Mucuna Pruriens Seeds & Extract

The seeds of velvet bean are high in protein, carbohydrates, lipids, fiber, and minerals. They are also rich in novel alkaloids, saponins, and sterols. The seeds of all mucuna species contain a high concentration of L-dopa; velvet bean seeds contain 7-10% L-dopa. Concentrations of serotonin also have been found in the pod, leaf and fruit.

The stinging hairs of the seed pods contain the phytochemical mucunain, which is responsible for causing skin irritation and itch.

The main plant chemicals found in velvet bean include: alkaloids, alkylamines, arachidic acid, behenic acid, betacarboline, beta-sitosterol, bufotenine, cystine, dopamine, fatty acids, flavones, galactose d, gallic acid, genistein, glutamic acid, glutathione, glycine, histidine, hydroxygenistein, 5-hydroxytryptamine, isoleucine, l-dopa, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, lysine, mannose d, methionine, 6-methoxyharman, mucunadine, mucunain, mucunine, myristic acid, niacin, nicotine, oleic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, phenylalanine, prurienidine, prurienine, riboflavin, saponins, serine, serotonin, stearic acid, stizolamine, threonine, trypsin, tryptamine, tyrosine, valine, and vernolic acid.

Mucuna pruriens, one of the common Ayurvedice herbs, is also known as velvet bean or cowhage. Mucuna pruriens contains L-Dopa. Mucuna has been used for generations in India for Parkinson's disease.L-dopa is used to make dopamine, an important brain chemical involved in mood, sexuality, and movement.

Studies in rats show mucuna pruriens supplements influence dopamine content in the cortex of the brain. Mucuna pruriens has antioxidant properties. How well mucuna pruriens works in Parkinson's disease is just beginning to be evaluated in research studies and no major conclusions can be made at this time.

Local names for mucuna pruriens are cowhage or cowage, velvet bean, and Nescafe. Composition of Mucuna Pruriens. Mucuna pruriensThe seeds of velvet bean are high in protein, carbohydrates, lipids, fiber, and minerals. They are also rich in novel alkaloids, saponins, and sterols.

The seeds of all mucuna species contain a high concentration of L-dopa; velvet bean seeds contain 7-10% L-dopa. Concentrations of serotonin also have been found in the pod, leaf and fruit. The stinging hairs of the seed pods contain the phytochemical mucunain, which is responsible for causing skin irritation and itch.

Nutritional analysis reveals mucuna pruriens contains crude protein ranged from 20-29 %, crude lipid 6-7%, total dietary fibre 8-10%, ash 3% and carbohydrates 50-60%. Several other compounds are found, including alkaloids.

Mucuna pruriens principle constituents are L-DOPA and the bioactive alkaloids mucunine, mucunadine, mucuadinine, prurienine and nicotine as well as beta-sitosterol, glutathione, lecithin, oils, venolic and gallic acids. L-DOPA is a neurotransmitter precursor, an effective drug for relief in Parkinson's disease.

The seed is a prophylactic against oligospermia and is useful in increasing sperm count, ovulation in women, etc. Mucuna pruriens is a good aphrodisiac and also a nervine tonic. It is used in the treatment of spermatorrhea and diseases of the genitourinary system.

Mucuna pruriens Root is useful in diseases of the nervous system, such as facial paralysis, hemiplegia etc. A strong infusion of the root sweetened with honey is given in cholera morbus. Root is also useful for delirium in fevers and when powdered and made into a paste it is applied in dropsy, a piece of the root being also applied to the wrist and ankle.

Root is also made into an ointment which is used for elephantiasis. Seed is said to absorb scorpion poison when applied to the part stung. The root is used as diuretic, tonic and stimulant. It is recommended for the nervous system, facial paralysis, hemiplegia, delirium in fevers, and dropsy, in decoction. The infusion of the pods is also good for dropsy.

The hairs of the pods are given for threadworms. The seeds are considered astringent, aphrodisiac, tonic, nervine and nutritive. They are given in powder or in decoction in cases of leukorrhea, spermatorrhea, menstrual disorders etc.

Mucuna pruriens is reported to contain tryptamine alkaloids, specifically 5MeoDMT, Dimethyltryptamine and related alkaloids, in all parts of the plant. Also reported to contain L-dopa in seeds, a dopamine precursor utilised in parkinsons disease.

Mucuna pruriensThe main plant chemicals found in velvet bean include: alkaloids, alkylamines, arachidic acid, behenic acid, betacarboline, beta-sitosterol, bufotenine, cystine, dopamine, fatty acids, flavones, galactose d, gallic acid, genistein, glutamic acid, glutathione, glycine, histidine, hydroxygenistein, 5-hydroxytryptamine, isoleucine, l-dopa, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, lysine, mannose d, methionine, 6-methoxyharman, mucunadine, mucunain, mucunine, myristic acid, niacin, nicotine, oleic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, phenylalanine, prurienidine, prurienine, riboflavin, saponins, serine, serotonin, stearic acid, stizolamine, threonine, trypsin, tryptamine, tyrosine, valine, and vernolic acid.

Other Contents: The seeds of velvet bean are high in protein, carbohydrates, lipids, fiber, and minerals. They are also rich in novel alkaloids, saponins, and sterols. The seeds of all mucuna species contain a high concentration of L-dopa; velvet bean seeds contain 7-10% L-dopa. Concentrations of serotonin also have been found in the pod, leaf and fruit.

The stinging hairs of the seed pods contain the phytochemical mucunain, which is responsible for causing skin irritation and itch. Mucuna Pruriens Tribal and Herbal Medicine Uses. Mucuna pruriens Roots, according to the Ayurveda, are bitter, thermogenic, anthelmintic, diuretic, emollient, stimulant, aphrodisiac, purgative, febrifuge, tonic.

It is considered useful to relieve constipation, nephropathy, strangury, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea, elephantiasis, dropsy, neuropathy, consumption, ulcers, helminthiasis, fever, and delirum (Lindley 1985; Ramnath 1992; Warrier 1995; Shalini 1997; Upadhyay 2000). Leaves are popular potherbs and are used as a fodder crop.

Leaves are useful in ulcers, inflammation, cephalagia and general debility.