Distribution:
Found almost all over India and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Habit:
M. p. is an herbaceous twining annual. The leaves are trifoliolate; the leaflets, broadly ovate, elliptic or rhomboid ovate and unequal at the base; the flowers, purple and in axillary, pendulous racemes; the pods, curved, longitudinally ribbed, turgid and densely clothed with persistent pale brown or grey, irritant bristles; the seeds, black, 4-6 in a pod and ovoid.

Principle constituents:
L-DOPA and the bioactive alkaloids mucunine, mucunadine, mucuadinine, pruriendine and nicotine. ß-sitosterol, glutathione, lecithin, oils, venolic and gallic acids are also included.

Indications:
L-DOPA is a neurotransmitter precursor, an effective drug for relief in Parkinson's disease. The seed is a prophylactic against oligospermia, useful in increasing sperm count, ovulation in women, etc. It prevents male and female sterility and acts as a nervine tonic.

Product range:
Geriforte, Mentat, Spemen, Spemen forte, Tentex forte