Mucuna sloanei
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Mucuna sloanei Common Names: Stinging Bean, Sloane’s Velvet Bean,
Horse-eye Bean, Hamburger Bean, Ox-eye Bean Scientific
Classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Mucuna Species: M. sloanei Authority: Fawc. & Rendle Synonyms: Dolichos urens Jacq., Mucuna altissima DC. Morphological Description Mucuna sloanei is
a perennial climbing legume in the Fabaceae family, capable of reaching heights
of 10–15 m in supportive vegetation. Its key features include: · Stems: Long, slender, semi-woody, covered with fine, irritating
hairs when young, becoming glabrous with age (Burkill, 1995). · Leaves: Trifoliate, alternate, leaflets ovate to elliptic, 6–15 cm
long, 4–10 cm wide, apex acute, pubescent beneath (Keay, 1989). · Flowers: Borne in pendulous racemes, 10–20 cm long, white with yellow
centers, pea-like, 2–3 cm long, bat-pollinated (Burkill, 1995). · Fruit: Pods 5–10 cm long, 1.5–2 cm wide, dark brown, covered with
orange-brown stinging hairs; seeds 3–6 per pod, round, 1.5–2 cm diameter, dark
brown with a white hilum resembling a hamburger (Keay, 1989). Distribution and Habitat Mucuna sloanei is
native to tropical Central and South America and West Africa, with a broad
naturalized range: · Range: Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Nigeria, Ghana, Angola; naturalized in
Florida, Caribbean, Pacific Islands (Burkill, 1995). · Habitat: Moist lowland rainforests, savannas, riverine thickets, disturbed
areas; elevations 0–1,000 m; tolerates full sun to partial shade, prefers
well-drained, loamy soils, drought-resistant (Keay, 1989). Ethnopharmacology Mucuna sloanei,
commonly known as horse-eye bean or elephant bean, is a medicinal plant valued
for its diverse pharmacological properties due to its rich phytochemical
composition, including alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and phenolic
compounds. Traditionally used in African and South American herbal medicine, it
exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and analgesic effects,
making it beneficial for conditions such as arthritis, infections, and pain
relief. Its high tannin content contributes to anti-diarrheal properties, while
its bioactive compounds support wound healing and neuroprotection, with
potential benefits for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s due to its
L-DOPA content. Additionally, some studies suggest it may help regulate blood
glucose levels, indicating antidiabetic potential. While Mucuna sloanei holds promise in traditional medicine, further
clinical research is needed to fully validate its therapeutic applications and
establish safe dosages. · Anti-Parkinson’s: Seeds in Brazil treat tremors. Lampariello
et al.,2012 and Fern, K. (2024) report 3–5% L-DOPA content, boosting dopamine
for Parkinson’s relief. · Diuretic/Purgative: Seeds in Nigeria promote urination and
bowel movement. Burkill (1995) notes traditional use, possibly linked to
saponins. · Anti-diarrheal: Leaf sap in Edo culture (Nigeria) stops diarrhea. · Anti-hemorrhoidal: Seed decoctions in Gabon ease hemorrhoids.
Burkill (1995) suggest flavonoids reduce inflammation. · Anti-filarial: Ground seeds with oil in tropical America treat filaria.
Traditional use aligns with antiparasitic alkaloids (Burkill, 1995). · Hernia Treatment: Roasted seeds with gin in Guianas aid
hernias. Burkill (1995) documents this, possibly due to analgesic effects. · Anti-parasitic: Pod hairs with molasses in Caribbean expel
worms. Katzenschlager et al. (2004) note serotonin in hairs enhances purgative
action. Phytochemicals include
L-DOPA, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and tannins (Lampariello et al., 2012;
Fern, K., 2024). ⚠ Toxicity Profile: Pod hairs contain mucunain and serotonin,
causing severe itching and dermatitis. Raw seeds (L-DOPA >3%) may induce
nausea, vomiting, or hallucinations at high doses (>10 g/day). Avoid in
pregnancy or with MAOIs due to potential interactions (Lampariello et al.,
2012; Pathania et al., 2020; Fern,
K., 2024). Additional Uses · Agricultural: Nitrogen-fixing cover crop (20–30% crude protein), fodder
for livestock (Burkill, 1995). · Culinary: Roasted seeds as famine food in Angola after processing to
reduce L-DOPA (Keay, 1989). · Ornamental: Grown for its attractive flowers and pods in tropical
gardens (Pathania et al., 2020). · Ecological: Invasive, outcompeting native flora. References
External Links More Pictures
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