KAPIKACHCHU - Mucuna pruriens Bak by - Dr. Parvathy Rajeev

The challenges the world presents us seem to be growing dail, requiring greater effort to maintain balance. The nature itself has the solution in its flora and funa. The world of natural plants is filled with compounds that are beneficial to our health. The best example is the magic bean or the velvet bean a multi-purpose herb that runs the gamut of health uses. Mucuna is known by many names throughout the world such as the magic bean, nescafé and bengal bean. Mucuna beans have been ground into a savory coffee substitute in Central America. The people of India eat it as a vegetable. But perhaps the magic bean’s most popular usage is how the Brazilians use it - for sexual vitality. Increasingly, Mucuna pruriens is used as a health compound due to the concentration of l-dopa in the seeds.

The uses of mucuna can be dated back to vedic times. Ayurveda the ancient science of life , the Indian System of Medicine have explained Mucuna under many Sanskrit names recognizing its different properties and uses.

Sanskrit names :

• Atmagupta (well protected because of the pruritic trichome of the legume)
• Kapikachchu (one starts itching like a monkey – Kapi)
• Markati (hair covering like monkeys)
• Pravrushayana (grows in the rainy season)

Mucuna – as called in Brazil; pruriens = prurita – producing itching or irritable sensation when touched.

Being a creeper with long trifoliate leaves and long purple flowers, the egg plant has violet flower, can be seen throughout the India and other tropical regions. The plant belongs to Leguminosae family, the fruits are legumes with abundant trichomes on the surface. These hairs on touch cause intense itching, burning and erythematous swelling of the skin which gives it the name Kapikachchu. It grows during monsoon. Flowering stage is from November to January, followed by fruiting.

Chemical composition :

Seeds – seeds contain high concentrations of levodopa, a direct precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine and is as effective as pure levodopa/carbidopa in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. It also shows anti- depressant action so is effective in depressive neurosis. Also improves sexual functions.

It also contains mucunine, mucunadine, prurienine, purienine, tryptamine, proteins, oil and a trace of manganese.

Seed oil : It is abundant in stearic, palmitic, myristic, alachidic, oleic, linoleic acids & sterol.

Pod – trichomes : It is abundant in 5 – hydroxytryptamine and an enzyme-protease-mucunain. Several alkaloids have been isolated. It contains serotonin (5-HT), 5-HTP, nicotine, N,N-DMT (DMT), bufotenine, and 5-MeO-DMT having psychedelic effects.

The hairs lining the seed pods and the small spicules on the leaves contain 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) which cause severe itching (pruritus) when touched. The calyx below the flowers is also a source of itchy spicules and the stinging hairs on the outside of the seed pods are used in itching powder. Water should not be used if contact occurs, as it only dilutes the chemical. Also, one should avoid scratching the exposed area since this causes the hands to transfer the chemical to all other areas touched.

Whole plant : choline

Internal uses :

Nervous system :

The roots and seeds are tonic for the neurons.
The root is useful in hemiparesis and facial palsy.
The seed – powder is useful in Parkinson’s disease.
The seeds of Mucuna pruriens accumulate 0.2% - 2% L-dopa in their dry weight.

Source: Chakrapani Ayurveda Clinic & Research Center