Cow-Itch Plant (Botanical Name, Mucuna pruriens) is an herbaceous twining annual common in the tropics of India, with trifoliate leaves. The flowers are purple and in axillary, pendulous racemes. The seeds are black, four to six in a pod, and avoid. It is also known as Cowhage, Buffalo bean and Velvet Bean.
Cow-Itch Plant contains L-DOPA and alkaloids such as mucunine, mucunadine, mucuadinine, pruriendine, and nicotine. L-DOPA, a neurotransmitter precursor, is an effective drug for relief in Parkinson's disease. The seeds are useful in increasing sperm count, and ovulation in women. It prevents male and female infertility and acts as a nervine tonic. Legumes are eaten as a vegetable.
Kapikachhu, Atmagupta Kaunch, and Kevanch are its popular Indian names.
