Kapikachhu descriptionsMucuna pruriens is an herbaceous, twining climber with trifoliate leaves. The seeds are astringent and tonic; they possess mild insecticidal activity. The leaves of the plant are applied to ulcers.
The seeds contain the bioactive alkaloids mucunine, mucunadine, mucuadinine, pruriendine and nicotine, as well as ß-sitosterol, glutathione, lecithin, oils, venolic and gallic acids. The seed with its coat showed the presence of a number of bioactive subtances including tryptamine, alkylamines, steroids, flavonoids, coumarins, cardenolides, etc.
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