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Ayurvedic
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Products
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Mucuna pruriens
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Latin Names |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
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Mucuna
pruriens
Baker non DC.
/
Mucuna
prurita
Hook. (Fabaceae) |
Cow-Itch Plant,
Cowhage |
Kapikachhu,
Atmagupta |
Kaunch,
Kevanch |
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Habitat |
Morphology
Description (Habit) | Principal
Constituents | Pharmacology
| Clinical
Studies |
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Toxicity | Indications |
Product
Range | References |
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Habitat |
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It grows all
over India and in the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands. |
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Morphology Description (Habit) |
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M.pruriens
is an herbaceous twining annual. The leaves are
trifoliolate; the leaflets, broadly
ovate, elliptic or rhomboid ovate and unequal at the base; the
flowers, purple and in axillary,
pendulous racemes; the pods, curved, longitudinally ribbed,
turgid and densely clothed with persistent pale brown or grey,
irritant bristles; the seeds, black, 4-6 in a pod and ovoid.
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Principal
Constituents |
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M.prurita
has been found to contain L-DOPA, 40mg/g of the plant1.
The plant/seeds contain the bioactive alkaloids
mucunine,
mucunadine, mucuadinine,
pruriendine and nicotine, besides ß-sitosterol,
glutathione, lecithin, oils, venolic
and gallic acids. The seeds with
seed coat showed the presence of a number of bioactive
subtances including
tryptamine,
alkylamines, steroids, flavonoids,
coumarins,
cardenolides, etc2. |
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Pharmacology |
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The total
alkaloids from seeds of M.pruriens
comprising 5 alkaloidal bases were
found to bring about a note-worthy increase in the population of
spermatozoa and in the weights of body testes, seminal vesicles
and prostrate of the treated rats. The exhibited activity was
found to stimulate testosterone-enanthate
induced androgenic activity observed in another set of treated
individuals3.
Lower dose corresponding to the clinical dose significantly
decreased the sleeping time, increased the motor activity and
gave equivocal results in rotarod
test in experimental animals. The high dose (3 times the
clinical dose) significantly increased the sleeping time,
decreased the motor activity and reduced the time for falling
from the rod. Thus the drug possesses CNS stimulant effect at
low doses and CNS depressant effect at high
doses4 .
A seed diet produced a hypoglycemic effect in normal rats,
however, such a diet had an insignificant effect on
alloxan- treated rats5.
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Clinical Studies
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In 15
psychiatric patients, M.pruriens
(15 g of of crude seed powder was
found to significantly inhibit the
prolactin response to chlorpromazine injection, as
effectively as 0.5 g of L-dopa). No side effects were observed
in these patients6.
Sixty patients with Parkinson's disease were treated with
M.pruriens in an open study
for 12 weeks. Statistically significant reductions in
Hoehn and Unified Parkinson's
disease rating scale scores were seen form baseline to the end
of 12 week treatment7. |
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Toxicity |
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Adverse
effects were mild and were mainly gastro-intestinal in nature.
No adverse effects were seen in clinical laboratory reports
(Ibid, 1995). |
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Indications |
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L-DOPA is a
neurotransmitter precursor, an effective drug for relief in
Parkinson's disease. The seed is a prophylactic against
oligospermia, useful in increasing
sperm count, ovulation in women, etc. It prevents male and
female sterility and acts as a nervine
tonic. |
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Product Range |
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References |
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1.
Parikh
et. al., Indian Drugs,
1990, 27, 353; Chem
Abstr, 1993, 119, 234161, 245571.
2.
Sinha,
J Res Educ
Indian Med, 1992, 11(1), 15; Goyal,
J Econ Taxon
Bot, 1991, 15, 677.
3.
Saksena,
S. and Dixit, V.K., Ind. J. Nat.
Prod, 1987, 3(1), 3-7.
4.
Ahmad, S.,
et. al., Conference of
Pharmacology and Symposium on Herbal Drugs (New Delhi), March
1991, 15, 26.
5.
Parikh
et. al., Indian Drugs,
1990, 27, 353; Gopal, J Econ
Taxon Bot,
1991, 15, 677; Handa
et. al.,
Fitoterapia, 1989, 60, 210.
6.
Vaidya,
R. A., Neurology (India), 1978, 26, 177.
7.
Manyam
B.V. 1995, J. Altern.
Completment Med. Fall. 1(3):
249-255. |
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Part: Seed Powder Traditional Ayurvedic Uses:
general weakness
Parkinson's disease, hypercholesterolemia, nervous
disorders.
Seeds contain L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine)
which is a neurotransmitter deficient in
parkinsonism. Sushruta mentions
these seeds as a virilifier.
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counteract
heart palpitations
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correct
spermatorrhea and nocturnal emissions
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counteract
dryness
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improves the
immune system
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prevent hair
loss
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prevent
muscle
cramps
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strengthen the
bones
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counteract
premature aging
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slow the aging
process
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help with
Tuberculosis
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improve male
incontinence
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reverse Parkinson's disease
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invigorate and
strengthen the body
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feed and
rejuvenate the reproductive organs
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increase the
production of semen and thicken it
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improve
endurance
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correct
infertility
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help produce
healthier children
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counteract
impotency
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strengthen the
kidneys
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counteract
fatigue, tiredness and nervousness
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increases
sperm count
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naturally increases penis size
Kapikachu is
Ayurveda's strongest herb for correcting impotency. It is very little
known in the west however Ayurvedic physicians swear it is the best
herbal aphrodisiac there is.
Aphrodisiacs (Vajikarana)
A third kind of tonic herb, closely allied with Rasayanas, is what is
called in Ayurveda - Vajikarana. A vaji is a horse or stallion. These
are substances that give the power or vitality of a horse, particularly
the horse's great capacity for sexual activity. More commonly, one could
call them "aphrodisiacs". though they are much more than superstitious
love potions. Vajikaranas reinvigorate the body by reinvigorating the
sexual organs. The semen or reproductive tissue (the Ayurvedic concept
includes both male and female reproductive tissues) is the essence of
all the dhatus, the cream of all the tissue elements in the body. It
contains the power to create life. This means not only the capacity to
bring a new life into existence, to create a child, but also to renew
one's one life, to return our cells to the vigor of youth.
The same
life-creating energy, if directed inwards, can aid in the renewal of
both body and mind. Vajikarana substances may be used either to improve
sexual vitality and functioning, or to help direct sexual energy inwards
for regeneration. Most of these are not simple aphrodisiacs - substances
exciting sexual activity through irritation of the sexual organs. Many
are tonics that actually nurture and give direct sustenance to the
reproductive tissues. Others help promote the creative transformation of
sexual energy for the benefit of the body-mind. By starting in the
reproductive system, these herbs invigorate the entire system, just as a
tree is invigorated from the roots. They have a strong revitalisation
action on the nerves and bone marrow, and increase the energy of the
mind. Semen is the Soma of the body, which if catalyzed in the right
way, by Rasayana and Vajikarana substances, brings about the renewal of
the mind. In a similar way it helps strengthen the bones, muscles,
ligaments and blood. Vajikaranas can be divided into tonics and
stimulants.
Stimulants
increase the functional activity of the reproductive organs, while
tonics increase and improve the tissue-substance that composes them.
KapiKachu Rasayana is made from these two categories. Many aphrodisiacs
increase Kapha; some which are hot and pungent ones increase
Pitta.
Ayurveda also discriminates those herbs that enhance spermatogenesis,
called Shukrala. These are substances that are nutritive tonics to the
reproductive secretions, like semen and breast milk. They are mainly
those Vajikaranas which are nutritive. Those aphrodisiacs whose nature
is sattvic, and are strong in energy, also enhance Ojas. Such substances
include Ashwagandha, ghee, and Shatavari and others.
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provided for general medical education purposes only and
is not meant to substitute for the independent medical
judgment of a physician relative to diagnostic and
treatment options of a specific patient's medical
condition.
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