Mucuna Seeds Research Articles

Neuronal and Oxidative Damage in the Catfish Brain Alleviated After Mucuna Seed Extract Treatment

The neurodegenerative activity of a synthetic detergent sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) on brain physiology in Indian native catfish Heteropneustes fossilis and the efficacy of methanol extract of Mucuna pruriens seeds for alleviating such effects were demonstrated. Fish (n=36, 2 replicates) were exposed to SDS (2.75 mg/l) for 0 (control), 15 and 30 days. After 30-days treatment, methanol extract of Mucuna seed was injected for continuous seven days and sampling was done on each alternate odd days (1, 3, 5 and 7 days). Levels of different enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, Na+-K+-ATPase, acetylcholine esterase; monoamine oxidase; nitric oxide were measured in H. fossilis brain tissue. 30- days treatment with SDS caused significant decrease in reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, while glutathione reductase, malondialdehyde level increased significantly (P less than 0.05). Administration of Mucuna seed extract (15.5 mg/kg body weight) was found to restore the neurological activity and reduce stress in a time-dependent manner as the biochemical and neurological parameters in fish after 7-day extract administration showed no significant difference (P>0.05) compared to those in control without SDS treatment, except for GST and GPx which were unable to return to the basal level.

Extraction and Characterization of Mucuna Seeds Oil

Extraction and Characterization of Mucuna Seeds Oil

Dehulling reduces toxicity and improves in vivo biological value of proteins in vegetal milk derived from two mucuna (Mucuna pruriens L.) seeds varieties.

The present work was carried out to evaluate the nutritive quality (proximate and antinutrients composition) of vegetable milks prepared from whole and dehulled mucuna bean flours. Casein and mucuna milk diets were fed to rats (four weeks old; n = 8 per group) for 28days to determine protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein efficiency ratio (NPER), true and apparent digestibility (TD and AD, respectively), organ-to-body weight ratios and hematological parameters. The experimental design was a factorial design with two variety of mucuna (cochinchinensis and veracruz) and two treatments (whole and dehulled beans). Protein, total sugar, dry matter and ash-content of mucuna milks ranged from 6.40 to 12.13 g/100 mL, 10.52 to 13.08 g/100 mL, 8.59 to 12.88 g/100 g and 0.31 to 0.92 g/100 g, respectively. Milks from dehulled flours had lower contents of tannins (80-87.08 %), phytates (76.67-78.16 %) and L-Dopamine (44.45-66.66 %) than that from whole flours. The PER of dehulled mucuna diets were 22.76-21.74%, but negative PER and low NPER was observed for whole mucuna milk diets. TD for dehulled mucuna milk (85.15-85.96%) were higher and similar to casein when compared to that of whole mucuna milk (47.87-51.17%). Rats fed with diets containing whole mucuna milk lost weight and had higher kidney weight. In addition, the rats fed with milk from whole mucuna flours showed significantly lower levels of lymphocytes, granulocytes, red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit than that fed with dehulled mucuna milk.

Perikinetics and sludge study for the decontamination of petroleum produced water (PW) using novel mucuna seed extract

In this study, Mucuna flagellipes seed extract was applied in the coagulation–flocculation of produced water (PW). Process parameters such as pH, dosage, and settling time were investigated. Process kinetics was also studied. Instrumental characterization of mucuna seed (MS), mucuna seed coagulant (MSC), and post effluent treatment settled sludge (PTSS) were carried out. The optimum decontamination efficiency of 95 % was obtained at 1 g/L MSC dosage, PW pH of 2, and rate constant of 0.0001 (L/g/s). Characterization results indicated that MS, MSC, and PTSS were of network structure, primitive lattice, and thermally stable. It could be concluded that MSC would be potential biomass for the treatment of produced water under the experimental conditions.

Effect of two different germplasm of Mucuna pruriens seed extracts against some fish pathogens

To investigate the two different germplasm of Mucuna seeds were collected from agro geographical regions was evaluated for its antibacterial activities. Antibacterial activity of the seed extracts was studied against the fish pathogens of Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Vibrio cholera and Klebsiella pneumonia using agar well diffusion method. Results showed that methanol and ethanol extracts showed more potent antibacterial activity than other solvent extracts. The results were expressed as mean SD. The results obtained in the study shows that velvet bean black seed extract has more antibacterial activity against fish pathogens. The antibacterial activity of all the Mucuna seed extracts are comparable ad their potential as alternative in the treatment of infectious by these microorganisms was present in the fish. Susceptibility testing is conducted on isolates using drug selected on the basis of their importance to human medicine and use I fish production.

EFFECT OF OIL EXTRACTION WITH SUPERCRITICAL CO2 AND ORGANIC SOLVENTS ON ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY AND TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT OF Mucuna MEAL

The antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content of defatted and raw meals of three different varieties of Mucuna seeds (aterrima, cinerium and deeringiana) were investigated. Oil extraction was performed with supercritical CO2, dichloromethane and hexane. Supercritical fluid extraction was carried out at 313 K and 333 K in the pressure range from 15 MPa to 25 MPa. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) assay always revealed a positive influence of oil removal on the antioxidant activity of the meals (i.e.; a negative influence on EC50) for all the considered varieties of Mucuna. The highest content of total phenols in the defatted material was approximately 18-26 % higher than those found in the raw meals (≈4.3-5.5 g GAE/100 g) when examining samples of the same Mucuna variety. A non negligible role of the oil extraction method in the total phenolic content of defatted Mucuna was evidenced in 2/3 of the examined varieties. The oil extraction yields were determined at all the investigated conditions, but the best results were obtained when using the organic solvents (≈5.2-7.4 %).

EXTRACTION OF Mucuna aterrima SEED OIL USING COMPRESSED PROPANE AND QUANTIFICATION OF L-DOPA IN THE DEFATTED MEAL

The aim of this study was to extract the oil of Mucuna seeds using compressed propane as the solvent, in order to concentrate the L-Dopa content of the defatted Mucuna meal. The experiments were performed in a laboratory-scale unit with a constant propane flow rate of around 0.8 mL/min and temperature and pressure ranges of 3060 °C and 80-120 bar, respectively. The results revealed that temperature is an important variable for the extraction yield obtained with propane. It was observed that the concentration of L-Dopa present in the defatted seed meal was greater than that in the seeds without the removal of oil. Quantitative analysis of the oil extracted under the different experimental conditions investigated showed no significant differences in terms of fatty acids (p>0.05), the major oil component being linoleic acid (omega-6), along with the presence of around 5% of linolenic acid (omega-3). The kinetics of the oil extraction with propane was also investigated for the operating conditions considered.

English

Lectins are proteins present in all living beings capable of interacting specifically and reversibly to carbohydrates or glycoconjugates form. They stand out in this family of lectins legumes, which are of special scientific interest because they have different biological functions. This study investigated the presence of a lectin in Brazilian seeds of Mucuna, proceeding with their isolation and evaluation of its antinociceptive effects, anti-inflammatory and antihemolytic activity. Saline extracts of Mucuna pruriens were investigated for the presence of hemagglutinating activity by serial dilution and applied to Sephacryl S-200HR columns and DEAE Sephacel HiPrepFF to purify their lectin. After assessing the purity and molecular weight by polyacrylamide agarose gel electrophoresis (PAGE), the hemolytic activity on human erythrocytes was determined, as well as its antinociceptive action by models of writhing induced by acetic acid and formalin, in addition to its anti-inflammatory activity by testing the paw edema induced by carrageenan. The results indicated that Brazilian Mucuna seeds had a lectin that was purified from seeds having molecular weight of 60.0 kDa and only able to agglutinate erythrocytes of rabbit. The lectin showed an antihemolytic effect on human erythrocytes by not causing hemolysis in these cells compared to the negative control. The administration of lectin in rodents intraperitoneally inhibited the writhing by 99% (2.5 mg/kg), induced by acetic acid, as well as in the method where the formalin nociceptive stimulus was reduced by 51% in stage one and 77% in stage two of the test, using 2.5 mg/kg lectin. The anti-inflammatory activity demonstrated a decrease in paw edema induced by carrageenan in 72% better result than indomethacin control where there was a reduction of only 48% of edema. The study supports the presence of a lectin in Brazilian seeds of M. pruriens with antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antihemolytic activities.   Key words: Plant lectin, Mucuna pruriens, purification, antihemolytic, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory.

Effect of dietary inclusion of processed Mucuna pruriens seed meal on growing rabbits

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of including differently processed Mucuna pruriens seed meals as tropical feed resource on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, and economical efficiency of growing rabbits. Forty eight growing California rabbits aged 7 weeks, allocated in individual cages, were randomly distributed into four experimental groups of 12 rabbits each; the animals were assigned to four dietary treatments containing 25% of cooked Mucuna seed meal (MSM), alkaline treated MSM, or autoclaved MSM as well as the control diet that did not contain MSM. The results showed that cooking or autoclaving M. pruriens seeds did not affect the chemical composition of the seeds, however, the alkaline process reduced CP, aNDF, ADF, and EE content of the seeds by 6.03%, 6.38%, 17.74%, and 26.17%, respectively compared to the raw seeds. There was no significant difference between the control group and each of cooked and alkaline treated MSM regarding final body weight being 2066 vs. 2015 and 1999g, respectively; but the autoclaved MSM was significantly lower by 4.85% than the control group. Autoclaved and alkaline treated MSM groups had significantly lower daily weight gain (29.0 and 29.8g) than the control group (31.4g), but the cooked MSM treatment (30.1g) was not different from the control group. There were no significant differences regarding DM, OM, or GE digestibility among the experimental groups, the highest CP digestibility coefficient was recorded by the control and cooked MSM groups (0.75 and 0.72, respectively), whereas cooked MSM group showed significantly the highest digestibility coefficient of aNDF and ADF. No significant differences were detected among the treatments in the dressing percentage. The inclusion of cooked, alkaline treated or autoclaved MSM improved the economical efficiency by 63%, 53%, and 36%, respectively in comparison with the control group. The results of this study revealed that cooking treatment is the best method of processing Mucuna seeds; therefore 25% of cooked MSM could be included in the rabbit diets without any deleterious effect on performance or carcass traits with higher economical efficiency of growing rabbits.

Effect of Protein and Mineral Improvement on the Performance of Growers Goats

The current trials were initiated to help the goat keepers improve the nutritional status of grower goats with other alternative supplements offered by available cotton and mucuna seeds and locally made mineral lick. The performances of the growers such as growth rate of 12 months, weight at one year and mortality rate at postweaning stage of 3 to 12 months were measured. The results showed that treatment effect on dry matter intake by growers was significant. The growers fed the seeds consumed significantly more dry matter than those fed sole palm frond. Treatment effect on digestible dry matter intake was highly significant. The mean digestible dry matter intake by growers in the period of 8 to 12 months ranged between 25.8 g in the control and 39.1 g/kg 0.75 /day in the mucuna seed without salt lick group. Treatment effect was highly significant. The growers fed diets supplemented with the seeds showed higher growth rate than those in the control. The growers fed diets supplemented with the seeds showed higher weight at one year compared to the control. The mean weight at one year varied from 12.0 kg in the growers fed the seed to 14.6 kg in treatments with mineral lick. Use of these sources of protein could help the household in providing feed for their goats especially in the dry season and also in increasing the size of household flocks.

Mucuna pruriens seeds in treatment of Parkinson’s disease: pharmacological review

Medicinal plants have been a rich source of medicines. Mucuna pruriens is extensively used in Ayurveda to treat kampavat (Parkinson’s disease in modern medicine), a disease characterized by excess of Vata. Clinical and preclinical studies have substantiated claims on its efficacy and safety in PD and there are indications that it is more effective than the levodopa in reducing dyskinesias. Several constituents of Mucuna seeds such as genistein, gallic acid, unsaturated acids, nicotine, bufotenin, harmin alkaloids, lecithin, etc. have been isolated which possess neuroprotective activity and support the antiPD activity of levodopa. The review describes various constituents of Mucuna pruriens seeds in context to therapeutic utility in treating Parkinson’s disease. Since the conventional treatment of PD using levodopa with other add-on drugs is very expensive and Mucuna pruriens seeds are easily available and economic, the use of standardized extract of Mucuna seeds may drastically reduce the cost of treatment and also reduce the progression of disease. The review emphasizes the importance of holistic approach of Ayurveda in using the Mucuna pruriens in treatment of PD. Further studies may provide an approach to understand the mechanisms involved in treating PD with lesser adverse effects.

Screening of the seeds ofMucuna pruriensgermplasm for L-dopa, an anti-parkinsonian agent

Mucuna pruriens Linn. seeds constitute an excellent raw material for indigenous Ayurvedic drugs and medicines due to the presence of 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-dopa), which provides symptomatic relief in Parkinson's disease. L-dopa extracted from seeds of Mucuna is more effective as drug than the synthetic counterpart. Mucuna germplasm collected from wild regions of Odisha were chemically evaluated for bioactive compound L-dopa by high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) at 280 nm. Results showed that L-dopa content in seeds varied significantly among different accessions and ranged from 4.20% to 6.11% on dry weight basis. Accessions IC589220 and IC589208 were found to contain high L-dopa content of 6.11 and 6.04%, respectively. These promising accessions of M. pruriens can be exploited for large-scale cultivation of the crop for their pharmacological important constituents mainly L-dopa content.

Extraction of Mucuna seed oil using supercritical carbon dioxide to increase the concentration of l-Dopa in the defatted meal

The main aim of this investigation was to extract oil from seeds of Mucuna in order to increase the concentration of l-Dopa in the defatted Mucuna meal. Three different varieties of Mucuna (aterrima, cinerium, deeringiana) and solvents (supercritical carbon dioxide, dichloromethane, hexane) were used. The experiments under supercritical CO2 conditions were performed in a laboratory scale unit at 40 and 60°C over the pressure range from 150 to 250bar. A constant flow rate of CO2 close to 3mL/min was always kept. The results revealed that temperature, pressure and density were important variables for CO2 extraction. The concentration of l-Dopa in the defatted meal from supercritical fluid extraction was always higher than those without oil extraction or extracted using organic solvents. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the oil extracted under the different investigated experimental conditions shown no significant differences in terms of fatty acid and free glycerol compounds. The same analyses indicated linoleic acid (omega-6) as the major oil component and a content of free fatty acids in the oil extracted with supercritical CO2 close to 5%. The kinetics of oil extraction with CO2 was also investigated at all the considered operating conditions.

Variability in Mucuna pruriens L. germplasm for L-Dopa, an anti parkinsonian agent

Mucuna pruriens L. (Fabaceae) is a popular Indian medicinal plant, which has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic system of Indian medicine for diseases including parkinsonism. The seeds of M. pruriens contain 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (L-dopa) as a major constituent, an intermediate precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine. L-dopa extracted from seeds of Mucuna is more effective as drug than the synthetic counterpart. The plant is widely distributed throughout the India and in other parts of the tropics including Central and South America. The present study was aimed to screen thirty-eight accessions of Mucuna germplasm collected from different geographical regions of India for L-dopa content, an effective drug used for Parkinson’s disease. The L-dopa content in seeds of M. pruriens was quantitatively analyzed by high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) at 280 nm wavelength. Results indicated wide variability among thirty-eight accessions of M. pruriens for seed characters like seed colour, size and shape. The L-dopa content in seeds of M. pruriens ranged between 3.29 and 5.44 % (on dry weight basis) among different germplasm collections augmented from various parts of India. Promising accessions identified having high L-dopa content were IC551549 (5.44 %), IC551514 (5.41 %), IC331536 (5.40 %), IC552857 (5.36 %), IC385844 (5.32 %) and IC439197 (5.32 %). Due to the economic importance of the drug, these promising M. pruriens accessions can be exploited for large scale cultivation for their pharmacological important constituents mainly L-dopa content.

Quantitative Determination of L-DOPA in Seeds of Mucuna Pruriens Germplasm by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography.

Mucuna pruriens Linn. is an important medicinal plant used for treatment of Parkinson's disease and many others in ancient Indian medical system. L-DOPA extracted from seeds of Mucuna is a constituent of more than 200 indigenous drug formulations and is more effective as drug than the synthetic counterpart. A densitometric high performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method was developed for quantification of L-DOPA content present in the seeds extract. The method involves separation of L-DOPA on precoated silica gel 60 GF254 HPTLC plates using a solvent system of n-butanol-acetic-acid-water (4:1:1, v/v) as the mobile phase. Quantification was done at 280 nm using absorbance reflectance mode. Linearity was found in the concentration range of 100 to 1000 ng/spot with the correlation coefficient value of 0.9980. The method was validated for accuracy, precision and repeatability. Mean recovery was 100.89%. The LOD and LOQ for L-DOPA determination were found to be 3.41 ng/spot and 10.35 ng/spot respectively. The proposed HPTLC method was found to be precise, specific and accurate for quantitative determination of L-DOPA. It can be used for rapid screening of large germplasm collections of Mucuna pruriens for L-DOPA content. The method was used to study variation in fifteen accessions of Mucuna germplasm collected from different geographical regions.

Effect of Dietary Levels of Toasted Mucuna Seed Meal (TMSM) on the Performance and Egg Quality Parameters of Laying Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

A 8 week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of Toasted Mucuna Seed Meal (TMSM) on the performance and egg qualities of Japanese quail layers. Four (4) isonitrogenous (20% cp) diets were formulated to contain toasted mucuna seed meal at 0, 5, 10 and 15%. Each of the dietary treatments was triplicated with 10 birds per replicate (making a total of 120 birds for the experiment) in a completely randomized design. The birds were offered feed and water ad libitum. The results showed that the quail layers fed up to 15% dietary levels of TMSM had percent hen-day and hen housed egg production, average feed intake, feed intake per egg production and feed intake per gram egg production values that were not statistically different (p>0.05) from those fed the 0% TMSM (control) diet. Albumen width and shell thickness were significantly (p 0.05). Dietary inclusion of TMSM at all levels reduced feed cost which was also reflected in feed cost per egg produced and feed cost per bird produced. Therefore the use of TMSM as a feed ingredient up to 15% level in quail layer diets is profitable, feasible and desirable.

Comparative Performance of Broiler Fed Diets Containing Raw and Processed Mucuna Seed Meal

The effects of raw and local processing methods on the nutritive value of Mucuna utilis seeds fed in diets to broiler performance were investigated. The processing methods were: seeds were soaked for 24 h in plain water, cooking of 24-h pre-soaked seeds for 60 min and cooking in a solution of potash (kanwa, trona) for 60 min. Five experimental diets were formulated such that diet 1 contained no mucuna (control), while raw, soaked, pre-soaked and cooked and cooked-in-potash mucuna seed meal were included at 20% dietary levels respectively. One hundred and fifty (150) 0ne-week old (Anak, 2000) broiler chicks were randomly assigned to the experimental diets in a completely randomized design. There were 3 replicates of the 5 treatme nts and 10 birds per replicate. 22% Crude Protein (CP) diets were fed during the starter phase and 20%CP diets during the finisher phase. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum throughout the 8-week trial period. At the end of the feeding trial, 3 birds were selected from replicates and slaughtered for carcass and blood evaluation. The different processing methods caused percentage reductions in Crud e Protein (CP) and ether extract but increased the gross energy and ash content of the seeds. Cooking of pre- soaked beans and cooking in potash solution significantly (p<0.05) reduced most of the antinutrient factor contents of the seeds. During the starter phase, average fed intake and feed conversion efficiency f birds on cooked mucuna seed diets were similar to the control group. At the finisher phase better performance in terms of weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, protein efficiency ratio were significantly (p<0.05) achieved with a 25% reduction in cost of feed per kilogram gain in the group fed seeds cooked for 60 minutes diet. Birds on cooked mucuna seed diets had comparable dressing percentage, empty gizzard, liver, pancreas spleen and lungs weights with the birds fed the control diet. The packed cell volume, haemoglobin and white blood cell count values of the birds on the cooked mucuna diets were significantly similar to the control group.

Coag-Flocculation Kinetics and Functional Parameters Response of Mucuna Seed Coagulant to pH Variation in Organic Rich Coal Effluent Medium

The coag-flocculation performance of Mucuna Seed Coagulant as affected by pH variation in coal washery effluent has been investigated at room temperature using various dosages of unblended Mucuna Seed Coagulant. In addition, coag-flocculation parameters such as Coagflocculation reaction order α, αth order coag-flocculation constant K, Collision factor for Brownian Transport βBr, Smoluchowski constant KR,, Collision Efficiency ep, and Coagulation Period τ1/2 were determined. Turbidity measurement was employed using the nephelometric (turbidimetric) standard method while Mucuna Seed Coagulant preparation was adopted from the works of Adebowale and Adebowale (2007). The maximum Mucuna Seed Coagulant parameter performance is recorded at α of 2, K of 8.3334 x 10-3 m3/kg.s, dosages of (0.15 kg/m3; 0.2 kg/m3 ; 0.25 kg/m3); pH of 6 and τ1/2 of 1.7339 sec while the minimum parametric performance is recorded at α of 1; K of 6.3001 x 10-4 s-1; dosage of 0.2kg/m3; pH of 8 and τ1/2 of 1100.2161seconds. The minimum value of coag-flocculation efficiency E (%) recorded is greater than 88.00 %. Conclusively; Mucuna Seed Coagulant is an effective coagulant obeying the theory of fast coagulation at the conditions of the experiment.

Effect of feeding Mucuna pruriens on helminth parasite infestation in lambs

Ethnopharmacological relevance Mucuna pruriens is a tropical legume anecdotally reputed to have anthelmintic properties. This study was conducted to examine the validity of such claims. Aim of the study The aim of this study was to determine if ingestion of Mucuna seeds reduces helminth parasite infestation in lambs. Materials and methods Thirty-six Dorper × Katahdin ram lambs were assigned to three treatments, a cottonseed meal based control diet, a diet in which Mucuna replaced cottonseed meal and the control diet with levamisole (7.5 mg/kg body weight) administration. All diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. The 12 lambs in each treatment were assigned randomly to 4 pens, each containing 3 lambs. Lambs were trickle infected three times per week by gavage with infectious Haemonchus contortus larvae (2000 larvae/lamb) for 3 weeks. Results Levamisole treatment decreased fecal egg counts by 87% and abomasal worm counts by 83%. Mucuna intake did not statistically affect fecal egg counts or abomasal worm counts, though numerical ( P > 0.10) reductions of 7.4% and 18.1%, respectively were evident. Anemia indicators, feed intake, and lamb growth were unaffected by treatment. Conclusions Levamisole reduced the Haemonchus parasite burden in lambs significantly but feeding Mucuna reduced the burden by levels unlikely to eliminate the clinical effects of parasitism.

Nutritive Evaluation Of Variously Treated Mucuna Seeds As Feed For Ruminants

Mucuna as a feed has great ability to serve as a source of energy and protein in dry season feeds due to the fact that it has high crude protein content comparable to other well known legumes. The study was designed to evaluate the nutritive compositions of Mucuna beans subjected to various treatments. The treatments that the Mucuna beans were subjected to include: roasting, boiling, autoclaving and raw, thereafter, the chemical analysis of the variously treated beans was determined. Similarly, the invitro gas production was determined. The results showed significant differences in the roasted beans for all the parameters determined. Invitro gas production showed boiled, autoclaved and raw beans to be more utilizable as sheep feed than the roasted form. Heat treatment made the protein content in beans steadily unavailable for ruminant use as such Mucuna can gradually serve as a source of energy for ruminants especially in dry season when there is scarcity of energy sources for ruminants.