Alkaloid Content, Anti‐Inflammatory Activity and Phytochemical Profile of White Velvet Bean ( Mucuna pruriens L.) Seeds

Velvet bean ( Mucuna pruriens L.), a leguminous plant widely recognised in traditional medicine, has garnered increasing scientific interest due to its diverse pharmacological potential, particularly in relation to its alkaloid‐rich seed composition. This study aimed to investigate the total alkaloid content, phytochemical composition and anti‐inflammatory activity of the methanol extract of M. pruriens seeds and its solvent‐partitioned fractions ( n ‐hexane, ethyl acetate, n ‐butanol and aqueous). Quantitative analysis revealed that the aqueous and n ‐hexane fractions contained notably higher alkaloid levels compared to the other extracts. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis identified 36 bioactive compounds spanning multiple chemical classes such as alkanes, esters, acids, silanes and amides. Predominant compounds in the methanol extract included 9,12‐octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)‐methyl ester (44.87%), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (27.33%) and cis ‐13‐octadecenoic acid methyl ester (10.16%). Notably, the ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions demonstrated potent anti‐inflammatory effects, with IC 50 values of 69.32 and 83.06 μ g/mL, respectively. The presence of decarine, an isoquinoline alkaloid with known anticancer and anti‐inflammatory properties, further underscores the pharmacological value of this species. These findings highlight the therapeutic promise of white velvet bean seeds and provide a biochemical foundation for future pharmaceutical applications.