eng Science and Education Publishing Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 2333-1240 2017-12-05 5 12 925 927 10.12691/jfnr-5-12-7 JFNR20175127 article Renata Leite Tavares 1 2 Maria da Conceição Rodrigues Gon?alves 2 2 Jailane de Souza Aquino 2 2 Raquel Suelen Brito da Silva 3 4 Alexandre Sérgio Silva alexandresergiosilva@yahoo.com.br 4 4 Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil Mucuna pruriens is an Indian legume composed by high amounts of proteins and carbohydrates and small concentration of lipids. It has been used ethnopharmacologically as hipoglicemic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, hypolipidemic and mainly to Parkinson Disease treatment. Since Mucuna pruriens improves spermatogenesis, testis weight and increased the production of testosterone in rats, it has been assumed that mucuna has anabolic potential for muscle hypertrophy, so it has been commercially exploited as an ergogenic aid. This mini-review shows, in addition to promoting increased testosterone, increase in epididymal protein, thus confirming that its extracts may have influence on androgenic aspect. Despite this, it is necessary to confirm these findings in humans, since the studies analyzed were made only in animal model. http://pubs.sciepub.com/jfnr/5/12/7/jfnr-5-12-7.pdf legume anabolism hypertrophy strength exercise