Mucuna Prurita - Indian Medicinal Plants

Botanical Name: Mucuna prurita Hook.

Family: Papilionaceae; Fabaceae

Introduction:

This drug effective in nervous system & reproductive system. Now a days this plant cultivated using chemical fertilizer, I don’t know that is very much effective. Also there is a problem exists, due to high price and lack of availability not only seed but also pod of the plant is powdered and using in preparation of medicine. This plant seed very much effective in delay of degenerative changes in brain cells.

Names in different Indian languages

English	Cowhage, Horse-eye Bean
Hindi	Gonca, kaunc, kivacc
Kannada	Nasuganni, nayisonanguballi
Malayalam	Naykkorana, corivalli
Sanskrit	Aatmaguptaa
Tamil	Poonaikkaali
Telugu	Pillladugu
Unani	Konchh
Folk

Synonyms

Kapikacchuu, Rshabhi, Adhigandhaa, Ajadaaa, Kacchuraa, Laanguli, Rshyaproktaa, Svaguptaa, Shyaamguptaa, Markati, Kanduraa, Kevaanch, Shuukashimbi.

Mucuna pruriens Baker non DC.

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata

Charaka	Balya, Madhura skañdha
Susrutha	Vidarigañdhãdi, Vãtasamamana
Vagbhata	Vidaryadi, Dürvãdi gana

Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants)

M. monosperma D.C.

Morphology

It is a herbaceous twinning annual.

Leaves- trifoliate, grey silky below; leaflets elliptic, broadly ovate or rhomboid ovate, unequal at the base.

Flowers, in axillary, pendulous racemes, purple.

Fruits- pods, curved, turgid, longitudinally ribbed, 6-10 cm, densely clothed with gray or pale-brown bristles (causes intense itching and dermatitis).

seeds 4-6—ovoid.

chemical constituents

Seeds– L-dopa, mucunine, mucunadine, prurienine, purienine,
tryptamine,

Seed oil– stearic, palmitic, myristic, arachidic, oleic, linoleic acids & sterol.Podtrichomes- 5- hydroxytryptamine

Whole plant– choline , enzyme- protease- mucunain. Several alkaloids have been isolated.

Properties-

Rasa –Madhura, Tikta

Guna: Guru, Snigdha

Virya: Usna, Sita (Dha.Ni.)

Vipãka: Madhura

Karma Vata-pittahara, Balya, Brmhana, Vãjikarana, rasayana

astringent, nervine tonic, local stimulant, used in impotence,purgative, diuretic, constipating

Indications — Mütra-krcchra. Vãtavyãdhi, Parkinsonism, Klaibya, Kastãrtava,

spermatorrhoea, urinary troubles, leucorrhoea, sterility, fever, delirium, general debility

Part Used— Seeds, root, pod-hair

Dosage— Seed powder 3-6g; root decoction 50– 100 ml; pod hair powder 125 mg.

Distribution & Habitat

All over India. More in the tropical regions.

Internal uses

Nervous system: The roots and seeds are tonic for the neurons- The root is useful in hemi paresis and facial palsy. The seed – powder is useful in Parkinson’s disease.

Digestive system : The legumes are anthelmintic for roundworm. Trichomes 0.3.- 0.5 gm. are given mixed with butter, jaggery or honey. Next day a laxative is given-The round worm are killed and expelled out.

Reproductive system : The seeds are very useful in oilgospermia and impotence. Seeds soaked in the root extract relieves vaginal laxity. The oil from seeds is useful in leucorrhoea.

Urinary System: The root has diuretic property, renal dysfunction.

Satmikaran : It promotes muscle mass and body weight shakrawardhak-improves the quality of semen. Hence it is very useful in impotence and oligospermia. The seeds have a high nutritional property.

Srotogamitwa :

Dosha :Tridoshasrotogami.

Dhatu : Shukra (aphrodisiac ), mamsa meda Brimhana), raktagami.

Mala: Purisha . Beeja : Vatashaman.

Dosha: Vatashaman.

Dhatu : Shukra (an aphrodisiac, promoting ejaculation).

Important Yogas or Formulations

Vanarigutika, Mashabaladipachana.

The seed powder 10- 15 g. three times in a day has been shown to be useful in Parkinson’s disease.

Important research work going on

(1) neuro-muscular blocking effects

(2) antispasmodic action

(3)anticholinesterase activity

(4) hypotensive activity

(5)hypoglycemic effect

(6) hypocholesterolemic effect

Therapeutic Uses—

(1) Vãtavyãdhi – Decoction. of the seeds of Kapikacchu for one month .Which improve the strength of arms (C.D.).