Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens L.) is a tropical legume plant that has great potential as a food source, industrial raw material, ground cover crop, and medicinal plant. Velvet bean seeds are rich in protein and contain various bioactive compounds, especially L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), which has potential applications in the health sector. In addition, these plants play an important role in increasing soil fertility and supporting sustainable farming systems. This article aims to review the characteristics, nutritional content, and various uses of velvet bean in the fields of food, health, agriculture, and the environment. Various studies show that velvet bean is a multifunctional commodity with promising development prospects, although several obstacles remain, such as antinutrient content and limited commercial use.
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