Phaseolus aconitifolius (Jacq.) (VANAMUDGA)

Caraka and susruta have quoted makustha several times while vagbhata mentioned it only once (A.H.Su.7/32).  Bhavamisra considered makustha as vanamudga where as madanapala described both as two different pulses.  Vanamudga is P. aconitifolius(Jacq.)  while makustha is Vigna unguiculata (L)Walp Walp according to the author.  P. aconitifolius (Jacq.) or P. aconitefolium is known as moth bean.

Botanical description – An erect or climbing bean or pea plant East Indian legume haing hairy foliage and small yellow flowers followed by cylindrical pods, used especially in India for food and forage as a soil conditioner, sometimes placed in genus  (Vigna aconitifolia).

Chemical constituents – The minimum nitrogen solubility of moth bean protein concentrate (PC) was at pH 5.0 while that of soyabean PC was at pH 4.0. The moth bean PC had lower viscosity than soyabean PC tested at 1 to 10% protein solutions.  Compared to soyabean PC, the moth bean PC had higher water-holding, oil-holding and foaming capacities and similar emulsifying activity and emulsion stability, which were pH dependent.  The minimum emulsifying activity (53.02%), foam capacity (65.5%) and maximum foam stabilities of this unconventional legume PC were at pH 4.0.  The emulsion stability of moth bean PC was greater than 95% from ph 2 to 10. In general, the functional properties of moth bean protein were superior to soyabean protein (Mayilvaganan & Singh, 2003).

Part used –  root, seeds

Uses – Root is narcotic; Seed is febrifuge.