Abstract
Mucuna pruriens is a climbing legume used in the treatment of various ailments. It is commonly known as Cowitch or velvet bean. Traditionally, it was used in treating male infertility. The main aim of this study was to identify the bioactive materials present in the methanol extract of Mucuna pruriens seeds by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. The analysis by GC-MS reveals the presence 5 major compounds namely, Pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, methyl ester, Dodecanoic acid, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z)-, methyl ester, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid and 2-Myristynoyl-glycinamide. By comparing with the references of earlier studies, it was clear that these major compounds played a major role in its neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and antimicrobial effects. The presence of antioxidants has been linked with neurogenesis in the brain. The presence of these compounds may authenticate the scientific evidences of many of its proposed therapeutic potentiality of the seeds of Mucuna pruriens (MP).