Mucuna pruriens
Mucuna pruriens
Author : (L.) DC.
Family : Fabaceae

Habit:Climber
Sanskrit: Atmagupta, Kapikachuh
English: Common cowitch, Cowhage
 
Description
A twining herb with trifoliolate, leaves, broadly ovate, elliptic or rhomboid ovate leaflets, purple flowers in axillary, pendulous racemes, curved, longitudinally ribbed, turgid pods, densely covered with persistent, pale brown or grey, irritant hairs and contains 4-6, black, ovoid seeds having faint brown spots.
Useful part

Root, leaves, seeds, hairs, flowers,

Medicinal Uses

constipation, kidney complaints, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea, elephantiasis, prevents male and female sterility, nervous disorders, consumption, ulcers, worm infestations, fever, inflammations, headache, general debility, consumption, gastro-intestinal diseases, depressive illness, Parkinson's disease, increases sperm count, ovulation, diabetes, purgative
Major chemical constituents

3,4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine (L-DOPA), mucuadine, mucuadinine, mucuadininine, prurienidine, mucunin, mucunadine, nicotine, carbohydrates, amino acids, acids, indole alkylamines, serotonin, sterols, serotonin