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Mucuna contains anti-nutritional factors, anticoagulants, anti-inflammatory factors and L- dopa, a potentially neurotoxic agent. These anti-nutrients are endogenous toxic substances that are part of the normal feedstuff and affect its nutritional quality. The concentrations of these anti-nutritional factors can be reduced or completely eliminated if the seeds are properly processed. The impact of anti-nutritional factors and other toxic compounds in mucuna on fish have not been documented. Investigations on the dietary effects of raw and processed Mucuna pruriens seed diets on the histopatology of the liver and intestine of C. carpio fingerlings were carried out. The raw and the processed mucuna seed meals in two replacement levels of 20% and 50% as substitution of soybean meal in treatment diets were labelled Raw, MCD1 (20%) and MCD2 (50%), respectively, while a reference diet with no mucuna served as the control diet (CD). The diets were fed to C. carpio fingerlings (average weight, 15.40g) for 56 days. Water quality in the culture of C. carpio was was measured using standard procedure. Histopathological changes in the liver and intestine sections of fish were observed consistently and variable in the treatment groups. Water quality parameters were measured for the period of evaluation. Significant difference was not observed for all the water quality parameters measured. The water temperature varied between 22.90°C to 22.96oC similar to the room temperature. The pH ranged between 7.02 and 7.07 while dissolved oxygen ranged from 6.24 to 6.34 ppm. The liver of the fish fed raw mucuna diets showed vacoulation and severe necrosis of hepatocytes in the liver parenchyma and periportal areas. The histological analysis of the intestine of C. carpio fingerlings fed raw Mucuna diet also showed severe atrophy in the musculature of the intestinal villi of the fish which was mild in the fish fed MCD1 and control diets. The MCD1 was considered the most appropriate for dietary inclusion of Mucuna pruriens seeds in the feeding of C. carpio fingerlings. Mucuna contient des facteurs antinutrit nutritionnels, des anticoagulants, des facteurs anti- inflammatoires et de la L-dopa, un agent potentiellement neurotoxique. Ces antinutriments sont des substances toxiques endogènes qui font partie de l'aliment normal et affectent sa qualité nutritionnelle. Les concentrations de ces facteurs anti-nutritionnels peuvent être réduites ou complètement éliminées si les graines sont correctement traitées. L'impact des facteurs anti-nutritionnels et d'autres composés toxiques dans la mucuna sur les poissons n'a pas été documenté. Des études sur les effets diététiques des régimes crus et transformés de graine de Pruriens de Mucuna sur l'histopatologie du foie et de l'intestin des a ongles de C. carpio ont été effectuées. Les repas crus et transformés de graine de mucuna dans deux niveaux de remplacement de 20% et 50% comme remplacement de la farine de soja dans les régimes de traitement ont été étiquetés crus, MCD1 (20%) et MCD2 (50%), respectivement, tandis qu'un régime de référence sans mucuna a servi de régime de contrôle (CD). Les régimes ont été donnés aux acolings C. carpio (poids moyen, 15.40 g) pendant 56 jours. La qualité de l'eau dans la culture de C. carpiowas a été mesurée à l'aide d'une procédure standard. Des changements histopathologiques dans les sections hépatiques et intestinales des poissons ont été observés uniformément et variables dans les groupes de traitement. Des paramètres de qualité de l'eau ont été mesurés pour la période d'évaluation. Aucune différence significative n'a été observée pour tous les paramètres de qualité de l'eau mesurés. La température de l'eau variait entre 22.90 °C et 22.96 °C, semblable à la température ambiante. Le pH se situe entre 7.02 et 7.07 tandis que l'oxygène dissous varie de 6.24 à 6.34 ppm. Le foie des poissons alimentés régimes crus de mucuna a montré la vacoulation et la nécrose grave des hépatocytes dans le parenchyme de foie et les secteurs periportal. L'analyse histologique de l'intestin des ails de C. carpio alimentés au régime cru de Mucuna a également montré l'atrophie grave dans la musculature des villosités intestinales du poisson qui était douce dans les poissons alimentés MCD1 et les régimes de contrôle. Le MCD1 a été considéré comme le plus approprié pour l'inclusion diététique des graines pruriens de Mucuna dans l'alimentation des acolings de C. carpio.

Feeding trials lasting 28 days were conducted to investigate the nutritive value of raw and urea treated/toasted mucuna bean for broiler chicks. Raw mucuna bean contains 30.33% crude protein, 7.20% crude fibre, 6.9% ether extract and 5.0% ash. Mucuna bean seeds were divided into two batches. One batch was ground raw and the other batch was ground raw, treated with 3% of its weight of urea and toasted. Mucuna bean meals so produced were then used to formulate broiler chick diets incorporating these meals at 5% and 10% respectively. One hundred and fifty (150), 7-day-old Anak broiler chicks were randomly assigned to the five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) and each treatment group was further sub-divided into three replicates. Feed intake of the birds was inconsistent with the treatments, increasing at 5% inclusion level and decreasing at 10% inclusion level (P

A 28-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary inclusion of Mucuna seeds: soaked in Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH) 2 ) solution, soaked in Ca(OH) 2 and cracked water-soaked and cooked, on the performance of broiler chicks. Two batches of raw Mucuna seeds were used. The first batch was soaked in 3% Ca(OH) 2 for 48 hours. Part of the soaked seeds were sun-dried and milled. The remaining part were cooked, sun-dried and milled. The second batch was cracked, soaked in water for 48 hours and cooked before sun drying and milling. Both meals were analyzed for their proximate composition and included in broiler starter diets at 20% dietary level respectively. The control diet contained no mucuna meal. Each diet was fed to a group of 40 broiler chicks in a completely randomized design replicated four times. At 20% dietary level containing Ca(OH) 2 soaked seed meal significantly (P

Mucuna Adans., commonly known as the velvet bean, has a great potential not only being a genus of medicinal importance in the Indian system of medicine as a source of L-dopa but also as food, livestock feed, cover crop and being tolerant to abiotic stresses. Exploration and germplasm collections were undertaken in different phyto-geographical zones and tribal dominated areas of Odisha in Eastern India to study the species diversity, extent of genetic variability and associated indigenous traditional wisdom. Forty-one germplasm accessions representing five taxa viz. Mucuna monosperma (2), Mucuna nigricans (2), Mucuna gigantea (1), Mucuna pruriens var. pruriens (34) and Mucuna pruriens var. utilis (2) were collected from the state which exhibits a wide range of inter- and intra-specific variability in pod and seed morphology and L-dopa content in seeds, and further conserved in the National Gene Bank, New Delhi. An identification key, significant botanical characters and the systematic treatment for each taxon was provided for easy identification. The promising genotypes having high L-dopa content and the significant agro-morphological traits pertaining to pod and seed were identified for large scale cultivation and they serve as potential source for crop improvement and breeding programmes. The information on indigenous traditional knowledge collected from major tribal communities of Odisha revealed the immense importance of Mucuna for food and healthcare needs, thus some significant ethno-medicinal uses including their mode of administration were presented.

The effect of Mucuma pruriens (Velvet bean) leaf neul on the performance and blood composition of finisher broiler chickens were determined in a 35-day feeding trial. Chemical analysis indicated that the leaf meal is relutively high in crude protein (22.34%) and with estimated energy content of 1:108.93kJ/kg DM. Maize based diets containing mucuna leaf meul (MLM) at 0,, 5,. 7.5 and 10% levels, respectively were formulated and fed to finisher broilers in a complete randomized design replicuted four times. Luch replicate contained 10 birds. Birds fed MLM diets had a statistically (P>0.05) similar feed intake values with the control group, Body weight gain of the birds compared favorably with the control except at 10% (P0.05) different from the control. With increasing dietary inclusion levels of MLM in the diets, the erythrocytic and leucocytic (WBC, lymphoecytas and neutrophils) parameters varied without any negative significant (P>0.05) effects. It is concluded that 7.5% MLM could be used in broiler finisher diets without any deleterious effects on the performance Enhanced erythrocytes values were obtained at 10% dietary level.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused due to the degeneration of dopamine-releasing neurons. Mucuna pruriens (MP) and Sesame oil (SO) are well-known for their neuroprotect...

Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean) represents an interesting source of protein poorly studied. The effect of dietary inclusion of meal and protein isolate of Mucuna seeds on biochemical and oxidative stress parameter of broilers (135-one-day Cobb500 chickens) was investigated. Three isonitrogenous diets were formulated from soya bean meal (Control group: RTS), Mucuna meal (coded RFM) and Mucuna protein isolate (coded RIM). Each of the dietary treatments was triplicated with 15 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The birds were offered feed and water ad libitum. The results revealed significant (p 0.05) effect of N source on the organ total proteins with treatment RFM and RIM exhibiting lower but comparable levels in the Liver (2.01 and 1.98 g/dL), Heart (1.95 and 1.89 g/dL) and Kidney (1.92 and 1.91 g/dL). Triglycerides contents were significantly (p 0.05) higher in the liver of broilers fed RIM and RFM (2.49 and 2.36 mg/dL), in the Kidney of chicks fed RIM and RTS (2.27 and 2.34 mg/dL) and in the Heart of birds fed RTS and RFM (1.90 and 1.87 mg/dL). Broilers fed RFM presented the highest (p 0.05) Liver total cholesterol (1.61 mg/dL) and ALAT contents but with similar values with birds fed RTS (36.43 and 35.50 UI/L respectively). ASAT level was significantly high (p 0.05) in the Liver and Plasma (265.50 and 264.50 UI/L respectively) of broilers of RFM diet. In all the organs, MDA content was highest (p 0.05) in chicks of RIM batch. In the Heart and Plasma, chicks of RFM (3.23 and 5.05 μl/mg respectively) and RIM (5.45 and 5.35 μl/mg respectively) diets registered elevated rate of CAT. In view of these results, investigations remain to be carried out on the impact of the inclusion of meal and protein isolate of M. pruriens seeds in broiler’s diet during the growth-finishing phase.

The cover crops Mucuna pruriens var. utilis and Pueraria phaseoloides were introduced to African farmers to improve crop production on degraded soils, yet they appear not to be adopted at scale. In the humid forest zone of West and Central Africa, the dominant Acrisols and Nitisols are inherently poor even when not degraded through agriculture. In this zone, sole maize cropping and vegetable production systems are gaining importance, yet both suffer from nutrient deficiencies. Cover crops were often introduced along with a system change, requiring biomass retention, mainly for nutrient retention reasons. Farmers in the zone commonly use slash and burn systems due to added weed control and ease of operations on clean fields. This study evaluated mucuna and pueraria with and without burning the fallow biomass in an annual sole maize crop relay system against the burned and retained natural fallow. Over 14 consecutive years, biomass burning did not cause lower maize grain yields in any of the fallow types, on the contrary, the economically important marketable cob yields were higher when biomass was burned (mulched 2.10 cobs m−2 vs. 2.26 cobs m−2 when burned, p < 0.07). After cover crop fallow, maize grain yields were significantly higher than after natural fallow (1.92 Mg ha−1) over the 14 years, with maize yields in the pueraria treatment (2.63 Mg ha−1) out yielding those in the mucuna treatment (2.28 Mg ha−1). Maize produced 1.92 cobs m−2 in natural fallow, significantly less than in the mucuna (2.23 m−2, p < 0.013) and the pueraria (2.39 m−2, p < 0.001) fallow. Introducing mucuna or pueraria cover crops into slash and burn systems appears as a suitable measure to increase yields without changing the land preparation approach.

The effects of cassava/legume intercrop-rice relay and weed management practices on weed infestation, growth and yield of rice were investigated at Badeggi, Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria in 2011 to 2013 cropping seasons. The treatments consisted of factorial combination of cassava (IIT 427) intercrop with: Mucuna or Velvet bean [Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.], Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], Hyacinth bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet.] and Porcupine Jointvetch (Aeschynomene histrix Poir.) and weed management practices: (i) application of propanil at 1.44 kg a.i ha-1 plus 2,4-D at 0.80 kg a.i ha-1 (Orizo Plus®) at the rate of 2.24 kg a.i ha-1 at three weeks after transplanting (WAT) rice followed by hoeing at 6 WAT, (ii) two hoeing at 3 and 6 WAT, (iii) one hoeing at 3 WAT, and (iv) weedy check with sole cassava and natural fallow as control laid in a split plot arranged in a randomized complete block with three replications. Across cassava/legumes intercrops, cassava/mucuna had lower weed density and dry matter, cassava/Aeschynomene and cassava/cowpea produced comparable taller rice plants, more rice panicles and paddy yield, and cassava/Aeschynomene produced greater number of rice tillers. Irrespective of the weed management practices, two hoeing at 3 and 6 WAT gave better weed control, taller rice plants, greater number of tillers and panicles, and higher paddy yield comparable to application of Orizo Plus® at 3 WAT followed by one hoeing at 6 WAT. This study suggests that sustainable weed control with Mucuna intercrop and rice productivity with Aeschynomene and cowpea intercrops can be achieved with two hoeing at 3 and 6 WAT or application of Orizo Plus® at 3 WAT followed by hoeing at 6 WAT in this agro-ecology of Nigeria. Key words: Intercrops, legumes, Oryza sativa L., paddy yield, weed suppression.

Au Burkina Faso, l’élevage occupe plus de 80% des ménages ruraux et constitue le troisième produit d’exportation après l’or et le coton. De type extensif, cet élevage est basé essentiellement sur l’exploitation des ressources naturelles. Ainsi, il doit s’adapter aux grandes variations saisonnières et interannuelles des ressources en biomasse végétale et en eau. Or les aléas climatiques, l’étendue et la qualité des pâturages, de même que les contraintes rendent l’activité pastorale souvent précaire. C’est ainsi que cette étude a été initiée dans le but de contribuer à améliorer la production fourragère. Dans cette étude, Mucuna pruriens a été cultivé en serre et inoculé avec deux inocula de champignons mycorhiziens arbusculaires. Les paramètres de croissance ont été mesurés à 30 et 60 jours après semis. La biomasse aérienne, racinaire et totale a été évaluée à 60 jours après semis. Les résultats montrent une amélioration de la croissance en hauteur du mucuna de 225,76%, de la biomasse aérienne de 56,79%, la biomasse racinaire de 70% et la biomasse totale de 61,16% par rapport au témoin non inoculé. Cette étude a montré des résultats intéressants et mérite d’être approfondie par des essais in situ tout en étendant l’étude sur les inoculations rhizobiennes.Mots clés : Mucuna, inoculation mycorhizienne, champignons mycorhiziens arbusculaires. English Title: Effect of mycorrhizal inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi strains on Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC growth under controlled conditionIn Burkina Faso, breeding occupies more than 80% of rural households and is the third export product after gold and cotton. Extensive type, this breeding is based essentially on the exploitation of natural resources. Thus, it must adapt to large seasonal and interannual variations in plant biomass and water resources. Climatic hazards, the extent and quality of pastures, as well as constraints make pastoral activity often precarious. Therefore, this study was initiated with the aim of helping to improve forage production. In this study, Mucuna pruriens was grown in a greenhouse and inoculated with two inocula of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The growth parameters were measured at 30 and 60 days after sowing. Shoot, root and total biomass was evaluated at 60 days after sowing. The results show an improvement in the height growth of mucuna by 225.76%, shoot biomass by 56.79%, root biomass by 70% and total biomass by 61.16% compared to the control. This study showed interesting results and deserves to be deepened by in situ tests while extending the study of rhizobial inoculations. Keywords: Mucuna, mycorrhizal inoculation, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Objective In traditional medicine, the seeds of Thai Mucuna pruriens (T-MP) are used to treat male dysuria and are believed to enhance fertility. However, information pertaining to the toxicity of T-MP and its interaction with other properties is limited. This study was thus conducted to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and subacute toxicity of T-MP in the reproductive system. Methods Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of T-MP seed extract were determined using total phenolic content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. Male and female adult rats were treated orally with T-MP at a dosage of 150 or 300 mg/kg body weight for 14 consecutive days. Sex hormones and functional parameters in the liver and kidney were evaluated. Histopathology of all tissue was conducted using Masson’s trichrome staining. Sperm parameters, including concentration, morphology, acrosome reaction status and DNA damage, were also examined. Expression of tyrosine phosphorylated protein (TyrPho), androgen receptor and A-kinase-anchoring protein 4 (AKAP4) were investigated using the Western blot technique. Results T-MP seed extract contained phenolic compounds and exhibited high antioxidant capacity with no toxicity at the tested doses. It did not affect liver or kidney function parameters in the male rats, but increased estradiol, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels in the females. Additionally, it decreased serum progesterone and alkaline phosphatase levels in female rats. Serum and intratesticular testosterone levels were significantly lower in male rats that received a high dosage of T-MP. Histopathological changes were not observed in any tissue treated with T-MP. T-MP also significantly increased sperm concentration (but did not affect sperm parameters), and enhanced testicular TyrPho protein and androgen receptor and expression of AKAP4 in sperms. Conclusion T-MP seed extract exhibited antioxidant capacity and was not harmful to reproductive tissues. It also had a phytoestrogenic effect on females and increased the expression of testicular and sperm markers of male fertility.

Background: Mucuna pruriens Bak. Syn. Mucuna prurita Hook. seed is the rich source of levodopa (L-dopa) and has been used in traditional medicines to treat diseases resembling Parkinson’s disease. Objective: In the present study, a new HPTLC method was developed and validated for estimation of L-dopa from M. pruriens (black- and white-colored seeds) collected from two different locations in India. Method: TLC aluminum plates precoated with silica gel were used as the stationary phase. The plates were developed to a distance of 60 mm at a temperature of 22 ± 4°C in a twin glass chamber saturated with ethyl acetate–methanol–formic acid–water (15+3+3+4.5, v/v/v/v), as the mobile phase. Results: The Rf value of L-dopa was found to be 0.45. L-dopa was quantified at 282 nm, the wavelength of maximum absorbance by a densitometric scanner. The TLC plate was derivatized by ninhydrin reagent and photodocumented. L-dopa showed a good linearity in the concentration range 400–1000 ng/spot. The linear regression analysis of calibration plot showed good linear relationship between peak area and peak height (r2 = 0.997). Conclusions: The method was validated for precision, repeatability, and accuracy. Recovery was determined by spiking L-dopa with samples and was found to be 96.10%. Highlights: L-dopa was found to be present at concentration 3.02–4.72% in samples and its formulation.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive, disabling, neurodegenerative disease that requires long term care and pharmaceutical treatment. Levodopa remains the gold standard treatment for PD globally, although it is largely unavailable and unaffordable for the majority of patients in many sub-Saharan African and other low-income countries (LICs). We suggest the potential for Mucuna pruriens (MP), a leguminous plant, to replace or supplement levodopa-based medicines in countries where levodopa is unaffordable and inaccessible due to its low costs of preparation and high natural availability. MP has been shown to induce a great improvement of motor symptoms with few adverse events in recent studies. However, caution is important until more robust data on the long-term safety of MP are available. We believe that MP could potentially be part of the answer to affordable, symptomatic treatment of PD in LICs worldwide.

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of Mucuna (M.) pruriens against arsenic-induced testicular impairment in albino mice. Methods: Thirty-six male albino mice were divided into six groups, with 6 mice in each group. Group 1 received drinking water as the normal control. Groups 2 to 6 received sodium arsenite (40 mg/L) in drinking water. Group 3 received sodium arsenite (40 mg/L) and 300 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of N-acetylcysteine. Group 4 received sodium arsenite (40 mg/L) and 500 mg/kg b.w. of M. pruriens. Group 5 received sodium arsenite (40 mg/L) and 1 000 mg/kg b.w. of M. pruriens. Group 6 received sodium arsenite (40 mg/L) and 2 000 mg/kg b.w. of M. pruriens. N-acetylcysteine and M. pruriens were administered orally once a day. Animals were subjected to the above treatments for 45 days. Animals were sacrificed with overdose of ketamine 24 h following drug administration. The testis was used for biochemical estimations (lipid peroxidation and glutathione), and the epididymis was used to determine the sperm count and morphology. Results: Sodium arsenite significantly decreased (P

Mucuna pruriens (Linnaeus 1754: 23) De Candolle (1825a: 405) var. hirsuta (Wight & Arn.) Wilmot-Dear (1987: 44). Mucuna hirsuta Wight & Arnott (1834b: 254). Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. f. hirsuta (Wight & Arn.) Backer (1963: 629). Stizolobium hirsutum (Wight & Arn.) Kuntze (1891: 208). Type:— INDIA. Peninsula India Orientalis, Wight 750 (holotype K000797547!, isotypes E00174529!, E00174530!). Fig. 5 & 6. Mucuna pruriens var. thekkadiensis Thothathri & Ravi Kumar (1997: 703). Type:— INDIA. Kerala: Thekkady forest, Periyar Tiger Reserve, 23 rd Feb. 1996, Ravikumar & Muralidharan 535A (holotype MH!, isotypes MUH, CAL). Mucuna incurvata Wilmot-Dear & R. Sa (2010: 218). syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Yunnan, “Che Li Hsien, Ban-chiou Chian” [Jinghong County], mixed forest, alt. 840 m, Oct. 1936, C. W. Wang 79571 (holotype PE00414137!, isotypes A00195002!, PE00414136!, IBSC0154685!, KUN0618402!, LBG00091571!). Description: —Herbaceous climbers. Stems glabrous or sparsely hirsute with spreading yellowish hairs, striate. Leaves trifoliolate; stipules caducous; petioles 5.5–11 cm, with a pulvinus ca. 0.5 cm at base, slightly grooved above, hirsute as stem but sometimes denser; leaflets chartaceous, dark green on the adaxial surface, sparsely covered with appressed white hairs when young, glabrescent when old, grey-green on the abaxial surface, densely covered with appressed white hairs throughout, sometimes yellow hairy along veins and margin, acute at apex, mucronate, slightly repand at margin, lateral veins (including basal veins) 5–6 pairs, terminal leaflets rhombic-ovate, 11.9–14 × 5.8–8.2 cm, laterals oblique, 8.9–11.8 × 4.5–7 cm; rachis 1.3–2.2 cm, hirsute as petiole; stipels ca. 0.3 cm, black, persistent, slightly shorter than petiolules; petiolules densely covered with yellowish hairs. Inflorescence an axillary or cauline pseudoraceme, 2– 3 flowers per node; peduncles and rachis appressed pubescent; bracts and bracteoles caducous: primary bract one per node, lanceolate narrowly-triangular, densely villous with ± ascending, pale hairs abaxially, pubescent with somewhat sparser brownish hairs adaxially; secondary bract one per flower, ± ovate, indumentum as on primary bracts; bracteoles two per flower, densely villous with ± ascending, pale hairs on both surfaces. Calyx bilabiate, covered with brownish irritant bristles and dense ± appressed grey hairs; the adaxial two lobes connate to form the upper lip, the other three lobes triangular, acute at apex. Corolla dark purple, turns black when dry; standard sub-elliptic, ca. 2.5 cm, with a short claw ca. 1.7 mm at base; wing petals long obovate, ca. 3.7 cm, densely covered with spreading grey hairs along the dorsal side of the basal part, with a short claw ca. 2.2 mm, auricle ca. 1 mm; keel petals ca. 3.8 cm, hooked at apex, sometimes “claw-like”, basal claw ca. 6.3 mm, auricle ca. 1 mm. Stamens 10, diadelphous (9+1), with vexillary one free from the staminal tube; ca. 4 cm; anthers dimorphic, alternative. Pistil shorter than stamens, ca. 2.7 cm, hirsute with spreading hairs. Pods fleshy, straight or slightly irregular bending, never curved into S shape, densely covered with yellowish taupe irritant hairs ca. 3 mm. Seed oblong-ellipsoid, ± compressed, dark brown with taupe and black spots, 1–1.1 × ca. 0.7 cm; hilum ca. 6 mm. Distribution and habitat: — Mucuna pruriens var. hirsuta is distributed in China (South Guangxi and Yunnan, newly recorded, reported here), India (Western Indian Peninsula), Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. It grows on the edge of woods or roadsides at elevations between 100‒1650 m above sea level, usually climbing on trees. Phenology: —Flowering in September to next January, fruiting in October to next April. Chinese name: —The Chinese name of Mucuna pruriens var. hirsuta is given here as &aogon;毛ḙ&amacr;, in which “ &aogon;毛 ” means “hirsute hairs”, which is the direct translation of the epithet; “ ḙ&amacr; ” is the Chinese common name for Mucuna Adans. subg. Stizolobium (P. Browne 1756: 290) Baker (1876: 186). Taxonomic notes: — Mucuna pruriens var. hirsuta is similar to var. pruriens in its inflorescence and flower parts, but can be easily distinguished by its straight or slightly irregular bending pods which are never curved into an S shape (vs. always curved into an S shape in var. pruriens); the indumentum on pods of the two varieties is different: var. hirsuta bears yellowish taupe irritant bristles, which turn to a greyish-black color when mature, var. pruriens bears orange-red orange-brown or yellow irritant hairs, which turn to a brown or greyish yellow color when mature. As for vegetative part, M. pruriens var. hirsuta can be easily characterized by the presence of yellowish hairs on leaflets and petiolules, which is different to those of var. pruriens. M. pruriens var. hirsuta is also easily confused with M. bracteata, another species of Mucuna subg. Stizolobium distributed in China, since both taxa bears straight or slightly irregular bending pods, however, the lower part of the inflorescence of M. bracteata bears many flowerless nodes with scars and persistent bracts, but bracts of M. pruriens var. hirsuta are completely caducous; moreover, the terminal leaflet of M. bracteata has its width similar to length, while both of M. pruriens var. hirsuta and var. pruriens have terminal leaflet usually longer than width; M. bracteata bears flowers with wing petals conspicuously shorter than keel petals, while both of M. pruriens var. hirsuta and var. pruriens bear flowers with wing petals subequal or slightly shorter than keel petals. When she revised Chinese and Japanese Mucuna species, Wilmot-Dear (1984) recorded four doubtful taxa and named them temporarily and informally as Mucuna sp. ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’, of which, only two gatherings of M. sp. ‘A’ were cited. Later, M. sp. ‘A’ was described formally as a new species, Mucuna incurvata Wilmot-Dear & R. Sa, in Flora of China by Sa & Wilmot-Dear (2010). The authors indicated this species resembles M. pruriens but differs in having lateral calyx lobes twice as long as wide, all calyx lobes much broader, corolla with a more incurved and claw-like keel, longer hairs on the stem and leaves adaxially, and much finer bristles on the calyx. We traced the digital image of the holotype and all isotypes of M. incurvata, as well as an illustration cited by Sa & Wilmot-Dear (2010), but we did not find the key morphological characteristics to distinguish M. incurvata from M. pruriens var. hirsuta. There is no obvious difference in the morphological characters of the calyx lobes and their indumentum between the two taxa; and the long hairs on the stem and adaxial surface of leaves also coincide with the morphological characters of M. pruriens var. hirsuta; the “claw-like” maybe represents an atypical form in the taxa. Based on these observations, here we synonymize M. incurvata with M. pruriens var. hirsuta. Although Sa & Wilmot-Dear (2010) only cited two duplicates of C. W. Wang 79571 stored in A and PE as the isotypes of M. incurvata, we traced three more duplicates of C. W. Wang 79571 stored in IBSC, KUN and LBG. According to Art. 9.5 of the Shenzhen Code (Turland et al. 2018), these duplicates are also the isotypes of M. incurvata, as we cited above. Wilmot-Dear (1987) considered M. pruriens var. hirsuta endemic to W Peninsular India. Wilmot-Dear (1992, 2008) traced more specimens and considered it also distributed in Vietnam and Thailand. In this study, we traced two more specimens collected from Vietnam and one specimen from Myanmar (see specimens cited below, also see Fig. 6), which suggests that this taxon has a much wider geographical range than previously thought. Conservation status: — Mucuna pruriens var. hirsuta is a widespread taxon, so we consider it as Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN (2019). Specimens examined:— CHINA. Guangxi: Napo, Bainan, Shanggai Village, mountainous areas, on slope, sparse forests, alt. 400 m, 11 th April 1998, H. N. Qin, Y. Z. Wang, L. C. Yan, X. Y. Wen, D. S. Deng, S. C. Tang, B. M. Nong, X. C. Zhang & N. H. Xia 398 (PE). Yunnan: Cangyuan, Banlao, Mt. Longtoushan, in the forest, alt. 850 m, 31 st Oct. 1989, G. D. Tao, X. W. Li 39993 (KUN). Che-li Hsien, Dah-meng-lung, Meng-song, mixed woods, alt. 1650 m, Sept. 1936, C. W. Wang 78220 (KUN, PE). Che-li Hsien, Kuen-ger, mixed forest, alt. 900 m, Oct. 1936, C. W. Wang 79233 (PE). Hekou, Mt. Jinjinashan, in thickets, moist place, alt. 100 m, 10 th Nov. 1954, K. M. Feng 5399 (KUN). Jenn-yeh Hsien, Meng-him, alt. 800 m, Oct. 1936, C. W. Wang 79947 (PE). Jinghong, Puwen, in the forest, climbing on trees, alt. 200–300 m, 3 rd Jan. 2014, X. X. Guo 1401 (CSH). Luchun, near Erqu, roadside at the edge of forests, alt. 450 m, 19 th Oct. 2000, Y.-M. Shui & W.-H. Chen 13405 (KUN). Mengla, edge of the rainforest valley, alt. 650 m, 16 th Oct. 1959, H. T. Tsai 59-13383 (KUN). Mengla, Longlin, in forest, alt. 750 m, 19 th Oct. 1959, H. T. Tsai 59-11028 (KUN). Mengla, Menglun, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Scientific Research Center, roadside, climbing on trees, 9 th Jan. 2019, K. W. Jiang & B. Pan SSPN02 (CSH). ibid., 9 th Jan. 2019, K. W. Jiang & B. Pan SSPN03 (CSH). ibid., 9 th Jan. 2019, K. W. Jiang & B. Pan SSPN04 (CSH). ibid., 10 th Jan. 2019, K. W. Jiang SSPN13 (CSH). Mengla, Mengyuan, Nanyang Village, roadside, 5 Dec. 2004, S. S. Zhou 2173 (PE). Mengla, Mohan, mountainous area near Miaozhai Village, edge of forests, 29 th Nov. 2020, B. Liu, L. M. Lu, R. Rabarijaona, R. Liu 11708 (PE). Mengla, Shangyong, roadside, alt. 800–900 m, Z. H. Yang 10888 (KUN). Mengla to Shangyong, in thickets, alt. 580 m, 17 th Oct 1959, H. T. Tsai 59-10996 (KUN). Xishuangbanna, Manyan to Manliangsan, moist place, sunny place in the valley, roadside, in thickets, 6 th Nov. 1958, S. X. Zhao 174 (KUN). Yingjiang, from Tongbiguan to Rubber Plantation, 26 th Oct. 1983, Q. Lin 770793 (KUN). Yingjiang, Xianghubang River, in valley, Apr. 1979, Yunnan Institute of Botany 03- 14 (KUN). Yingjiang, Nabang, old road from Xima to Nabang, edge of forests, 18 th Dec. 2016, CPG Exped. 29347 (PE). Yingjiang, Taiping, Hongbeng River, riverside, 21 st Dec. 2016, CPG Exped. 29463 (PE). MYANMAR. Upper Burma, Kachin Hills, Mar. 1898, S. Mokim s. n. (L). VIETNAM. Lạng Sõn, Hữu Bồn(?) Farm, NW 32 km, Mt. Núi Ba Tầng(?), under the forest, alt. 190 m, 16 th Jan. 1965, China-Vietnam Joint Exped. 1441 (KUN, PE). Lào Cai, 8 km Nam Cýờng, secondary forest edge, on sunny slope, alt. 351 m, 18 th Dec. 1964, China-Vietnam Joint Exped. 532 (PE). Discussion: — Sa & Wilmot-Dear (2010) recognized 18 species and one variety of the genus Mucuna distributed in China, together with Jiang et al. (2020) and present study, at least 18 species and two variety of Mucuna can be found in China. These taxa belong to three subgenera based on the treatment by Moura et al. (2016), i.e. Mucuna subg. Mucuna, M. subg. Macrocarpa T. M. Moura, Wilmot-Dear, M. Vatanparast, A. M. G. Azevedo & G. P. Lewis (2016: 610), and M. subg. Stizolobium. Two species and two varieties distributed in China should be placed in M. subg. Stizolobium. An updated key to the subgenus distributed in China is given below., Published as part of Jiang, Kai-Wen, Tian, Bin & Pan, Bo, 2022, Legume additions to the flora of China, pp. 1-21 in Phytotaxa 532 (1) on pages 9-13, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.532.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5900839, {"references":["Linnaeus, C. (1754) Herbarium Amboinenese. Upsaliae, Exc. K. M. Hojer, 200 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 78821","De Candolle, A. C. P. (1825 a) Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 2. Treuttel & Wurtz, Paris, Strasbourg & London, 644 pp.","Wilmot-Dear, C. M. (1987) A revision of Mucuna (Leguminosae-Phaseoleae) in the Indian subcontinent and Burma. Kew Bulletin 42 (1): 23 - 46. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 4109895","Wight, R. & Arnott, G. A. W. (1834 b) LI. Mucuna. In: Prodromus Florae Peninsulae Indiae Orientalis 1. Parbury, Allen & Co., London, pp. 253 - 255.","Backer, C. A. & Van den Brink, R. C. B. (1963) Flora of Java 1. The Rijksherbarium, Leyden, 648 pp.","Kuntze, O. (1891) Revisium generum plantarum secundum Leges Nomenclaturae Internationales cum Enumeratione Plantarum Exoticarum 1. Ducao & Co., London, 374 pp.","Browne, P. (1756) The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica in Three Parts. P. Browne, London, 503 pp.","Baker, J. G. (1876) Leguminosae. In: Hooker, J. D. (Ed.) The Flora of British India. Reeve & Co., London, pp. 56 - 306.","Wilmot-Dear, C. M. (1984) A revision of Mucuna (Leguminosae-Phaseoleae) in China and Japan. Kew Bulletin 39 (1): 23 - 65. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 4107853","Sa, R. & Wilmot-Dear, C. M. (2010) Mucuna. In: Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H. & Hong, D. Y. (Eds.) Flora of China 10. Science Press, Beijing and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St Louis, pp. 207 - 218.","Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W. - H., Li, D. - Z., Marhold, K., May, T. W., McNeill, J., Monro, A. M., Prado, J., Price, M. J. & Smith, G. F. (Eds.) (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code) adopted by the Nineteenth International Botanical Congress Shenzhen, China, July 2017. Glashutten: Koeltz Botanical Books. [= Regnum Veg. 159]. https: // doi. org / 10.12705 / Code. 2018","Wilmot-Dear, C. M. (1992) A revision of Mucuna (Leguminosae: Phaseoleae) in Thailand, Indochina and the Malay Peninsula. Kew Bulletin 47 (2): 203 - 245. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 4110664","Wilmot-Dear, C. M. (2008) Mucuna Adans. (Leguminosae) in Thailand. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 36: 114 - 139.","IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee (2019) Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 14. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Subcommittee. [https: // www. iucnredlist. org / resources / redlistguidelines]","Jiang, K., Huang, Y. & Moura, T. M. (2020) Mucuna guangxiensis, a new species of Mucuna subg. Macrocarpa (Leguminosae- Papilionoideae) from China. Phytotaxa 433 (2): 145 - 152. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / phytotaxa. 433.2.5","Moura, T. M., Wilmot-Dear, M., Vatanparast, M., Fortuna-Perez, A. P., Tozzi, A. M. G. A. & Lewis, G. P. (2016 a) A new infrageneric classification of Mucuna (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae): supported by morphology, molecular phylogeny and biogeography. Systematic Botany 41 (3): 606 - 616. https: // doi. org / 10.1600 / 036364416 X 692532"]}

Background Mucuna pruriens (L.) has been used for the treatment of several ailments in folkloric medicine. The present study therefore investigates the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective potentials of its leaves extract with a view to providing a potent alternative in the management of liver and kidney diseases. Methodology Forty male albino rats were randomly placed into eight groups comprising five animals each. Animals in group I were administered with the distilled water, while groups II and VI were exposed to CCl4 and rifampicin respectively. Animals in groups III and IV were initially exposed CCl4 and treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg bw M. pruriens respectively. Similarly, groups VII and VIII animals were exposed to rifampicin and treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg bw M. pruriens respectively. Animals in group V were treated with 100 mg/kg bw silymarin by oral gavage after an initial exposure to CCl4. Selected biomarkers of liver and kidney damage were determined in the serum and organs homogenate. Liver and kidney slices of experimental animals were also stained for histopathological examination. Results Exposure to CCl4 and rifampicin respectively resulted in marked distortion in lipid profile, inhibition of antioxidant enzymes and a surge in ALT, AST, ALP, urea, uric acid, bilirubin and creatine kinase. Treatment with M. pruriens extract reversed all deranged biochemical and histopathological parameters in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion Extract of M. pruriens leaves restored deranged biochemical and histopathological parameters in the liver and kidney with similar potency to silymarin. Hence, leaf extract of M. pruriens is a potential hepatoprotective and nephroprotective agent that can be exploited in the management of liver and kidney diseases.

Nematode control is a significant problem in agriculture industry all over the world. The control is often made with the use of toxic chemicals which can bring detrimental effect to humans, animals, and the environment. Therefore, developing an alternative method of control has become an area of interest such as use of antagonistic plant. Among the variety of antagonist plant species, Mucuna genus are most commonly used. We have carried out a study of the secondary metabolites present on the aerial parts of Mucuna pruriens var. utilis, from which it was isolated and purified a pentacyclic triterpene alcohol, named glutinol. This is the first time the isolation of glutinol is described from this plant species. Identification of this natural product was carried out using infrared, Raman, and NMR spectroscopies. The assignment of the vibrational frequencies was assisted by theoretical calculations using two functionals (HF and B3LYP). Raman optical activity (ROA) frequencies were calculated to assist in te detailed identification of the broad band observed at 2926 cm−1 in the experimental Raman spectrum. The calculated ROA spectra for glutinol (S configuration for the carbon bonded to the hydroxyl group) and R-glutinol (R configuration for the carbon bonded to the hydroxyl group) are discussed to show the potential of this technique to determine the absolute configuration of natural products.

The effect of fermentation on the proximate and anti-nutritional properties of rice flour enriched with mucuna beans was investigated in this study. The rice-mucuna beans flour blends were formulated in various ratios and fermented for 72 h. The predominant moulds isolated during the fermentation were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Geotrichum candidum and Rhizopus stolonifera. After fermentation, the protein and ash contents of the flour blends increased while carbohydrate, lipid and fibre contents reduced. However, there was no notable difference in the moisture content of the fermented flour blends. Fermentation also caused a significant reduction in the tannin, phytate and oxalate contents of the rice-mucuna beans flour blends. Nutritional benefits of rice flour can be enhanced through enrichment with mucuna beans and fermentation process. Therefore, fermented rice-mucuna beans flour blends have potential application in managing protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in developing countries. Key words: Fermentation, improvement, anti-nutrient, rice flour, mucuna beans.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance:Mucuna pruriens (Mp) belongs to Leguminosae family, it is native of tropical regions and used to treat several maladies such as urinary, neurological, and menstruation disorders, constipation, edema, fever, tuberculosis, ulcers, diabetes, arthritis, dysentery, and cardiovascular diseases. Mp seeds are rich in bioactive compounds, for instance, lectins, a heterogeneous group of proteins and glycoproteins with a potential role as therapeutic tools for several conditions, including gastric disorders. This study investigated the acute toxicity, gastroprotective, and antioxidant activities of a lectin from Mucuna pruriens seeds (MpLec) on ethanol-induced gastropathy model in mice.Materials & Methods:Mice received MpLec (5 or 10 mg/kg; i.v.) and were observed for acute toxicity signs; in another experimental series, mice were pre-treated with MpLec (0.001; 0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg, i.v.), ranitidine (80 mg/kg, p.o.), or saline (0.3 mL/30g, i.v.) before ethanol 99.9% (0.2 mL/animal, p.o.), and euthanized 30 min after ethanol challenge. Macroscopic and microscopic gastric aspects, biochemical parameters (tissue hemoglobin levels, iron-induced lipid peroxidation, GSH content, SOD activity, and gastric mucosal PGE2) were measured. Additionally, pharmacological tools (yohimbine, indomethacin, naloxone, L-NAME) were opportunely used to clarify MpLec gastroprotective mechanisms of action.Results:No toxicity signs nor death were observed at acute toxicity tests. MpLec reduced ethanol-induced gastric damage, edema, and hemorrhagic patches formation, as well as decreased lipid peroxidation, SOD activity, and increased GSH content. Yohimbine and indomethacin prevented MpLec effects, suggesting the involvement of alpha-2 adrenoceptors and prostaglandins in the MpLec-mediated effects.Conclusion:MpLec does not present toxicity signs and shows gastroprotective and antioxidant activities via alpha-2 adrenoceptors and prostaglandins in the ethanol-induced gastropathy model.

Mucuna, a treasured leguminous genus is renowned for its high L-DOPA (L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) content which acts as an effective anti-Parkinson's drug. Unfortunately, the immense medicinal properties of most Mucuna (M.) species are still remained unnoticed. Thus, in present study we have explored and compared various properties of neglected M. bracteata and M. imbricata from India with frequently consumed Mucuna pruriens var. utilis and commercialized Mucuca powder. The aqueous extracts of all these Mucuna samples were assessed for its nutritional, anti-nutritional, secondary metabolites and pharmacologically active principle (L-dopa) elements employing specific techniques. HPLC analysis in present investigation reveals that M. bracteata contains highest L-DOPA (7.61 ± 0.11%) than other studied spp. which verifies its efficacy to be used against Parkinson's disease. The total antioxidant capacity of the methanol extract of M. bracteata was higher which can be interconnected with its higher total phenolic content (8.76 ± 0.20%). It also has maximum nutritional values such as total ash, dietary fiber and starch. Moreover, M. imbricata another overlooked Mucuna spp. also showed maximum gross energy, total moisture and total carbohydrates with effective anti-inflammatory property (59.25 ± 0.03%). Thus, present results proves the potential of M. imbricata and M. bracteata as a natural active alternative source of L-DOPA with promising medicinal properties supportive in developing anti-Parkinson's drug in future.

Aims: To investigate the scientific basis for the anti-diabetic and antioxidant activity of Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) leaf ethanolic extract using alloxan-induced diabetic rats, DPPH and ABTS assay. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemistry/Biochemistry Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria between October 2013 and May 2014. Methodology: The polyphenol content was determined using Folin-Ciocaltu method and their linear relationship with antioxidant activity was evaluated using linear regression analysis. The antioxidant activity was determined using 1, 1-Diphenyl, 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and (2, 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical assay. The active ingredients in the ethanolic extract were isolated using HPLC method. Also the ant-diabetic activity was determined in vivo using alloxan-induced diabetic wister rats. Results: Ethanol extract showed the highest phenolic content as well as highest antioxidant activity. A strong relationship was found between phenolic contents and antioxidant activity. The HPLC analysis indicates the presence of gallic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin and (+)-catechin. The ethanolic extract at the concentration of 400 mg/kg significantly (P

Background Mucuna pruriens L. is a legume sown in the Mexican southeast with an important protein content. Studies have shown the potential use of by-products derived from Mucuna as a functional food because of the hypoglycemic and antihypertensive activities. Thus, this study aims to assess the antioxidant and protective effect of the peptide fractions derived from M. pruriens L., in vitro on the HeLa cell line. An enzymatic hydrolysis with pepsin-pancreatin was performed on the total protein concentrate, from which five peptide fractions were obtained. Results All protein derivatives from M. pruriens L., except F5-10 kDa, decreased the hydrogen peroxide production by more than 50%. The highest antioxidant activity was exhibited by F1-3 kDa, which lowered the intracellular reactive oxygen species by 207 ± 4.20%. No significant differences were found in the protective effects of the protein hydrolysate, F5-10 kDa, F3-5 kDa and F1-3 kDa relative to the N-acetylcysteine control group. Conclusion This elucidated the potential action mechanisms of M. pruriens L. protein derivatives for future investigations and their role in the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Resumen Introducción. Los cultivos de cobertura aportan múltiples beneficios al agroecosistema, como lo es la disminución de poblaciones de nematodos fitoparásitos, debido a su imposibilidad de reproducirse en plantas no susceptibles. La selección de una cobertura adecuada debe considerar la ausencia de reproducción de los nematodos, ya que coberturas moderadamente susceptibles podrían comprometer ciclos de cultivo posteriores. Objetivo. Determinar la susceptibilidad de las leguminosas de cobertura Crotalaria juncea L., Crotalaria spectabilis Roth, Vigna radiata (L.) R.Wilczek, Mucuna pruriens L. var. preta y Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Merril a los nematodos Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood y M. arenaria (Neal) Chitwood. Materiales y métodos. Se realizaron 2 experimentos simultáneos en un invernadero de la Universidad de Costa Rica, Alajuela, Costa Rica, de abril a setiembre del 2015. Las plantas de cobertura se inocularon con 3000 huevos y estados juveniles (J2) de ambas especies de nematodos por separado. Se utilizó un diseño experimental completamente al azar. Resultados. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre plantas inoculadas y sin inocular, en las variables índice de masas de huevos (IMH), factor de reproducción (FR), peso seco de la parte aérea y peso fresco de raíces. Las poblaciones de M. incognita y M. arenaria disminuyeron en promedio un 71% y 19%, respectivamente, en V. radiata, y un 32% y 29%, respectivamente, en C. spectablis. No se observaron masas de huevos ni agallas en las raíces de las 2 especies de Mucuna ni en C. spectabilis. Vigna radiata y C. juncea presentaron masas de huevos, pero no superaron la categoría 1 según la escala utilizada (0-5). Conclusión. Todas las especies de leguminosas evaluadas en este estudio disminuyeron las poblaciones de nematodos inoculados, lo cual sugiere que el establecimiento de estas leguminosas de cobertura podría ser una estrategia viable para el manejo de poblaciones de Meloidogyne en campos agrícolas. Abstract Susceptibility of legume cover crops to the nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenaria. Introduction. Cover crops provide multiple benefits to the agroecosystem, among them is their capacity to diminish populations of phytoparasitic nematodes due to the nematodes inhability to reproduce in non susceptible plants. The selection of an adecuate living mulch must be based on the absence of nematode reproduction, because moderately susceptible mulches could compromise future crop cycles. Objective.To determine the susceptibility of the legume cover crops Crotalaria juncea L., Crotalaria spectabilis Roth, Vigna radiata (L.) R.Wilczek, Mucuna pruriens L. var. preta, and Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Merril to the nematodes Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood and M. arenaria (Neal) Chitwood. Materials and methods. Two experiments were carried out simultaneously in a greenhouse at the Estación Experimental Agrícola Fabio Baudrit Moreno, Universidad de Costa Rica, located in Alajuela, from April to September 2015. Legumes were inoculated with 3000 eggs and juveniles (J2) of each nematode species, separately. A completely randomized experimental design was implemented. Results. No significant differences were determined between inoculated and non-inoculated plants for the variables egg mass index (IMH), reproduction factor (FR), fresh weight of roots or dry weight of shoots. M. incognita and M. arenaria populations declined 71% and 19% in V. radiata plants, respectively, and 32% and 29%, respectively in C. spectabilis plants. No egg masses or galls were visible in roots of both Mucuna species and C. spectabilis. Egg masses were visible in roots of V. radiata and C. juncea but were classified as category 1 according to the rating system used (0-5). Conclusion. All legume cover crops evaluated decreased nematode populations of both species inoculated, which suggests that establishment of these legume cover crops could be a viable strategy for management of Meloidogyne populations in agricultural fields.

The physical properties and water absorption kinetics of three varieties of Mucuna beans (Mucuna pruriens, Mucuna rajada and Mucuna veracruz) were determined in this study. Physical properties including length, width, thickness, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, porosity, bulk density, area, volume and one thousand seed mass were calculated while hydration kinetics was studied by soaking Mucuna beans in water at 30 °C, 40 °C and 50 °C and measuring water uptake at 9 h interval. Peleg’s equation was used to model the hydration characteristics and Arrhenius equation was used to describe the effect of temperature on Peleg’s rate constant k1 and to obtain the activation energies for soaking. Significant variations were observed in almost all the physical properties of the different varieties, however, there were no significant differences (p 2) increased with increase in soaking temperature. Peleg’s rate constant k1 decreased with increase in soaking temperature while k2 increased with temperature increase. Activation energies of Mucuna pruriens, Mucuna rajada and Mucuna veracruz were 1613.24 kJ/mol, 747.95 kJ/mol and 2743.64 kJ/mol, respectively. This study provides useful information about the properties of three varieties of Mucuna beans that could be of importance to processors and engineers for process design and optimization.

This study evaluated the anti-obesity effect and intestinal health of obese rats treated with Mucuna pruriens (MP), focusing on food consumption and somatic, biochemical, and histological parameters. A total of 32 adult male Wistar rats were initially randomized into a healthy group (HG, n = 16) which consumed a control diet and an obese group (OG, n = 16) which consumed a cafeteria diet for eight weeks. They were then subdivided into four groups: healthy (HG, n = 8); healthy treated with MP (HGMP, n = 8); obese (OG, n = 8); obese treated with MP (OGMP, n = 8), with consumption of their respective diets continuing for another eight weeks; the treated groups received 750 mg kg-1 of MP extract via gavage. Food consumption and body weight were monitored weekly. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed, and feces were collected for bacterial count and quantification of organic acids. The rats were euthanized, their blood was collected for biochemical analysis, organs and adipose tissue for histological analysis and carcasses for body composition. The obsese rats showed a preference for processed meat, stuffed biscuits, popcorn, hot dog sausages, Bologna and ham. The OGMP exhibited lower caloric intake (17%), body weight (14%), fat mass (44%), triglycerides (68%), insulin (58%), leptin (40%), C-reactive protein (75%) and alpha1-glycoprotein acid (62%) and increased HDL (45%) compared to the OG. Moreover, MP reversed changes in liver and adipose tissues induced by obesity and increased counts of lactic acid bacteria and organic acids in feces. The MP treatment demonstrated an anti-obesity effect with improvement in body composition, biochemical profile, and intestinal health of obese rats.

There have been a plethora of studies on the effects of access to runs on chickens’ welfare and behavioural repertoire with a paucity of information on the comparative advantage of various legume pasture and deep litter system. A total of 200‐day‐old unsexed Marshall Broiler chicks were weighed and assigned randomly into five experimental groups, viz. deep litter without access to run (DL), deep litter with access to Stylosanthes hamata (SH), Stylosanthes guanensis (SG), Mucuna pruriens (MP) and free run (FR) during dry season. Each treatment had 4 replicates of 10 birds. Data were collected on growth performance, behaviour, tonic immobility (TI), gait score and blood parameters. The data obtained were subjected to One‐Way Analysis of Variance in a Completely Randomized Design. Results showed that the final body weight of birds in SH was significantly higher (p ˂ .05) than those of SH, MP, FR and DL which were comparable. The feed intake of the birds of DL, SH and FR was higher than those of the other treatment groups. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the birds on legume pastures was lower than those without access to pasture. The birds of SH, SG and MP spent higher (p ˂ .05) time drinking, preening, dust‐bathing, spot pecking and walking standing behaviours while those in DL and FR spent more (p ˂ .05) time feeding. Generally, the gait score of the birds on the different legume pastures was similar but better than those without access to pasture. Tonic immobility of the DL birds was longer than that of FR whose duration was longer than those of the birds on the pastures. The study concluded that access to different legume pastures, particularly Stylosanthes hamata, improved the welfare of broiler chickens without adverse effect on the performance of the birds., There is a scarcity of information on the comparative advantage of various legume pasture. Stylosanthes hamata improved the welfare of broiler chickens without adverse effect on the performance of the birds.

Agricultural sustainability is an increasing need considering the challenges posed by climate change and rapid human population growth. The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) may represent an excellent, new agriculture practice to improve soil quality while promoting growth and yield of important crop species subjected to water stress conditions. In this study, two PGPR strains with 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity were co-inoculated in velvet bean plants to verify the physiological, biochemical and molecular responses to progressive water stress. The results of our study show that the total biomass and the water use efficiency of inoculated plants were higher than uninoculated plants at the end of the water stress period. These positive effects may be derived from a lower root ACC content (-45 %) in water-stressed inoculated plants than in uninoculated ones resulting in lower root ethylene emission. Furthermore, the ability of inoculated plants to maintain higher levels of both isoprene emission, a priming compound that may help to protect leaves from oxidative damage, and carbon assimilation during water stress progression may indicate the underlining metabolic processes conferring water stress tolerance. Overall, the experimental results show that co-inoculation with ACC deaminase PGPR positively affects tolerance to water deficit, confirming the potential for biotechnological applications in water-stressed agricultural areas.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Inflammation caused by activated microglia is known to be associated with neurodegenerative diseases, e.g., Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Inhibiting the inflammatory process can be considered a potential strategy for the treatment of inflammation-associated diseases. Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (Leguminosae) has long been used in Thailand, India, China and other tropical countries to treat several diseases including PD. M. pruriens seeds have been found to possess a variety of pharmacological properties including antioxidant and anti-Parkinsonism effects. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of M. pruriens seeds during microglial activation have yet to be reported. Aim of the study The present study was performed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of M. pruriens seed extract and elucidate its underlying mechanism using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Materials and methods BV2 microglial cells were pretreated with various concentrations of M. pruriens seed extract before being stimulated with LPS. The levels of inflammatory mediators were analyzed by Griess assay and enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). The protein expression levels of inflammatory cytokines were determined by Western blot analysis. The translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Results M. pruriens seed extract significantly inhibited the release of inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO), IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. The extract also decreased the protein expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Moreover, M. pruriens seed extract inhibited the translocation of NF-κB. Conclusions M. pruriens seed extract could suppress inflammatory responses in LPS-activated BV2 microglial cells by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings support the use of M. pruriens seeds in traditional and alternative medicine for the treatment of PD and other inflammation-associated diseases.

Sickle cell disease is a group of diseases inherited through the gene and it affects the haemoglobin in the red blood cell. This study investigated the methanol seed extract of Buchholzia coriacea for possible in vitro anti-sickling effects and also determined the effect of Mucuna pruriens seed extract on the solubility and oxygen-binding rate of sickle cell haemoglobin. Sickle cell blood was collected from sickle cell disease patients with subsequent addition of 2% sodium metabisulphite to cause more sickling. Varying concentrations of the seed extracts (50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25%) were added to the pre-treated blood for these in vitro assays. The results showed that the extract of Buchholzia coriacea significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited sickling at all concentrations with the highest percentage inhibition of 73.3 ± 5.8, reversed sickled erythrocytes at all concentrations with the highest percentage reversal of 83.3 ± 5.8 and significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited polymerisation at all concentrations used in comparison to the parallel control. The extract of Mucuna pruriens seed significantly (P < 0.05) increased the solubility of sickle haemoglobin at 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25% concentrations, increased Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio from 1.7 (control) to 12.2 (50% concentration) and reduced osmotic fragility (at 12.5% and 6.25% concentrations) when compared with parallel control. The results indicate the feasibility of the seed extracts as promising agents in the management of sickle cell disease.

Mucuna pruriens belongs to the Fabaceae family and is ordinarily known as velvet bean, in English cowitch and Hindi Kawaanch. The restorative quality of this bean makes it an excellent component in pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications. Apart from high protein and starch content, these beans contain (l-Dopa) 3, 4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine, which exhibits several medicinal properties. However, it is poisonous when ingested by ruminants. The obstruction to the advancement of Mucuna as nutrition or food is the nearness of antinutrients, which are high as opposed to other uncommon vegetables. Also, this legume is considered as a future restorative herb because of its anticholesterolemic, anti-Parkinson, antioxidant, antidiabetic, sexual enhancing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antivenom activities. It also exhibits anticancer activities, but very few studies have been done. The seeds of Mucuna pruriens also contain a vast range of phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, reducing sugars, and tannins, which provide an avenue to explore it for wider applications. This review sheds light on the possible mechanism of action of Mucuna pruriens on some diseases (hypoglycemia, Parkinson’s disease, microbial diseases and tumor). and also fills the gap in the studies of Mucuna pruriens. and Further more in vitro and in vivo studies should be done to explore the potential of these seeds against many diseases, its application as a food source, its antinutrient, and harmful properties as well as its nutraceutical perspective.

A forragem hidropônica é uma alternativa para alimentar o animal em épocas de estiagem de maneira rápida. Deste modo o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento de forragem hidropônica de milho e milheto irrigados com soluções minerais e orgânica na época de inverno no ecótono Cerrado-Pantanal, buscando determinar a espécie e a solução mais adequada para região nessa época. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema de parcelas subdividida. As parcelas foram as soluções (mineral e orgânica) e as subparcelas foram as populações de milho, milheto e mucuna preta e suas respectivas proporções totalizando 12 tratamentos, com quatro repetições. Na colheita foi realizada a avaliação de produção de massa verde e massa seca e procedeu-se a análise bromatológica da parte aérea e do substrato determinando-se proteína bruta, fibra detergente neutro, fibra detergente ácido e matéria mineral. Realizou-se a avaliação química da solução orgânica em laboratório de análise de solução de fertirrigação. A forragem de milho sob irrigação de solução mineral obteve melhores teores de proteína bruta. O substrato que obteve maior proteína bruta e menores teores de fibras foi na subparcela com 100% milheto para ambas soluções.

Peptidase inhibitors (PIs) are plant proteins that are found to be effective against various digestive peptidases of insects. The present study isolated and characterized a trypsin inhibitor from mature dry seeds of Mucuna pruriens and investigated its effect against Bactrocera cucurbitae larvae, a major pest of cucurbitaceae crops, for its inhibitory activity. The purified trypsin inhibitor from M. pruriens seeds gave a molecular weight of ~11 kDa on SDS-PAGE. M. pruriens trypsin inhibitor (MPTI) exhibited inhibitory effect on growth of melon fruit fly larvae (64-72 h old) as it resulted in prolongation of larval, pupal and total development period. There was a significant increase in larval mortality with increase in concentration of MPTI. Nutritional indices decreased significantly at all the concentrations of MPTI. Quantitative RT- PCR revealed that the mRNA expression level of trypsin and chymotrypsin genes was reduced while that of GST, esterases, AP, SOD and catalase were enhanced. It can therefore be inferred that MPTI can serve as a promising agent for biocontrol that can reduce the problems caused by fruit fly and other similar catastrophic pests. This study provides the fundamental information for future successful strategies for pest management.

The study was to evaluate the effects of different processing methods on the proximate and anti-nutritional contents of Mucuna pruriens leaf meal. The Mucuna pruriens leaves were collected and processed by Air-dried Mucuna Leaf Meal (AMLM), Soaked Mucuna Leaf Meal in Cold Water (CMLM), Soaked Mucuna Leaf Meal in Hot Water (HMLM) and Fermented Mucuna Leaf Meal (FMLM). Proximate analysis showed that FMLM had the highest value (25.94±0.94%), while the lowest recorded in the CMLM (23.00±0.00%). The analysis of anti-nutritional factors showed that hydrocyanic acid, oxalate, phytate, saponin, reduced significantly (P

Inflammation is considered to be a major risk factor for the pathogenesis of chronic non-communicable diseases. Macrophages are important immune cells, which regulate inflammation and host defense by secretion of proinflammatory mediators. Obtaining biopeptides by enzymatic hydrolysis adds value to proteins of vegetative origin, such as Mucuna pruriens L. The present study evaluated the effect of enzymatic digestion of protein derivatives obtained from M. pruriens L. on the production of proinflammatory mediators by BALB/c mouse macrophages. Five different molecular weight peptide fractions were obtained (F > 10, 5–10, 3–5, 1–3, and

OBJECTIVE Examine the effects of supplementing bahiagrass hay (BG) with potentially anthelmintic quantities of hays of perennial peanut (PEA) or sericea lespedeza (LES) or seeds of velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens L.; MUC) or papaya (PAP) on the intake and nutritive value (Experiment 1), and the performance and parasite burden (Experiment 2) of goats. METHODS In Experiment 1, 38 male goats (27.4±5.7 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to each of 5 treatments: i) BG alone and BG plus; ii) PEA; iii) LES; iv) MUC; and v) PAP. Goats were fed for ad libitum consumption and adapted to the diets for 14 d followed by 7 d of measurement. The PEA, LES, MUC (50%, 50%, and 10% of the diet dry matter [DM], respectively), and PAP (forced-fed at 10 g/d) were fed at rates that would elicit anthelmintic effects. In Experiment 2, goats remained in the same treatments but were allocated to 15 pens (3 pens per treatment) from d 22 to 63. All goats were infected with parasites by grazing an infected bahiagrass pasture from 0800 to 1500 h daily and then returned to the pens. RESULTS Dry matter intake tended to be greater in goats fed PEA and LES than those fed BG (757 and 745 vs 612 g/d, respectively). Digestibility of DM (59.5% vs 54.9%) and organic matter (60.8% vs 56.0%) were greater in goats fed MUC vs BG, respectively. In Experiment 2, feeding PAP, LES, and PEA to goats reduced nematode fecal egg counts by 72%, 52%, and 32%, reduced abomasal adult worm counts by 78%, 52%, and 42%, and decreased plasma haptoglobin concentrations by 42%, 40%, and 45% relative to feeding BG alone, respectively. CONCLUSION Supplementation with PEA, LES, and PAP decreased the parasite burden of goats but did not increase their performance. PAP was the most effective anthelmintic supplement.

Mucuna pruriens (MP) seeds contain levodopa (up to 2% by weight) and have been used in traditional Indian medicine to treat an illness named "Kampavata," now understood to be Parkinson's disease (PD). Studies have shown MP to be beneficial, and even superior, to levodopa alone in treating PD symptoms. Commercial products containing MP are readily available from online and retail sources to patients and physicians. Products often contain extracts of MP seeds, with significantly higher levodopa content than the seeds. However, MP products have limited regulatory controls with respect to quality and content of active ingredient. The aim of this study was to apply a quantitative method to determine levodopa content in readily available MP products that might be used by patients or in research studies.Levodopa present in six commercial MP products was quantified by solvent extraction followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to fluorescence detection (FD). Certificates of analysis (COA) were obtained, from manufacturers of MP products, to assess the existence and implementation of specifications for levodopa content.HPLC-FD analysis revealed that the levodopa content of the six commercial MP products varied from 6% to 141% of individual label claims. No product contained levodopa within normal pharmacopeial limits of 90%-110% label claim. The maximum daily dose of levodopa delivered by the products varied from 14.4 to 720 mg/day. COAs were inconsistent in specifications for and verification of levodopa content.The commercial products tested varied widely in levodopa content, sometimes deviating widely from the label claim. These deficiencies could impact efficacy and safety of MP products used by PD patients and compromise the results of scientific studies on MP products. The HPLC-FD method described in this study could be utilized by both manufacturers and scientific researchers to verify levodopa content of MP products.

Crop residues and mulches release phytotoxic substances into the soil that affect plant growth. An experiment was conducted at the Uganda National Crop Resources Research Institute, Namulonge during 2016, to identify compounds in the stover of potted Cymbopogon nardus, Desmodium uncinatum, Oryza sativa, (NERICA 1), Mucuna pruriens and Zea mays (LONGE 6H) at fourty five days after germination. This marked near the average stationary phase for test crops’ growth when secondary metabolites are maximum. Organic compounds in the stover were extracted using solid phase micro-extraction. Samples were subjected to analysis using a 7890A Gas Chromatography system. Data files were transferred into a distinct folder and data was uploaded onto XCMS online platform for pair wise comparison and other related statistical analysis in the National institute of Science and Technology library. Ten terpenoids and one ester were identified in cymbopogon stover. Desmodium stover released six terpenoids and three phenols. Rice stover produced six terpenoids, three phenolic compounds and one ester. Mucuna stover released two terpenoids and four phenols. The maize stover produced five terpenoids and four phenolic compounds. Profiled compounds from cymbopogon, desmodium, rice, mucuna and maize could be responsible for the reported negative allelopathic effects such as auto-toxicity and suppression of companion crops expressed in agricultural ecosystems. Allelopathic activity of the profiled compounds should be confirmed through bioassays extracts and residues studies. The development and incorporation of the profiled metabolites into agricultural management system may lead to the production of bio-herbicides that reduce environmental degradation and increase crop productivity.

Allelochemicals cause yield differences under various ecosystems worldwide. Studies were conducted at the National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, Uganda during 2016 to investigate allelopathic properties of bioactive compounds in upland rice (NERICA 1), Desmodium uncinatum, Zea mays (LONGE 6H) and Mucuna pruriens root leachates. Studies involved pot screening, equal compartment agar experiments, germination tests and growth of potted plants. Results under the pot study indicated that maize, rice and mucuna leachates significantly (P ≤ 0.05), reduced root lengths (49%-63%), plant heights (48%-66%) and biomass (63%-75%) for Ageratum conyzoides, Bidens pilosa and Gallinsoga. parviflora weeds. G. parviflora root growth was reduced (20%-41%) and stem growth declined (19%-42%) when maize, rice and mucuna leachates were applied in the equal compartment agar study. Increased leachate concentrations (25%-75%) significantly (P ≤ 0.05), increased the mean germination time (0.4-2.8 days) for mucuna, desmodium, rice and maize as seed germination indices (SGI) were reduced (1.3%-49%). Potted mucuna, maize and desmodium reduced (1.3%-49%) rice root length. Potting mucuna with maize reduced (32%) mucuna leaf width while desmodium growth parameters were reduced (49%-64%) when potted with maize and mucuna. Potting maize with mucuna or desmodium increased the maize leaf length (18%) and SGI (25). Application of higher (25%-75%) rice/maize leachate concentrations similarly increased the maize leaf length (31%) and SGI (119). Allelopathic properties affect seed germination, crop growth and development, and characterise ecosystems age structures. Strategic management of crops under allelopathic ecosystems is critical.

Mucuna pruriens is a well-known legume for the itching attributes of the trichome and a valuable medicinal herb that is used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, sexual debilities, etc. Its cultivation was deprived due to its itching behavior. The wild genotype of M. pruriens have the largest trichome length (2015 ± 29 μm) compared to other genotype and mutants. The white-seeded variety of M. pruriens was found to be the most suitable for large-scale cultivation due to the small trichome size and less trichome density on the pod. The external surface trichomes have protuberance with unknown function. The unicellular trichomes of Mucuna show the flowing fluid or cytoplasm inside the trichome. The unigenes regulating the differentiation and development of the trichome such as GLABRA-1, GLABRA-2, and cpr-5 have been identified in M. pruriens transcriptome of the leaf. The Mucunain shows a higher transcript abundance in the flower and pod cover compared to the seeds. The Mucunain was found in every stage of plant growth, but it was highly expressed during maturity (about 170 days) with a high fragment per kilobase per million value.

Background : Medicinal plants play a major role in controlling diabetes by producing microstructural changes in liver and pancreas. Quantification of islets and hepatocytes by using histomorphometric tools are effective in evaluating the antidiabetic action of drugs. Aims and Objectives: To assess the anti diabetic propertie s of alcoholic extracts of Mucuna Pruriens seeds (200 mg/kg b.w) by means of histological and histomorphometric analysis of pancreas and liver . Methods: Seventy two neonatal wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e. Normal , Diabetic control, diabetic rats treated with Mucuna and Glibenclamide. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (65mg/kg b.w) in 5 day old neonatal rats (n =54).12 weeks after the injection, animals were divided in to four groups with 18 animals in each. The study groups were as follows. Group A -Normal control, Group B – STZ untreated, Group C - Mucuna Pruriens 200mg/kg, Group D -Glibenclamide (1mg/kg).Fasting blood sugar levels were monitored once a week during the drug study .i.e. 12 weeks. At the end of every 4 th week, 6 animals from each group were sacrificed for histological and histomorphometric studies on liver and Pancreas. Results: From the histological studies, the diabetic group showed reduction of cell population in the pancreas and depletion of the number of hepatocytes in the liver. After 12 weeks of Drug treatment, These changes were markedly reduced in Mucuna Pruriens treated group. The obtained results were further quantified by means of Histomorphometric analysis and the results showed reduction in the number and diameter of islets, number of beta cells and number of healthy hepatocytes in diabetic control group and treatment with Mucuna Pruriens seed extract significantly reversed these changes (p < 0.05) DOI:10.21276/APALM.1516