velvet bean

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

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

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

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

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Mucuna pruriens is characterized by its presence primarily as a cultivated species within tropical and subtropical regions. It thrives across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL. As a plant typically managed in agricultural or managed landscapes within these warm climatic zones, its distribution is closely tied to human cultivation rather than strictly wild, undisturbed ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Known only as a cultivated plant in the tropics and the subtropics.

Life history

The life history of Mucuna pruriens is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, though its growth patterns can be quite variable depending on environmental conditions and local climatic stability. As a plant that completes its life cycle through a rapid growth phase, it is classified as a therophyte, utilizing a strategy that allows it to thrive and reproduce efficiently within its ecological niche. This life form is further supported by its classification as a therophyte, indicating its ability to survive through specialized stages that facilitate its perennial nature across different seasonal cycles.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Mucuna pruriens is characterized by a woody growth form that functions as a climbing liana. It is an obligatory climber and an independent organism, meaning it does not act as a parasite. This terrestrial plant, which can be classified as both a herb and a forb, typically reaches a height ranging from a maximum of 3 m to a mean height of approximately 4 m. It grows in terrestrial environments rather than aquatic or epiphytic habitats.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Mucuna pruriens is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation, which is typical of most temperate and tropical legumes. As a member of the Fabaceae family, the plant exhibits a specialized symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium, residing within its root nodules; this allows it to function as a nitrogen fixer, converting atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms to support its rapid growth and high protein content. This nitrogen fixation capability significantly enhances its ability to thrive in nutrient-poor soils, contributing to its role in soil enrichment and its vigorous vegetative development.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Mucuna pruriens involves a biological mechanism where self-fertilization is present, allowing the plant to complete its life cycle through autonomous pollination. The resulting seeds exhibit specific morphological variations in weight, with a recorded minimum seed mass of 0.5 g and a maximum seed mass reaching approximately 0.70592 g. On average, the seed mass is measured at 0.63093 g, reflecting the characteristic density and size distribution of the species' propagules.

Seed mass max:

0.70592 g

Seed mass mean:

0.63093 g

Seed mass min:

0.5 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Mucuna pruriens has 4 reported plant parts identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, leaf, root, stem.

Seed

1. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents
3. Planta
4. Frontiers in plant science
5. The Journal of biological chemistry

Leaf

1. Planta
2. International journal of radiation biology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
5. Parasitology research

Root

1. Planta medica
2. Planta
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem

1. Planta

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.

Aphrodisiac

1. Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents
2. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
3. Heliyon
4. PloS one
5. Scientific reports

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
3. Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Neuroprotective

1. Neurochemical research
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Fertility-Enhancing

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Adaptogenic

1. PloS one

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

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

Parkinson's disease

1. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. La Clinica terapeutica
3. Genetics and molecular research : GMR
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Neurochemical research

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Neurochemical research
3. Neurochemistry international
4. Frontiers in nutrition
5. Advances in neurobiology

Aphrodisiac

1. Heliyon
2. PloS one
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Male infertility

1. Neurochemical research
2. Journal of family & reproductive health
3. Andrologia

Alzheimer's disease

1. Neurochemical research
2. Neurochemistry international

Infertility

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
2. Plant disease

Oxidative stress

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society

Snake venom

1. The Journal of biological chemistry
2. Glycoconjugate journal

Snakebite

1. The Journal of biological chemistry
2. Indian journal of experimental biology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

1. Neurochemical research

Preparations

Mucuna pruriens has 23 reported preparations identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include seeds, extracts, 'Amrita Oil', 'Amrita-Prâsa clarified butter', Mp leaf methanolic extract.

Seeds

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Scientific reports
3. Applied and environmental microbiology

Extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

'amrita oil'

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

'amrita-prâsa clarified butter'

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mp leaf methanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Php

1. Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)

Alcohol extract of the seeds

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Autoclaving

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

Cooking

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

Crude extracts

1. Andrologia