ISSN 2278- 4136

ZDB-Number: 2668735-5

IC Journal No: 8192 Volume 2 Issue 1

Online Available at www.phytojournal.com

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

An updated review on , Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of Macuna pruriens

Pradeep Kumar1, Sudipta Saha1*

1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Bioscience and Biotechnology Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A central University) Lucknow- 200265, Uttar Pradesh. [Email: [email protected]]

Keyword: Macuna pruriens, Ethnobotany, Pharmacology, Phytochemistry

1. Introduction centuries in many countries such as Egypt, China Human beings have relied on natural products as and [1]. Today -based drugs continue to a resource of drugs for thousands of years. Plant- play an essential role in health care. It has been based drugs have formed the basis of traditional estimated by the World Health Organization that medicine systems that have been used for 80% of the population of the world rely mainly

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on traditional medicines for their primary health It has another two subspecies namely care[2].Currently at least 119 chemicals, derived deeringiana, Mucuna gigantean and various from 90 plant , can be considered as varieties like Hirsuta, Sericophylla, Utilis[16]. important drugs in one or more countries[3]. Besides their direct medicinal application, natural 2.3 Geographical Distribution products can also serve as pharmacophores for This plant is widely distributed in South East the design, synthesis or semi-synthesis of novel Asia largely found in Bangladesh, India, Sri substances for medical uses. The discovery of Lanka, Malaysia. It is also found in Asia, natural products is also important as a means to America and Africa[17]. further refine systems of plant classification. (M. pruriens) Linn. belongs to 2.4 Cultivation the , is the most popular drug in It is cultivated any types of soil and environment Ayurvedic system of medicine[4-9]. All parts of in rainy seasons. It is successfully grown in acidic M. Pruriens are generally used to treat soil (pH<5-8) humid area with annual rainfall > impotence[10], diabetes mellitus[11] and cancer[12] 400mm and annual temperature 19-27ºC[18]. whereas the have muti-diversefied functions like several free radical mediated 2.5 Ethnobotanical Description: diseases management, rheumatoid arthritis, M. Pruriens is an annual, climbing with 15m diabetes, atherosclerosis, nervous disorders, length. The fuzzy hairs are available in young state analgesic, antipyretic activity and in the but it is completely hairless during old age. The management of Parkinsonism[13]. The most leaves are ovular in shape and leaflets are 2-3 mm important of these bioactive compounds of long. The heads are take form of axially are alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic arrayed panicles with 15-32 mm long and have 2-3 compounds[14]. The chemical constituents may be or many with lavender, white or purple used for the various purposes such as activity colures. In the fruit ripening stage, a 4 to 13 cm against pathogenic bacteria[15]. long and 1 to 2 cm wide unwinged leguminous fruit develops. Due to its multiple pharmacological uses and The husk is very hairy and carries up to seven presence of medicinally active phytoconstituents seeds. The seeds are flattened uniform ellipsoid, 1 allow as to write this review article and give to 1.9 cm long, 0.8 to 1.3 cm wide and 4 to 6.5 cm medicinal values of this plant to scientific thick. Its pods are about 10 cm long[19] and are communities. covered in loose orange hairs that cause a severe if they come in contact with skin. The chemical 2. Taxonomy and Botanical descriptions: compounds responsible for the itch are a protein, 2.1 Common name: mucunain[19] and [15]. It is popularly known as “Magic ” in Indian System of Medicine. The other vernacular names 3. Traditional uses: of this plant are Cowhage, Kiwanch or Konch  Root: It is used for the treatment of nervous (Hindi), Velvet bean or Cowitch (English), disorders. Traditionally, the decoction of Atmagupta or Kapikacchu (Sanskrit), root is for blood purifier, diuretics. Poonaikkaali (Tamil), Alkushi (Bengali),  Seeds: This is used as CNC stimulant like Khaajkuiri (Marathi)[16]. coffee bean. It has several functions like to treat perkinson’s disease, impotance, 2.2 Botanical classification: worms, diuretic, aphrodisiac, nerve tonic. Family : Fabaceae Sometimes, it has antidepressant activity. Subfamily :  Aerial parts: In Ayurvedic system of Tribe : Medicine, the whole plant has been used for : Mucuna remedying diabetes, gout, rheumatic Species : Pruriens[16].

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Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

disorders, couph, tuberculosis and Due to its multiple use, the seed powder of this cancer[20]. plant was underwent clinical trial in Germany in 2004. The human subjects were given 15 and 30 g 4. Toxicology: of seed powder once, respectively and other groups This plant has no such toxicological consensus but took L-DOPA/Carbidopa capsule which served as has several limitations. It is toxic to human and control. Researchers measured the L-DOPA animal due to the presence of L-DOPA and concentration in blood at various time points in one . enzyme activity has been compartment model. They found out that plasma inhibited by seed. The undried leaves have hairy profile of seed powder was almost similar like substances which has itching capacity[18]. standard L-DOPA which. They proposed that the seeds of this plant might be better alternative for 5. Clinical Trials: parkinsonism treatment for future drug design perspective[21].

Table 1: Structure of all chemical components of Macuna pruriens

NAME STRUCTER

NH2

L-DOPA COOH HO

OH

CH H3C 3

CH3 H CH3

Beta -sitosterol CH3 H CH3

H

HO

O O H

Gallic acid

H O O H

O H

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SH O O O H Glutathione N HO N OH H

NH2 O

H N

Bufotenine H3 C H O N CH 3

H 5-Hydroxytryptamine N

(Serotonin)

H O N H 2

H N CH3

6-Methoxyharman

H3CO N

H N

Tryptamine

NH2

Linoleic acid O

OH

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O Oleic acid HO

O

Palmitic acid (n-Hexanoic acid)

O Stearic acid (Octadecanoic

acid) HO

HO COOH

3-methoxy-1,1-dimethyl-6,7-

dihydroxy-1,2,3.4- HO tetrahydroquinoline

CH3 H3C

COOH

3-methoxy-1,1-dimethyl-7,8-

dihydroxy-1,2,3.4- HO tetrahydroquinoline H C CH3 OH 3

N indole-3-alkylamines-N, N-

dimethyltryptamine

N H

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Squalene

HO OH

Ascorbic acid

HO O O

COOH

NH2 5-Hydroxytriptophane HO

N H

methoxy-1,1-dimethyl-7,8-dihydroxy-1,2,3.4- tetrahydroquinoline[22]. 6. Phytochemistry: It also contains serotonin (5-hydorxy , Seeds of velvet are known to produce the 5-HT), 5-hydorxy tryptophane (5-HTP), , unusual nonprotein amino acid 3-(3,4- N,N-dimethyl tryptamine (DMT), bufotenine, and dihydroxyphenyl)-l-alanine (L-DOPA)[4]. It also 5-imethoxy-N,N-dimethyl tryptamine (5-MeO- contains glutathione, gallic acid and beta- DMT) 5-imethoxy-N,N-dimethyl tryptamine-n- sitosterol. It has unidentified bases like mucunine, oxide (5-MeO-DMT-n-oxide). The mature seeds mucunadine, prurienine, prurieninine. Other of the plant contain about 3.1-6.1% L-DOPA, bases isolated from the pods, seeds, leaves and with trace amounts of serotonin, nicotine, roots include indole-3-alkylamines-N, N- Bufotenine, 5-MeO-DMT-n-oxide, and beta- dimethyltryptamine. Leaves also gave 6- carboline. The leaves contain about 0.5% L- methoxyharman. Serotonin is present only in DOPA, 0.006% DMT, 0.0025% 5-MeO-DMT pods[5]. The seeds also contains oils including and 0.003% DMT n-oxide[23]. Structures of the palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids[6]. active constituents were tabulated in Table 1. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of phytochemicals like n-hexadecanoic acid (48.21 %), Squalene (7.87%), Oleic acid (7.62%), ascorbic acid (3.80%) and Octadecanoic acid (6.21%) were present in the extract[13]. 7. Pharmacology: The seed also contians two tetrahydroquinoline The pharmacology of Macuna pruriens was alkalodis namely (-) 3-methoxy-1,1-dimethyl-6,7- summarized in Table 2. dihydroxy-1,2,3.4-tetrahydroquinoline and (-) 3- 7.1 Antivenom Activity:

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Fung et al (2010) investigated antivenom activity The hypoglycemic activity of seeds aqueous of seeds where there was reduction in extract was evaluated using streptozotocin neuromuscular and cardiovascular depressant induced diabetic, normal and glucose load effects of Sputatrix venom in rats which was condition rat models. The seed extract of M. pretreated with M. Pruriens seed[17]. Pruriens at doses of 100 and 200mg/kg body wt. The same group of researchers also described reduced oral glucose load from ~ 127 to 75mg% similar effects against Calloselasma rhodostoma after 2 h of oral administration. In another venom. Where M. Pruriens aqueous extract was experiment there was reduction of blood glucose given intra-peritoneal for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, from ~ 250 to 90mg% in streptozotocin diabetic Calloselasma rhodostoma venom was rats after 21 days. The previous investigation administered intra-venously and studied various suggested that the antidiabetic activity may be pharmacology parameters like blood pressure, due to its dietary fiber content[25]. It is reported heart rate, respiratory rate and muscle twitch that cholesterol, urea and creatinine is responsible tension in rats. All pharmacological responses for increase the blood glucose level. They were found to be decreased in treated groups with observed that both cholesterol and creatinine respect to control group[24]. Seed part showed levels were decreased in streptozotocin diabetic strong antivenom activity which might be due to rats in similar experiment. They explained that presence of higher amount of phytochemicals. this hypocholestric activity is due to presence of squalene content[26]. 7.2 Hypoglycemic Activity:

Table 2: Summary of all pharmacological actions of Macuna pruriens

where the powder was administrated at 5gm/day 7.3 Aphrodisiac Activity: orally once. It showed significant improvement in A clinical trial was conducted on 60 subjects, sperm count and motility. There was significant related to aphrodisiac activity of M. Pruriens increase in SOD, GSH, ascorbic acid and catalase

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levels in infertile men[27]. All there parameters implattion and carrageenin induced paw edema suggested that M. Pruriens has strong aphrodisiac method in rats. There was reduction in weight of activity. cotton pellet and paw edema volume in test animals than control (p<0.001). It was observed 7.4 Antioxidant Activity: that the extract of M. Pruriens were effective at The various parts of this plant contain total 200 and 400 mg/kg doses in both method[32]. phenols which might have antioxidant activity. 7.9 As Food-Supplement: The similar findings were observed for this plant The seed contains 30-40% crud fiber, 20-25% where free radical scavenging activity was crud protein. It is also used as substitute of evaluated via nitiric oxide scavenging method. coffee[16]. The alcohol extract showed significant antioxidant activity which was comparable with 8. Conclusion: standard ascorbate and total phenol content[28]. The plants grown in rubbish and waste places, this plant has important medicinal property and 7.5 Antimicrobial Activity: wide range of pharmacological activity. In view The methanolic extract at whole plant had of the widespread uses, more clinical trials are antimicrobial properties against both gram +ve also necessary to investigate other importance of and gram -ve organism[29]. This extract is mainly this plant. effective against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis and Shigella dysenteriae. 9. Conflict of intcerest: The antimicrobial potency was evaluation by The authors declare that they have no conflict of zone of inhibition (ZI) where Escherichia coli interest. showed higher ZI (2.8cm) than Bacillus subtilis ZI (2.1cm)[15]. 10. Acknowledgement: We would like to acknowledge the funding 7.6 Antiparkinson’s Activity: support from UGC for providing UGC Start-up- Clinical trials had been performed on its grant for newly recruited faculty to Dr. Sudipta parkinsonism action. Where 8 patients were Saha. Pradeep Kumar received UGC postgraduate treated with 15 and 30 gm at M. Pruriens seed scholarship. powder preparation for once in a week for 3 week. L-DOPA/Carbidopa was given in as 11. References combination dose of 200/50mg once which 1. Balandrin NF, Kinghorn AD, Farnsworth NR. served as standard. The longer duration of action ACS Symposium Series 1993; 534: 2-12. of seed powder suggested that this might be 2. Farnsworth NR, Akerele O, Bingel AS, Soejarto DD, Guo Z. Bulletin WHO 1985; 63: 965-972. advantages for perkinson disease for those 3. Arvigo, R., Balick. M. Rainforest Remedies, Lotus patients those have toxic effects to synthetic Press, Twin Lakes. 1993. drugs[30]. 4. Lorenzetti E, MacIsaac S, Arnason JT, Awang DVC, Buckles D. The phytochemistry, toxicology 7.7 As Bio-fertilizer: and food potential of velvet bean (Mucuna [31] Adans spp., Fabaceae) Cover crops of West M. Pruriens is used as green manure . This Africa: contributing to sustainable agriculture. plant is from family so it contains IDRC, Ottawa, Canada & IITA, Ibadan, nitrogen fixing bacteria which absorbed N2 gas Nigeria.1998; 57. from air. So, the powder is mixed with other 5. Khare CP. Encyclopedia of Indian medicinal fertilizer for improve the soil content[16]. plants. Springerverley Berlin Heidelberg 2004. 6. Mishra L, Wagner H. Lipid derivatives from Mucuna pruriens seeds. Indian journal of 7.8 Anti-Inflammatory activity: chemistry 2006; 45(B): 801-804. The aerial parts of the plants had significant anti- inflammatory activity in both cotton pellet

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