Mucuna pruriens

Common Names: cowitch

Ethnobotanical Studies

Clinical Trials

The effect of photobiomodulation on histamine and Mucuna pruriens-induced pruritus, hyperknesis and alloknesis in healthy volunteers: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study.

Lang-Illievich K et al (2024).
PLoS One.
PubMed:
39024251

Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson disease: A double-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover study.

Cilia R et al (2017).
Neurology.
PubMed:
28679598

Studies

Effects of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. and Levodopa in Improving Parkinson's Disease in Rotenone Intoxicated Mice.

Summary

Preliminary study on Mucuna pruriens (MP) and Levodopa for Parkinson's disease showed both improved cognitive function and reduced neuroinflammation. MP may have similar effects as Levodopa, suggesting potential as a treatment.

Zaigham SB and Paeng DG (2024).
Curr Issues Mol Biol.
PubMed:
39194762

Comparable to 17α- methyl testosterone, dietary supplements of Tribulus terrestris and Mucuna pruriens promote the development of mono-sex, all-male tilapia fry, growth, survival rate and sex-related genes (Amh, Sox9, Foxl2, Dmrt1).

Summary

Researchers tested Tribulus terrestris and Mucuna pruriens supplements on young Nile tilapia. Both raised male traits and testosterone, with better growth and survival than 17α-methyl testosterone, showing potential for sex reversal in aquaculture.

Matter AF et al (2024).
BMC Vet Res.
PubMed:
39026327

Computer-aided design and implementation of efficient biosynthetic pathways to produce high added-value products derived from tyrosine in Escherichia coli.

Ferreira S et al (2024).
Front Bioeng Biotechnol.
PubMed:
38978715

Sub-acute toxicity, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Mucuna pruriens L. leaves in experimental rodents.

Alabi AO et al (2024).
J Ethnopharmacol.
PubMed:
38914149

Optimization of Parkinson's disease therapy with plant extracts and nutrition's evolving roles.

Summary

Review on the potential of nutrition and plant extracts in managing Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms. Highlights role in neuroprotection, targeting multiple pathways implicated in PD. Challenges in translating findings into clinical practice discussed. Important for improving quality of life for PD patients.

Abolarin PO et al (2024).
IBRO Neurosci Rep.
PubMed:
38872839

Spatio-temporal expression of polyphenol oxidase unveils the dynamics of L-DOPA accumulation in faba bean (Vicia faba L.).

Summary

Scientists investigated L-DOPA biosynthesis in faba bean, revealing differential accumulation in different tissues. Understanding this process could enhance L-DOPA content in crops, offering potential benefits for Parkinson's disease treatment.

Jena S et al (2024).
Physiol Mol Biol Plants.
PubMed:
38846459

Mucuna pruriens to treat Parkinson's disease in low-income countries: Recommendations and practical guidelines from the farmer to clinical trials. Paving the way for future use in clinical practice.

Summary

Scientists propose Mucuna pruriens as a cost-effective alternative to levodopa for Parkinson's disease treatment in low-income countries. More research needed on safety and efficacy before widespread use. Ensure proper cultivation and storage for clinical trials.

Caronni S et al (2024).
Parkinsonism Relat Disord.
PubMed:
38797572

Dopamine Dysregulation Syndrome Presenting as Overuse of Mucuna pruriens Levodopa Supplement.

Sohutskay DO et al (2024).
J Mov Disord.
PubMed:
38768952

Exploring Anticancer Properties of Medicinal Plants against Breast Cancer by Downregulating Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2.

Summary

Various medicinal plants show promising anticancer activity against HER2-positive breast cancer cells by reducing HER2 expression, altering proteome profile, and containing multiple anticancer compounds. Potential innovative therapies for HER2-positive breast cancer.

Gupta S et al (2024).
J Agric Food Chem.
PubMed:
38624258

Japanese Mucuna pruriens (Hasshou beans) Showed Fast-acting and Long-lasting Effects in Parkinson's Disease.

Summary

Mucuna pruriens, a natural source of levodopa, shows promise for treating Parkinson's disease. Clinical trial shows it extends ON time and has fewer side effects compared to standard treatment.

Sakata M et al (2024).
Intern Med.
PubMed:
38462520

Improving soil fertility through dual inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium on a eutric cambisol cultivated with forage legumes in a semi-arid region.

Mpongwana S et al (2024).
Heliyon.
PubMed:
38312554

Mainstreaming traditional fruits, vegetables and pulses for nutrition, income, and sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa: the case for Kenya and Ethiopia.

Ngigi PB et al (2023).
Front Nutr.
PubMed:
38146328

SP-Max- A Herbomineral Formulation Attenuates Busulfan-Induced Oligospermia in Mice by Preventing Loss of Reproductive Hormones.

Laddha AP, Joshi S and Kulkarni YA (2023).
Reprod Toxicol.
PubMed:
38123000

Antioxidant activity of Flemingia praecox and Mucuna pruriens and their implications for male fertility improvement.

Summary

Globally, male infertility is a major problem and reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to 80% of idiopathic cases. Medicinal plants like Mucuna pruriens and Flemingia praecox can improve male fertility by eliminating ROS. This study confirms the higher antioxidant activity of F. praecox and suggests its use in managing male infertility.

Kumbhare SD, Ukey SS and Gogle DP (2023).
Sci Rep.
PubMed:
37938242

[Survey on the Current Advertising and Sales of Mucuna Pruriens in Consumer-to-consumer Internet Trading in Japan].

Sato K et al (2023).
Yakugaku Zasshi.
PubMed:
37839871

Physicochemical and functional properties of seed flours obtained from germinated and non-germinated Canavalia gladiata and Mucuna pruriens.

Hettiarachchi HACO and Gunathilake KDPP (2023).
Heliyon.
PubMed:
37809811

Dietary supplementation of low levels of unprocessed Mucuna pruriens utilis seed meal induces mild antinutritional entero-physio-metabolic perturbations without compromising performance and meat quality in finisher broilers.

Zungu PN et al (2023).
Trop Anim Health Prod.
PubMed:
37770670

Effects of supplementing processed velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens L. DC. var. utilis) on nutrients intakes, growth performance, and blood profile in goats.

Adjatin RCF et al (2023).
Trop Anim Health Prod.
PubMed:
37733126

Natural angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors: A safeguard against hypertension, respiratory distress syndrome, and chronic kidney diseases.

Summary

Various bioactive metabolites found in herbs such as Rosmarinus officinalis and Punica granatum have shown impressive angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. These natural ACE inhibitors could be a potential treatment for hypertension, respiratory distress syndrome, and chronic kidney diseases, but more clinical trials are needed.

Review Cardiology
Khaled A et al (2023).
Phytother Res.
PubMed:
37675925

Proximate composition and anti-nutritional factors in Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean) seed flour as affected by several processing methods.

Ezegbe CC et al (2023).
Heliyon.
PubMed:
37576254

Recovery of motor function is associated with rescue of glutamate biomarkers in the striatum and motor cortex following treatment with Mucuna pruriens in a murine model of Parkinsons disease.

Denne T et al (2023).
Mol Cell Neurosci.
PubMed:
37527694

Nicotine Free Herbal Composition for Smoking De-Addiction - A Placebo Controlled, Double Blind, Randomized, Multicentric Clinical Study.

Summary

Study evaluated the effects of a nicotine-free herbal formulation on smoking cessation and related health parameters. Quitting smoking is crucial to prevent various health problems, and this study explores alternative methods.

Tamoli SM et al (2023).
J Pharm Bioallied Sci.
PubMed:
37469645

Protective effect of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. pruriens seed extract on apoptotic germ cells in ethanolic male rats.

Samrid R et al (2023).
Braz J Biol.
PubMed:
37436191

Development and Validation of a New LC-MS/MS Bioanalytical Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Levodopa, Levodopa Methyl Ester, and Carbidopa in Human Plasma Samples.

Molteni L et al (2023).
Molecules.
PubMed:
37298741

Aging induced testicular damage: analyzing the ameliorative potential of Mucuna pruriens seed extract.

Ganesh MK et al (2023).
3 Biotech.
PubMed:
37229277

Mucuna pruriens cannot develop phytoremediation of tebuthiuron in agricultural soil with vinasse: a morphometrical and ecotoxicological analysis.

Frias YA et al (2023).
Front Bioeng Biotechnol.
PubMed:
37214304

Evaluation of potential inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase, pancreatic lipase, and cancer cell lines using raw leaves extracts of three fabaceae species.

Summary

This study looked at the biological potential and phytochemicals of three Methi species. They performed anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-lipase assays and found that one species had the highest inhibition percentage and cytotoxic potential against certain cell lines. They also identified several bioactive therapeutic compounds that could be useful in the pharmaceutical industry.

Fatima I et al (2023).
Heliyon.
PubMed:
37206037

Continuous production of velvet bean-based bioactive peptides in membrane reactor with dual enzyme system.

Kurniadi N et al (2023).
Food Chem.
PubMed:
37201259

Physicochemical, amino acid profile and sensory qualities of biscuit produced from a blend of wheat and velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) flour.

Ezegbe CC, Onyeka JU and Nkhata SG (2023).
Heliyon.
PubMed:
37082635

Effect of Mucuna pruriens on brain NMDA receptor and tau protein gene expression in cerebral ischemic rats.

Summary

Researchers investigated the effects of pre-treatment with a seed extract and its bioactive molecule on gene expression in a rat model of cerebral ischemia (reduced blood flow to the brain). Rats were divided into four groups, with those treated with the extract or molecule showing lower neurological deficits and reduced brain damage compared to those in the control group. The study suggests that pre-treatment with the molecule and extract may reduce the negative effects of cerebral ischemia.

Parvatikar PP et al (2023).
Front Physiol.
PubMed:
36875022

Enhanced Physicochemical Stability of the L-DOPA Extract of Mucuna pruriens Seeds by Adding Phyllanthus emblica.

Vilairat C, Kobtrakul K and Vimolmangkang S (2023).
Molecules.
PubMed:
36838562

Bioactive compounds from four Indian medicinal plants have different potency to induce sex reversal in Nile tilapia: A chromatographic, molecular docking and in silico analysis.

Mukherjee D et al (2023).
J Ethnopharmacol.
PubMed:
36781056

Prevention of seminal vesicle damage by Mucuna pruriens var. pruriens seed extract in chronic unpredictable mild stress mice.

Iamsaard S et al (2023).
Pharm Biol.
PubMed:
36565036

Mucuna pruriens Seed Aqueous Extract Improved Neuroprotective and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Effects Compared with Synthetic L-Dopa.

Summary

The study investigated the use of a traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Mucuna pruriens, as an anti-Parkinson's agent due to the toxicity of current treatment options. The study found that the seed extract showed significant neuroprotective properties and inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase, a target in treating Parkinson's disease. The extract containing L-dopa was found to have a superior benefit compared to synthetic L-dopa. This implies that the administration of the seed extract may be a promising treatment option for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

Kamkaen N et al (2022).
Molecules.
PubMed:
35630617

Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson's and in some other diseases: recent advancement and future prospective.

Summary

This review explores the therapeutic potential of Mucuna pruriens (Mp), a legume known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. Mp has been widely used as an aphrodisiac and has been shown to have neuroprotective effects in Parkinson's disease (PD) models. The important constituents responsible for the anti-Parkinsonian activity of Mp are levodopa (L-DOPA), ursolic acid, and betulinic acid. The seeds of Mp are rich in L-DOPA and have been found to exhibit potent neuroprotective attributes in toxin-induced PD models. Clinical trials on anti-PD activity of Mp have shown convincing results. Mp also shows therapeutic activity in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, skin infection, and anemia. However, further studies are needed to validate its efficacy in other neurodegenerative diseases.

Rai SN et al (2020).
3 Biotech.
PubMed:
33194526

An assessment of potential nutritive and medicinal properties of Mucuna pruriens: a natural food legume.

Review
Pathania R et al (2020).
3 Biotech.
PubMed:
32477848

Plants in the management of male infertility.

Review
Abarikwu SO, Onuah CL and Singh SK (2020).
Andrologia.
PubMed:
31989693

Beyond tribulus (Tribulus terrestris L.): The effects of phytotherapics on testosterone, sperm and prostate parameters.

Santos HO, Howell S and Teixeira FJ (2019).
J Ethnopharmacol.
PubMed:
30790614

The potential role of herbal products in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Summary

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disease of the nervous system that causes loss of certain brain cells, leading to movement problems like tremors or stiffness. It may be caused by oxidative stress and an imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Certain herbal products may contain compounds that act as antioxidants and could be helpful in treating PD. This review summarized the active compounds present in herbal extracts including Baicalei, Curcuma longa, and Paeoniae Alba Radix, among others. These extracts could be useful for designing future treatments for PD.

Amro MS et al (2018).
Clin Ter.
PubMed:
29446788

Levodopa in Mucuna pruriens and its degradation.

Pulikkalpura H et al (2015).
Sci Rep.
PubMed:
26058043

The Magic Velvet Bean of Mucuna pruriens.

Review
Lampariello LR et al (2012).
J Tradit Complement Med.
PubMed:
24716148