The Magic Velvet Bean of Mucuna pruriens

Mucuna pruriens is of exceptional nutritional value, as it is a good source of crude protein, essential fatty acids, starch, and certain essential amino acids. Furthermore, it also contains several anti-nutritional components, such as protease inhibitors, total phenolics, and some cyclitols with anti-diabetic properties. One of the main phenolic compounds in M. pruriens seeds is L-dopa (5%) and it contains some components that can inhibit snake venom.