Mucuna monosperma

Mucuna monosperma, commonly known as negro beans in India, or deer-eye beans, donkey-eye beans, or ox-eye beans, is a large woody climber from the family Fabaceae.[2] The plant has three layers; a brown pod covered in small hairs, curved petals usually colored purple and black round-shaped beans. Small hairs on the pod can irritate the skin.The petals of the Muncuna monnosperma flower opens at night and closes in the morning.[3] It is found in India, including the eastern Himalayas, the northeastern states, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand.[1] It's natural habitat is evergreen forests, and it commonly grows near swamps or along streams.[2]

Mucuna monosperma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Mucuna
Species:
M. monosperma
Binomial name
Mucuna monosperma

It is discovered that M. monosperma contains L-DOPA, which is a chemical compound commonly used against Parkinson's disease. The beans of the plant contains 5.48% L-DOPA, and the content increases 6.58% when beans are soaked in water. [4] Another research showed that M. monosperma can accelerate melanin production that can be beneficial in cosmetics, agriculture and medicine.[5]

Other than its possible medical uses, M. monosperma has already been consumed as food in areas where it is endemic to. According to Dr. Sturtevants, it is a well-loved fruit among Brahmins.[6]

References
  1. "Mucuna monosperma Roxb. ex Wight". Plants of the World online. Royal Botanic Garden Kew Science. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  2. Sardesai, Milind; Govekar, Ravikiran; Yadav, SR (2013). Field Guide to the Plants of Sahyadri and Konkan. Pune: Forest Department, Government of Maharashtra. p. 150.
  3. "Mucuna monosperma - Negro Bean". www.flowersofindia.net. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
  4. Inamdar, Shrirang; Joshi, Swati; Jadhav, Jyoti; Bapat, Vishwas (2012). "Innovative Use of Intact Seeds of Mucuna monosperma". Natural Products and Bioprospecting.
  5. Inamdar, Shrirang; Joshi, Swati; Bapat, Vishwas; Jadhav, Jyoti (2013-12-03). "Innovative use of Mucuna monosperma (Wight) callus cultures for continuous production of melanin by using statistically optimized biotransformation medium". Journal of Biotechnology.
  6. Sturtevant, Edward Lewis (1972). Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications.

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