Mucuna pruriens utilis

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bengal velvet-bean
• Florida velvet-bean
• Lyon-bean
• Mauritius velvet-bean
• Yokohama velvet-bean
• cowage velvet-bean
• lacuna-bean
• velvet-bean
• cowitch

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mucuna capitata
• Carpopogon niveus
• Stizolobium deeringianum
• Mucuna pruriens f. capitata
• Mucuna aterrima
• Mucuna deeringiana
• Mucuna pachylobia
• Mucuna pruriens subsp. deeringiana
• Stizolobium capitatum
• Stizolobium utile
• Mucuna pruriens var. capitata
• Mucuna nivea
• Stizolobium niveum
• Hypoestes cochinchinensis
• Stizolobium cochinchinense
• Mucuna cochinchinensis
• Mucuna pruriens f. cochinchinensis
• Carpopogon capitatus
• Mucuna atrocarpa
• Mucuna lyonii
• Mucuna martini
• Mucuna utilis
• Macranthus cochinchinensis
• Stizolobium aterrimum
• Stizolobium cinereum
• Stizolobium microspermum
• Stizolobium pachylobium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Plant Parts

Mucuna pruriens var. utilis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

Chemicals

Mucuna pruriens var. utilis has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include L-dopa, 2'-Hydroxygenistein, Ash, Phytate, Phytic acid.

L-dopa

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Scientific reports
3. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

2'-Hydroxygenistein

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

Phytate

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Phytic acid

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

STARCH

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Saponins

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

TRYPSIN

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

Tannins

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Trypsin inhibitor

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Activities

Mucuna pruriens var. utilis has 72 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Antiaggregant, Antiangiogenic.

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiatherosclerotic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer (Breast)

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic (Breast)

1. Dr. Duke

Anticlimacteric

1. Dr. Duke

Antiendoccytotic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Mucuna pruriens var. utilis has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include protein-energy-malnutrition.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations