Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

M
424 Mucuna monosperma DC.
equated with Tuut Siyaah of Unani
medicine.
Mucuna monosperma DC.
Family ◮ Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
Habitat ◮ Nepal, Khasi Hills, Deccan
Peninsula and the Andamans.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kaakaandolaa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Periyattalargai.
Folk ◮ Kaagadolia (Gujarat).
Action ◮ Seeds—sedative, restorative,
expectorant; used in coughs,
asthma.
Mucuna prurita Hook.
Synonym ◮ M. pruriens Baker non
DC.
Family ◮ Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
Habitat ◮ Throughotu India,
including Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
English ◮ Cowhage, Horse-eye Bean.
Ayurvedic ◮ Aatmaguptaa, Kapikacchuu,
Rshabhi, Adhigandhaa,
Ajadaaa, Kacchuraa, Laanguli,
Rshyaproktaa, Svaguptaa,
Shyaamguptaa, Markati, Kanduraa,
Kevaanch, Shuukashimbi.
Unani ◮ Konchh.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Poonaikkaali.
Action ◮ Seed—astringent, nervine
tonic, local stimulant, used in impotence,
spermatorrhoea, urinary
troubles, leucorrhoea, traditionally
used for male virility. Also used in
depressive neurosis. Hair on fruit—
vermifuge, mild vesicant; used for
diseases of liver and gallbladder.
Leaf—applied to ulcers. Pod—
anthelmintic. Root and fruit—spasmolytic,
hypoglycaemic. Root—
CNS active.
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
recommends the seed in impotence
and paralysis agitans; the root in vaginal
laxity.
The seeds contain the alkaloids, mucunine,
mucunadine, mucunadinine,
prurieninine, pruriendine and nicotine,
besides beta-sitosterol, gluthione,
lecithin, vernolic and gallic acids. They
contain a number of bioactive substances
including tryptamine, alkylamines,
steroids, flavonoids, coumarins
and cardenolides. L-DOPA
is present in the seed as well as in the
stem, leaves and roots.
Major constituents of the hairs on
thepodareaminessuchas5-hydroxytryptamine
(serotonin), and a proteolytic
enzyme mucuanain. (Serotonin
was present only in pods.)
Prurieninine slowed down heart
rate, lowered blood pressure and stimulated
intestinal peristalsis in experiments
carried out on frogs. The spasmolysis
of smooth muscles was caused
by indole bases.
Seed diet produced hypoglycaemic
effect in normal rats, however, such
diet had insignificant effect on alloxantreated
rats.
There is some evidence that Cowhage
might be useful for chlorpromazine-induced
hyperprolactinemia in
men. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive
Database, 2007.) (Males with hy-