been shown to increase testosterone levels, leading to deposition of protein in the muscles and increased muscle mass and strength. The extract is also known to enhance mental alertness and improve coordination.
Manyam, B.V., et al. (1995) J. of alternative and Comp. Med., 1(3) 249-255.
Amin, K.M.Y. (1996) Fitoterapia, 67: 53-58.
Bhasin, S., et al. (1996) new England J. of Med., 335, 1-7.
Singh, R.H. et al. (1989) J. Res. ayur. Siddha, 1(1): 1-6.
"These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."
