Mucuna pruriens var. utilis
Mucuna pruriens utilis
Mucuna pruriens var. utilis, commonly known as velvet bean, is a powerful medicinal legume celebrated for its neuroprotective properties. Rich in L-Dopa, it is traditionally used to manage Parkinson's disease and balance dopamine levels. This versatile plant offers significant therapeutic potential for enhancing neurological health and overall cognitive function.
- Scientific name: Mucuna pruriens var. utilis
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified in the family Fabaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Mucuna as the variety Mucuna pruriens var. utilis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Mucuna | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Mucuna pruriens var. utilis, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic context. In English, it is commonly called Mucuna pruriens utilis, while in Chinese, it is identified as 黧豆 (zh), 黧豆 (zh-cn), and 黧豆 (zh-tw). Additionally, it can be specifically denoted as 黧豆(变种) (zh) to highlight its status as a variety.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 黧豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 黧豆 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 黧豆 | Wikidata |
| en | Mucuna pruriens utilis | Wikidata |
| zh | 黧豆(变种) | Wikidata |
| zh | 猫豆 | Wikidata |
| zh | 狗儿豆 | Wikidata |
| zh | 狸豆 | Wikidata |
| zh | 狗抓豆 | Wikidata |
| zh | 龙爪黎豆 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Mucuna pruriens var. utilis, exhibits a specific geographical distribution centered within West Tropical Africa. Its presence is documented across several key nations, including Burkina and Ghana. Furthermore, the species can be found growing within the borders of Guinea. The distribution also extends into the territories of Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Consequently, these specific regions form the primary habitat for this medicinal variety.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as velvet bean, is most valued for its medicinal properties derived specifically from its seeds. These seeds, which are encased in hairy pods, contain high concentrations of L-Dopa, a natural precursor to dopamine, making them a potent botanical source for managing neurological conditions. While the rest of the plant may be used for fodder or soil enrichment, it is the concentrated chemical profile within the seeds that serves as the primary focus for pharmaceutical and traditional medicinal applications.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Mucuna pruriens var. utilis has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include L-dopa, levodopa, linoleic acid, phytate, phytic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| L-dopa | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| levodopa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linoleic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phytate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phytic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| starch | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| trypsin inhibitor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| unsaturated fatty acids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Mucuna pruriens var. utilis has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include protein-energy-malnutrition.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| protein-energy-malnutrition | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |