Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens): A Promising Indigenous Herbal Drug and Its Effect on Different Disease Conditions

Abstract

Mucuna pruriens is widely known as “velvet bean,” which originally belongs to eastern part of India and China where it is cultivated as vegetable crop. It has been shown that its seeds are potentially of substantial medicinal importance. Kapikacchu belongs to Fabaceae family and it is widely used for aphrodisiac purpose as well as for Parkinson disease. It has lots of pharmacological properties such as hypoglycemic activity, antioxidant activity, aphrodisiac activity, antimicrobial properties and antiparkinsons activity. Parkinson’s disease is treated with the seeds of Mucuna pruriens which is the richest source of Levo-dopa. According to Ayurvedic literature Kapikacchu is used as a potent aphrodisiac, vermifuge and as a geriatric tonic. It is also used for the treatment of menstrual disorder, constipation, oedema, fever and tuberculosis. Keywords: Anti-Parkinsonism, aphrodisiac, Kapikacchu, Levo-dopa, Mucuna pruriens

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Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology
ISSN: 2231-3834 (Online), ISSN: 2349-1264 (Print)
Volume 7, Issue 3
www.stmjournals.com
Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens): A Promising Indigenous
Herbal Drug and Its Effect on Different Disease
Conditions
Binod Bihari Dora*, Shobhit Kumar
Research Officer (Ayurveda) CCRAS, Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Itanagar,
Arunachal Pradesh, India
Abstract
Mucuna pruriens is widely known as “velvet bean,” which originally belongs to eastern part
of India and China where it is cultivated as vegetable crop. It has been shown that its seeds
are potentially of substantial medicinal importance. Kapikacchu belongs to Fabaceae family
and it is widely used for aphrodisiac purpose as well as for Parkinson disease. It has lots of
pharmacological properties such as hypoglycemic activity, antioxidant activity, aphrodisiac
activity, antimicrobial properties and antiparkinsons activity. Parkinson’s disease is treated
with the seeds of Mucuna pruriens which is the richest source of Levo-dopa. According to
Ayurvedic literature Kapikacchu is used as a potent aphrodisiac, vermifuge and as a geriatric
tonic. It is also used for the treatment of menstrual disorder, constipation, oedema, fever and
tuberculosis.
Keywords: Anti-Parkinsonism, aphrodisiac, Kapikacchu, Levo-dopa, Mucuna pruriens
*Author for Correspondence E-mail: dorabinodbihari@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION
Mucuna pruriens is spread throughout the
world having almost 150 species belonging to
Fabaceae family and Papilionaceae subfamily.
It is a rich source of dietary protein [1–3] as
compared to other pulses [4]. Mucuna pruriens
contain many important bioactive compounds
such as tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and
phenolic compounds [5]. As this plant belongs
to the legume family, it absorbs nitrogen gas
from the atmosphere and combines with other
chemical compounds to produce fertilizer
which improves the quality of land. The seeds
have multidiversified functions which helps in
the management of diabetes mellitus,
Rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinsonism,
atherosclerosis, fever and in pain condition of
body [6]. It is also used for the treatment of
menstrual disorder, constipation, oedema,
fever and tuberculosis [7]. Mucuna pruriens
causes pruritus due to presence of 5-
hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) in the hair of
seeds [8]. Kapikacchu is famous for its
aphrodisiac activity by increasing testosterone
levels in the body which ultimately increases
the sperm count. Kapikacchu helps the body to
gain endurance and it also increases muscular
strength. Many athletes use the supplements to
enhance their body performance. It reduces fat
in the body as well as helps in increasing the
muscle mass of the body. This herb help in
indulgence in sexual act thereby increases the
libido power and is also beneficial for people
who are undergoing depression. This plant is
well mentioned in many Ayurvedic texts.
Nirukti of Kapikacchu
It consists of two words—one is Kapi and
another is kacchu. Kapi means monkey and
kacchu means itching. It causes itching for
monkeys if monkey sit on the trees where this
creeper is twisted around the stem; the pods
may produce itching (Kacchu) on the hip of
monkeys [9].
Scientific Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Division
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Family
Fabaceae
Subfamily
Faboideae
Tribe
Phaseoleae
Genus
Mucuna
Species
pruriens

Kapikacchu and Its Effect on Different Disease Conditions Dora and Kumar
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Vernacular Names
Sanskrit: Kapikacchu, Markati, Kandura,
Sukasimbi, Kapiprabha
Bengali: Aalkushee, Alkusa
English: Cowhage, Cowitch
Gujrati: Kaucha, Kavach
Hindi: Kevanch, Kaunch, Khujanee
Kannada: Nasukunnee, Nasuganni,
Nayisonanguballi
Malayalam: Shoriyanam, Naykkorana,
Naykkuran
Marathi: Khajkuhilee
Oriya: Baikhujnee
Punjabi: Aalkushee, Kavanch
Tamil: Punaik-Kalee, Punaikkalee,
Punaippidukkam
Telugu: Piliyadugu, Pilleeadugu
Urdu: Kaunch
Pradhana Nama (Main Name)-Kapikacchu,
Atmagupta
Upama (Representative) - Kapiloma, kapi,
Markati, Vanari
Svarupa (Morphology) - Roma-valli,
Rrusyaprokta
Due to self protecting nature - Atmagupt,
Svayangupta, Svagupta, Gupta
According to Karma (action) - Shoth,
Dusparsha, Vrisya, Harsini, Kandura
Properties and Action
Rasa: Tikta, Kasaya
Guna: Guru, Snigdha
Virya: Sita
Vipaka: Katu
Karma: Kaphahara, Pittahara, Vrisya,
Brimhana, Balya, Yonisamkirnakara,
Vajikarana
Botanical Description
The Mucuna pruriens plant is found wild
throughout India from Himalayas to Cape
Comorin in the plain district and upto 3000 ft.
elevation in the hills. It is mainly found in
Assam, Bengal, Khasi hills and Deccan. It is
an annual climbing shrub; the hairs are present
in the young state but disappear in old age. Its
length is about 15 m and leaflets are 2–3 mm
long; flower heads are 15–32 mm long and
have 2–3 flowers with white and purple
colour. The husk is hairy having seven seeds
and the seed pods are 10 cm long [10] covered
with loose hairs which causes severe itching
when it comes in contact with skin (Figure 1).
PHYTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Seeds of Mucuna pruriens (velvet beans) are
known to produce the unusual nonprotein
amino acid 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-l-alanine
(L-DOPA) [11]. It contains gallic acid,
glutathione and betasitosterol. It has bases
such as mucunine, ucunadine, prurieninine,
and prurienine; pods contain serotonin, and the
seeds contain L-DOPA with trace amount of
serotonin, bufotenine, nicotine and
betacarboline. The leaves contain about 0.5%
L-DOPA, 0.006% DMT, 0.0025% 5-MeO-
DMT and 0.003% DMT n-oxide.
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS
Antivenom Activity
In 2010 antivenom activity was studied by
Fung et al. and they found there was marked
reduction in cardiovascular and neuromuscular
depressant effect of Naja sputatrix venom on
rat with pretreated by Mucuna pruriens seed
[12]. In another study, Fung et al. gave
intraperitoneal Mucuna pruriens extract to rat
for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, Calloselasma
rhodostoma venom was given to rat in
intravenous route and they studied all
physiological parameters such as pulse rate,
heart rate, blood pressure and they found that
all pharmacological responses were decreased
in treated group with respect to control group
[13]. But they also found strong antivenom
activity which may be due to presence of lots
of phytochemicals in Mucuna pruriens seeds.
Fig. 1: Mucuna pruriens.

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Hypoglycemic Activity
The hypoglycemic activity of Mucuna
pruriens seeds extract was studied in rat model
using streptozotocin-induced diabetes. In
glucose load condition and normal condition,
extract of Mucuna pruriens seeds were given
at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight,
respectively that showed a significant
reduction in glucose load from 127 mg/dl to
75 mg/dl. In another study blood glucose level
decreased from 250 mg/dl to 90mg/dl in
streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after 21
days [13] and same time they observed that
cholesterol and creatinine levels also
decreased significantly due to presence of
squalene content [14].
Aphrodisiac Activity
Kapikacchu Churna is found to be very
effective in low sperm count. It raises sperm
count and shows very good improvement in
seminal parameter that includes semen
volume, pH of semen, and sperms motility. It
also showed good result in nonprogressive
sperm (NPS) and it does not show significant
result in slow linear progress of sperm (SLP).
It also increases the desire to sex, penile
rigidity, erection of genitals and increased
semen ejaculation duration with orgasm [15].
Antioxidant Activity
Alcohol extract of Mucuna pruriens seeds
showed good antioxidant activity which was
compared with ascorbate and total phenol
content [16]. Different parts of Mucuna
pruriens plant contain phenols which might
have antioxidant property; similar result was
also found through nitric oxide scavenging
method.
Antimicrobial Activity
Methanol extract of Mucuna pruriens showed
significant result against Gram+ve and Gram-
ve organism. This extract is highly effective
against Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli,
Shigella dysenteriae and Bacillus subtilis. The
antimicrobial potency was evaluated by zone
of inhibition (ZI) where E. coli showed higher
zone of inhibition than Bacillus subtilis [17].
Antiparkinson’s Activity
The seeds of Mucuna pruriens contain
significant level of levodopa, which is a direct
precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine. It
has shown very good result in the treatment of
Parkinson’s disease as it contains pure
levodopa/carbidopa [18]. Kapikacchu bija is
more beneficial in Parkinson’s disease as
compared to synthetic product when used for a
prolong period. n-propanol extract of Mucuna
pruriens seeds has highest response in
neuroprotective test which involves the growth
of DA neurons in culture. When we use n-
propanol extracts, which contain a negligible
amount of L-DOPA has shown significant
level of neuroprotective activity, suggesting
that if we use whole extract of Mucuna
pruriens seeds could be superior to pure L-
DOPA with regard to the treatment of
Parkinsonism. L-DOPA is the precursor of
dopamine, which can cross the blood–brain
barrier [19].
TYPES OF KAPIKACCHU
Kapikacchu Bija is of two types—one is wild
and another is cultivated. Among these two
types of kapikacchu, wild variety is mostly
used in clinical practice than cultivated.
According to colour of seeds it can be
differentiated in two types—Sveta Bija (White
seed) and Krisna Bija (Black seed) [20].
ADULTERATION
Adulteration of kapikacchu is not so common
but in some parts of India people use Mucuna
utilis as a substitute for Mucuna pruriens.
SOME IMPORTANT PREPARATION
Rativallabha modak, Shatavari modak,
Kameshwar modak, Vanari vatika,
Ashwagandha ghrita and Mahakameshwar
modak [21].
THERAPEUTIC USES
Kapikacchu is used in different disease
conditions such as vatavyadhi (e.g.
Parkinson’s disease), worm infestation, and
loss of libido. It also helps naturally in
increasing the muscle mass of the body, it
increases nerve function of the body and helps
in reducing psychological stress and helps in
improving sperm count and motility [22].
CONCLUSION
Kapikacchu is one of the most powerful
medicinal plant in Ayurveda. It has

Kapikacchu and Its Effect on Different Disease Conditions Dora and Kumar
RRJoT (2017) 1-5 © STM Journals 2017. All Rights Reserved Page 4
multidimensional benefits. In health hazards, it
helps in better functioning of reproductive
system and for aphrodisiac purpose, supports
improvement of stamina and potency, helps in
increasing testosterone level which helps in
increasing the sperm count. It is an excellent
medicine for vata predominant disorder; it is a
natural source of levodopa (L-DOPA) which is
an essential precursor to the neurotransmitter
dopamine which is used in Parkinsonism [23,
24]. So it should be used in many disease
condition and lots of research work need to be
done in human model to establish this plant in
different disease condition.
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Cite this Article
Binod Bihari Dora, Shobhit Kumar.
Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens): A
Promising Indigenous Herbal Drug and Its
Effect on Different Disease Conditions.
Research & Reviews: A Journal of
Toxicology. 2017; 7(3): 1–5p.