Amazing bean Mucuna pruriens: A comprehensive review

Mucuna pruriens commonly known as cow-age or cowitch or velvet bean or Alkushi, is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Indian medicine belongs to the family Leguminosae. M. pruriens seed is a natural source of the amino acid L-3,4-dihydroxy phenyl alanine (L-DOPA), the direct precursor to the neuro transmitter dopamine which is used widely in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Serotonin, oxitriptan, nicotine, N,N-DMT, and bufotenine are the other chemicals found in M. pruriens in addition to L-DOPA. According to Ancient Ayurvedic literature Mucuna is used as a potent aphrodisiac, geriatric tonic and vermifuge. It is also used for the treatment of menstruation disorders, constipation, edema, fever, tuberculosis, etc. In addition, Mucuna is also grown as food crop, ornamental plant, living mulch and green manure crop. The reviews summarize the botany, uses, phyto constituents and pharmacological activities of M. pruriens.