velvet bean

Names

Common Names

• cow-itch
• cowage
• velvet-bean
• Itchy bean
• Velvet bean
• cowitch

Regional and Traditional Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Carpopogon pruriens
• Dolichos pruriens
• Stizolobium pruriens
• Labradia pruriens
• Negretia pruriens

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Mucuna, which includes the medicinal species Mucuna pruriens.

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct tropical regions. In the Macaronesian islands, it can be specifically found in Cape Verde. Moving to the mainland, it is widely distributed throughout West Tropical Africa. Its presence is documented in several countries, including Benin, Burkina, and Ghana. Additionally, the species extends its range into Guinea-Bissau within the same West Tropical African zone.

Plant Parts

Chemicals

Mucuna pruriens has 48 reported phytochemicals identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include L-dopa, dopamine, levodopa, 17-beta-estradiol, 2-Hydroxyestradiol.

L-dopa

1. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Planta
3. BMC genomics
4. Heliyon
5. PloS one

dopamine

1. Planta
2. Neurochemistry international

levodopa

1. Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

17-beta-estradiol

1. Phytochemistry

2-Hydroxyestradiol

1. Phytochemistry

2-phenylethylamine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

4-HYDROXYESTRADIOL

1. Phytochemistry

9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

AFB1

1. Journal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe canadienne des sciences pharmaceutiques

AFB2

1. Journal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe canadienne des sciences pharmaceutiques

Activities

Mucuna pruriens has 79 reported activities identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Aphrodisiac, Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Antimicrobial, Fertility-Enhancing.

Most Reported Activities

Medicinal Uses

Mucuna pruriens has 39 reported medicinal uses identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Parkinson's disease, neurodegenerative diseases, aphrodisiac, male infertility, Alzheimer's disease.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations