subject: The Sexual Health Benefits of Mucuna pruriens [print this page] The Sexual Health Benefits of Mucuna pruriens
Mucuna pruriens is a legume that naturally grows in tropical climates. It is also sometimes called "velvet bean" and "cowitch". Throughout history, it has been used as an aphrodisiac because of its alleged ability to improve mood and sexual function 1, 2. This historical use of Mucuna pruriens led scientists at various research institutions to conduct experiments in order to determine whether or not there was a biological basis for these claims.
In a study conducted by researchers at the University of Madras in India, Mucuna pruriens was found to have profound sexual effects. After administering Mucuna pruriens extract to animals, it was found to increase the frequency of erections, and to delay ejaculation 3. Following several studies that produced similar results, curious researchers decided to identify the underlying cause of these sexual effects. They were suspicious that the likely culprit was dopamine, because dopamine levels have a strong effect on sexual function 4, 5.
Researchers at the Health Science Center College of Medicine in Temple, Texas discovered that "Mucuna pruriens cotyledon powder treatment significantly restored the endogenous levodopa, dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin content in the substantia nigra." 6 The substantia nigra is a part of the brain that plays an important role in reward, addiction, and movement. This finding convinced the researchers that the sexual effects of Mucuna pruriens are most likely caused by its ability to increase dopamine levels.
In conclusion, researchers discovered that Mucuna pruriens increases libido in animal studies, and the underlying cause is thought to be Mucuna pruriens' ability to naturally increase dopamine levels. As a result Mucuna pruriens' has become a very popular herbal supplement that is used to improve mood and sexual function.
Works Cited
1. Amin KMY, Khan MN, Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman, et al. (1996) "Sexual function improving effect of Mucuna pruriens in sexually normal male rats". Fitoterapia, jrg.67 (nr.1): pp. 53-58. Quote: The seeds of M. pruriens are widely used for treating male sexual dysfunction in Tibb-e-Unani (Unani Medicine), the traditional system of medicine of Indo-Pakistan sub-continent.
3. Suresh S, Prithiviraj E, Prakash S. Dose- and time-dependent effects of ethanolic extract of Mucuna pruriens Linn. seed on sexual behaviour of normal male rats. Department of Anatomy, Dr Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, India. January 2009.
4. Giuliano F, Allard J (December 2001). "Dopamine and male sexual function.". European urology 40 (6): 6018. doi:10.1159/000049844. PMID 11805404.
5. Giuliano, F; Allard, J (August 2001). "Dopamine and sexual function.". International journal of impotence research 13 Suppl 3: S1828. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3900719. PMID 11477488.
6. Manyam BV, Dhanasekaran M, Hare TA. September 2004. Neuroprotective effects of the antiparkinson drug Mucuna pruriens. Department of Neurology, Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76508, USA. bmanyam@swmail.sw.org
