Mucuna Pruriens (L-DOPA)

BackgroundParkinson's disease (PD) causes disability and premature mortality if untreated. Limited access to levodopa in low- and middle-income countries leaves many patients undertreated. Mucuna pruriens (MP) is a leguminous plant that contains high concentrations of levodopa.ObjectiveTo demonstrate the non-inferiority of long-term intake of MP powder in terms of safety and efficacy compared to standard levodopa plus dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor (LD + DDCI).MethodsIn this 12-month, multicenter, randomized, open-label phase 2 trial, thirty-two untreated PD patients received levodopa monotherapy with MP powder -derived from roasted seeds without pharmacological processing- or standard LD + DDCI. Dosing was adjusted for body weight and disease stage, with MP doses further calibrated to account for the absence of a DDCI. We measured quality of life using the 39-item PD Questionnaire, motor and non-motor disability using the Movement Disorders Society updated version of the Unified PD Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) (parts I to IV) and the Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire. Safety measures included recording any adverse event and laboratory test.ResultsMP powder improved quality of life, motor and non-motor symptoms over 12 months, demonstrating similar outcome to LD + DDCI on all endpoints. Adverse events were more frequent with MP (56% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.48), though the difference was not statistically significant. Most were mild, with only 12.5% leading to discontinuation.ConclusionsMP could be a cost-effective alternative for PD individuals with limited access to commercial levodopa formulations. To confirm long-term safety and efficacy, larger international multicenter, double-blind trials with extended follow-up (e.g. 24-36 months) and ethnically diverse cohorts are needed.Registered at PACTR201611001882367.

Levodopa remains central to Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment, but long-term use can cause motor complications, highlighting the need for additional therapies. Mucuna pruriens (MP), a natural source of levodopa, shows potential in managing these complications. Further research is needed to compare its pharmacokinetics (PK) and clinical outcomes with traditional levodopa formulations. This randomised, single-blind, crossover trial compared the PK, clinical outcomes, and safety of MP powder against levodopa/benserazide dispersible tablets (Levodopa DT) in PD patients with motor complications. Twelve participants were recruited to receive either 30 g of MP powder or two 100/25 levodopa DT in separate sessions with a two-week washout between sessions. Key PK parameters (AUC, Cmax, Tmax, and t½) were measured. Clinical assessments used standard rating scales and adverse events were recorded. Data from 11 participants were analysed after one withdrawal. MP powder demonstrated significantly higher overall drug exposure, with a geometric mean AUC0-∞ of 12,424.81 compared to 7981.69 ng·h/mL for levodopa DT. The geometric mean ratio was 155.67% (90% CI 134.59-180.04), exceeding the bioequivalence acceptance range of 80-125%. However, the two treatments exhibited similar Tmax and t₁/₂ values, indicating comparable rates of absorption and elimination. Clinically, MP provided a longer ON state without dyskinesia-232.2 min versus 161.8 min for levodopa DT (p = 0.01). Mild and transient adverse events, such as nausea and dizziness, were more frequently associated with MP. MP offers superior drug exposure and extends the ON state without increasing dyskinesia, positioning it as a promising alternative to synthetic levodopa for managing motor symptoms. These findings support MP's potential role in alleviating motor complications in PD treatment. © 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.

OBJECTIVES: We compared levodopa (LD) kinetic-dynamic profile of a dose of LD/aromatic amino acid decarboxylase peripheral inhibitors versus a nominally equivalent dose of a commercial Mucuna pruriens (Mucuna) seeds extract in 2 patients with Parkinson disease chronically taking LD standard combined with self-prescribed Mucuna. METHODS: Patients were challenged with a fasting morning dose of 100 mg LD/25 mg carbidopa (patient 1) or benserazide (patient 2) versus 100 mg LD from Mucuna capsules in 2 different sessions, after a 12-hour standard LD formulations' washout. They underwent kinetic-dynamic LD monitoring based on LD dose intake and simultaneous serial assessments of plasma drug concentrations and motor test performances. Quantitative analysis of LD in Mucuna capsules was also performed. RESULTS: Levodopa bioavailability was markedly lower after Mucuna administration compared with LD standard formulations: in patient 1, peak plasma LD concentration (Cmax) decreased from 2.0 to 1.0 mg/L and the area under the plasma concentration time curve from 137 to 33.6 mg/L per minute; in patient 2, Cmax was 0.7 mg/L after LD/benserazide and nearly undetectable after Mucuna. In patient 1, impaired LD bioavailability from Mucuna resulted in reduced duration and overall extent of drug response compared with LD/carbidopa. In patient 2, no significant subacute LD motor response was observed in either condition. Quantitative analysis of Mucuna formulation confirmed the 100 mg LD content for the utilized capsules. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show an impaired LD bioavailability from Mucuna preparation, as expected by the lacking aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitors coadministration, which might explain the suggested lower dyskinetic potential of Mucuna compared with standard LD formulations.

Dopaminergic anti-parkinsonian medications, such as levodopa (LD) cause drug-induced dyskinesias (DID) in majority of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Mucuna pruriens, a legume extensively used in Ayurveda to treat PD, is reputed to provide anti-parkinsonian benefits without inducing DID. We compared the behavioral effects of chronic parenteral administration of a water extract of M. pruriens seed powder (MPE) alone without any additives, MPE combined with the peripheral dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor (DDCI) benserazide (MPE+BZ), LD+BZ and LD alone without BZ in the hemiparkinsonian rat model of PD. A battery of behavioral tests assessed by blinded investigators served as outcome measures in these randomized trials. In experiment 1, animals that received LD+BZ or MPE+BZ at high (6mg/kg) and medium (4mg/kg) equivalent doses demonstrated significant alleviation of parkinsonism, but, developed severe dose-dependent DID. LD+BZ at low doses (2mg/kg) did not provide significant alleviation of parkinsonism. In contrast, MPE+BZ at an equivalent low dose significantly ameliorated parkinsonism. In experiment 2, MPE without any additives (12mg/kg and 20mg/kg LD equivalent dose) alleviated parkinsonism with significantly less DID compared to LD+BZ or MPE+BZ. In experiment 3, MPE without additives administered chronically provided long-term anti-parkinsonian benefits without causing DID. In experiment 4, MPE alone provided significantly more behavioral benefit when compared to the equivalent dose of synthetic LD alone without BZ. In experiment 5, MPE alone reduced the severity of DID in animals initially primed with LD+BZ. These findings suggest that M. pruriens contains water-soluble ingredients that either have an intrinsic DDCI-like activity or mitigate the need for an add-on DDCI to ameliorate parkinsonism. These unique long-term anti-parkinsonian effects of a parenterally administered water extract of M. pruriens seed powder may provide a platform for future drug discoveries and novel treatment strategies in PD.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in dopamine deficiency and motor dysfunction. While levodopa (L-DOPA) remains the gold standard for symptomatic treatment, its long-term administration is associated with complications such as motor fluctuations, dyskinesia, and oxidative stress. Given these limitations, interest has grown in plant-derived bioactive compounds for their potential neuroprotective and disease-modifying effects. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, focusing on peer-reviewed studies published between 2023 and March 2025. The inclusion criteria targeted in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies as well as clinical trials that directly compared levodopa with plant-derived compounds in the context of PD. Key search terms included "Parkinson's disease," "levodopa," "phytochemicals," and "plant-based neuroprotection". RESULTS: Recent studies have highlighted several classes of plant-based compounds-including polyphenols (resveratrol, curcumin, EGCG), flavonoids (quercetin, apigenin, naringenin), alkaloids (berberine, caffeine, L-DOPA derived from Mucuna pruriens), and terpenoids (ginkgolide B, celastrol)-as potential neuroprotective agents. These compounds exert multiple actions, such as reducing oxidative stress, blocking neuroinflammation, preventing α-synuclein aggregation, and protecting mitochondria. Although levodopa effectively addresses motor symptoms, these phytochemicals may complement conventional therapy by targeting underlying disease processes. CONCLUSIONS: Although levodopa is indispensable for the symptomatic management of PD, emerging evidence supports the integration of plant-derived bioactive compounds as adjunct therapies with disease-modifying potential. Future research should prioritize improving bioavailability, developing standardized formulations, and conducting long-term clinical trials to evaluate the translational applicability of these natural agents in Parkinson's disease therapy. © 2025 The Author(s). CNS Neurosc

The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of Mucuna pruriens seed meal (MSM) on sexual behavior, semen, and biochemical parameters in rabbit bucks. Twenty-four 12-week-old rabbit bucks weighing 1002 to 1156 g were randomly allocated to three experimental diets containing 0, 1.5, and 3% of MSM in a 3-month trial. Sexual behavior parameters such as mounting latency, mounting frequency, successful mounting frequency, intromission latency, and post ejaculatory interval were monitored at the end of the experiment by mating with receptive females. Thereafter, rabbits were weighed, stunned, and humanely sacrificed and testes, epididymis, and vas deferens were harvested for evaluation of organ weights and semen characteristics. Results indicate that supplementing rabbit diet with MSM induced a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in mounting latency (69.7%) and intromission latency (19.7%), while it significantly (P < 0.05) increased successful mounting frequency (60%) as well as relative weight of testis (33.3%) and vas deferens (54.5%). There was a dose-dependent increase (P < 0.05) in sperm motility (35.7%) and concentration (65.9%), serum albumin (19.1%) and protein concentration (9.9%), and a decrease in sperm morphological alterations (68.3%), serum cholesterol (13.4%), and urea (11.6%) in treatment groups where MSM was supplemented at 3% compared to controls. From the findings, it appears MSM is a potential enhancer of male reproductive performance that can be recommended to rabbit farmers for improving reproductive performance and quality of semen, hence a boon to reproduction and production in rabbit farming industry.

Whole pod and seeds of velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) were included in diets for growing sheep used to validate previously estimated ME values of 9.7 MJ and 12.6 MJ for whole pod and seed respectively. Twenty-four lambs, 15 females and nine males of 18.7 ± 2.4 kg average weight, were allocated in three treatments using a completely randomized block design with eight replicates per treatment. Each group was given a diet with a ratio of 60% of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and 40% of a supplement with the addition of 0%, 50% whole pod or 66% of M. pruriens seeds, for TI, TII and TIII respectively. Diets were formulated to meet the requirements for 100-g daily live weight gain (LWG). The total dry matter intake (836 g a(-1) d(-1), forage + supplement), LWG (90 g a(-1) d(-1)) and feed conversion (9.66 kg DM/kg LWG) of lambs from TIII were lower (P < 0.05) compared to 941 g, 121 g, and 7.78 kg DM/kg LWG from TII and 976 g, 132 g and 7.50 kg DM/kg LWG from TI respectively. No difference was found (P > 0.05) between TI and TII in the three evaluated variables. The ME values of whole pod and seeds of M. pruriens used in this work were validated. It was concluded that M. pruriens can be included as a component in diets for growing sheep, as a partial replacement of conventional feedstuffs.

BACKGROUND: Photobiomodulation, also referred to as Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT), has emerged as a promising intervention for pruritus, a prevalent and often distressing symptom. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the efficacy of low-level light therapy (LLLT) in alleviating pruritus, hyperknesis, and alloknesis induced by histamine and Mucuna pruriens. METHODS: In a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial with a split-body design, healthy volunteers underwent 6 minutes of LLLT and sham treatments in separate upper back quadrants. The histamine model was applied to the upper quadrants, and Mucuna pruriens to the lower quadrants. Pruritus intensity, alloknesis, hyperknesis, flare area, and skin temperature were measured pre and post treatment. RESULTS: Seventeen individuals (eight females, nine males) participated in the study. In the histamine model, LLLT notably reduced itch intensity (difference = 13.9 (95% CI: 10.5 - 17.4), p = 0.001), alloknesis (difference = 0.80 (95% CI: 0.58-1.02), p = 0.001), and hyperknesis (difference = 0.48 (95% CI: 0.09-0.86), p = 0.01). Skin temperature changes were not significantly different between the two groups (difference = -2.0 (95% CI: -6.7-2.6), p = 0.37). For the Mucuna pruriens model, no significant differences were observed in any measures, including itch intensity (difference = 0.8 (95% CI: -2.3 - 3.8), p = 0.61) hyperknesis (difference = 0.08 (95% CI: -0.06-0.33), p = 0.16) and alloknesis (difference = 0. 0.09 (95% CI: -0.08-0.256), p = 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: LLLT effectively reduced histamine-induced pruritus, alloknesis, and hyperknesis; however, LLLT was ineffective against Mucuna pruriens-induced pruritus. Further investigations are required to determine LLLT's effectiveness of LLLT in various pruritus models. Copyright: © 2024 Lang-Illievich et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

The rapidly growing world human population accentuates the need for improved production especially of protein-rich food. Broiler meat production offers opportunity to ensure security of this food. However, the production of modern broilers is not only limited by high feed costs due to dietary use of expensive energy and protein sources but also their meat possesses undesirable quality attributes. This study thus examined the effect of dietary Mucuna pruriens utilis seed meal (MSM) on growth performance, blood profile, carcass traits, and meat quality in finisher broiler chickens. In a completely randomised design (CRD), 320 21-day-old chicks were randomly allocated to 32 pens in which they were allotted 4 dietary treatments with 0, 2.5, 5, and 10% MSM, each with 8 replicate pens of 10 birds, for 28 days. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, internal organs, haemato-biochemistry, and meat quality were measured. Results showed that dietary MSM did not affect (P > 0.05) broiler performance, weights, and lengths of carcass cuts and internal organs, haematology, and meat quality. The only exception was MSM-induced increase in duodenal weight (linear, P < 0.05) and serum phosphorus (quadratic, P = 0.05) in contrast to a decrease in procalcitonin (quadratic, P < 0.01) and serum levels of total protein (linear, P < 0.05; and quadratic, P < 0.01), albumin (quadratic, P < 0.05), and bilirubin (quadratic, P = 0.001). Therefore, MSM could be supplemented up to 10% without compromising performance, carcass traits, internal organs, haemato-biochemistry, and meat quality in finisher broiler diets. © 2023. The Author(s).

Twenty West African dwarf (WAD) rams with average body weight of 12.43 ± 0.5 kg were used for the experiment that lasted 84 days to investigate the effects of supplementing herbaceous forage legume pellets on weight change and blood profile of animals fed Panicum maximum basal diet. Sole Panicum maximum served as the control diet and three other experimental diets were P. maximum supplemented with Lablab purpureus pellets, P. maximum supplemented with Calopogonium mucunoides pellets and P. maximum supplemented with Mucuna pruriens pellets constituted the four treatments which were arranged in a completely randomised design. The rams were divided into four groups of five animals each and were balanced for variation in live weight before they were assigned the experimental diets. Panicum maximum was offered to the animals ad libitum and legume pellets were supplemented. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in weight gain of the rams. Those fed the control diet had the lowest value of 41.88 g/day while rams supplemented L. purpureus pellets had the highest value (83.66 g/day). Haematological parameters, leucocyte values and serum biochemical indices of WAD rams were significantly (P < 0.05) different across the dietary treatments at the final stage of the trial. The values for red blood cells, haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin decreased slightly in rams supplemented with M. pruriens pellets. Reduction of serum biochemical parameters was also noticed in rams supplemented with M. pruriens pellets. It can be concluded that L. purpureus pellets ranked the best among the herbaceous legume pellets as supplemental feed for West African dwarf sheep resulting in higher weight gain and better feed conversion efficiency with no deleterious effect on blood profile.

BACKGROUND: Thousands of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) in low-income countries have limited access to marketed levodopa preparations. Mucuna pruriens (MP), a levodopa-containing leguminous plant growing in tropical areas, may be a sustainable alternative therapy for indigent patients. Single-dose intake of MP proved noninferior to marketed levodopa preparations. METHODS: Fourteen PD patients with motor fluctuations and dyskinesias received MP powder (obtained from roasted seeds) and marketed levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) in a randomized order and crossover design over a 16-week period. Efficacy measures were changes in quality of life, motor and non-motor symptoms, and time with good mobility without troublesome dyskinesias. Safety measures included tolerability, frequency of adverse events, changes in laboratory indices and electrocardiogram. RESULTS: Daily intake of MP was associated with a variable clinical response, especially in terms of tolerability. Seven patients (50%) discontinued MP prematurely due to either gastrointestinal side-effects (n = 4) or progressive worsening of motor performance (n = 3), while nobody discontinued during the LD/CD phase. In those who tolerated MP, clinical response to MP was similar to LD/CD on all efficacy outcome measures. Patients who dropped out entered a study extension using MP supernatant water (median[IQR], 16 [7-20] weeks), which was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: The overall benefit provided by MP on the clinical outcome was limited by tolerability issues, as one could expect by the relatively rapid switch from LD/CD to levodopa alone in advanced PD. Larger parallel-group studies are needed to identify appropriate MP formulation (e.g. supernatant water), titration scheme and maintenance dose to minimize side-effects in the long-term. CLINICAL TRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02680977.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Mucuna pruriens (MP), a levodopa-containing leguminous plant growing in all tropical areas worldwide, may be used as alternative source of levodopa for indigent individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) who cannot afford long-term therapy with marketed levodopa preparations. METHODS: We investigated efficacy and safety of single-dose intake of MP powder from roasted seeds obtained without any pharmacologic processing. Eighteen patients with advanced PD received the following treatments, whose sequence was randomized: (1) dispersible levodopa at 3.5 mg/kg combined with the dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor benserazide (LD+DDCI; the reference treatment); (2) high-dose MP (MP-Hd; 17.5 mg/kg); (3) low-dose MP (MP-Ld; 12.5 mg/kg); (4) pharmaceutical preparation of LD without DDCI (LD-DDCI; 17.5 mg/kg); (5) MP plus benserazide (MP+DDCI; 3.5 mg/kg); (6) placebo. Efficacy outcomes were the change in motor response at 90 and 180 minutes and the duration of on state. Safety measures included any adverse event (AE), changes in blood pressure and heart rate, and the severity of dyskinesias. RESULTS: When compared to LD+DDCI, MP-Ld showed similar motor response with fewer dyskinesias and AEs, while MP-Hd induced greater motor improvement at 90 and 180 minutes, longer ON duration, and fewer dyskinesias. MP-Hd induced less AEs than LD+DDCI and LD-DDCI. No differences in cardiovascular response were recorded. CONCLUSION: Single-dose MP intake met all noninferiority efficacy and safety outcome measures in comparison to dispersible levodopa/benserazide. Clinical effects of high-dose MP were similar to levodopa alone at the same dose, with a more favorable tolerability profile. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02680977.

At least 40% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) use one or more forms of alternative therapy (AT) to complement standard treatments. This article reviews the commonest forms of AT for PD, including acupuncture, tai chi, yoga, mindfulness, massage, herbal medicine, and cannabis. We discuss the current evidence for the clinical efficacy of each AT and discuss potential mechanisms, including those suggested by animal and human studies. With a few notable exceptions, none of the treatments examined were investigated rigorously enough to draw definitive conclusions about efficacy or mechanism. Tai chi, acupuncture, Mucuna pruriens, cannabinoids, and music therapy have all been proposed to work through specific mechanisms, although current evidence is insufficient to support or refute these claims, with the possible exception of Mucuna pruriens (which contains levodopa). It is likely that most ATs predominantly treat PD patients through general mechanisms, including placebo effects, stress reduction, and improved mood and sleep, and AT may provide patients with a greater locus of control regarding their illness.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Mucuna pruriens is a tropical legume anecdotally reputed to have anthelmintic properties. This study was conducted to examine the validity of such claims. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to determine if ingestion of Mucuna seeds reduces helminth parasite infestation in lambs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six Dorper x Katahdin ram lambs were assigned to three treatments, a cottonseed meal based control diet, a diet in which Mucuna replaced cottonseed meal and the control diet with levamisole (7.5mg/kg body weight) administration. All diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. The 12 lambs in each treatment were assigned randomly to 4 pens, each containing 3 lambs. Lambs were trickle infected three times per week by gavage with infectious Haemonchus contortus larvae (2000 larvae/lamb) for 3 weeks. RESULTS: Levamisole treatment decreased fecal egg counts by 87% and abomasal worm counts by 83%. Mucuna intake did not statistically affect fecal egg counts or abomasal worm counts, though numerical (P>0.10) reductions of 7.4% and 18.1%, respectively were evident. Anemia indicators, feed intake, and lamb growth were unaffected by treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Levamisole reduced the Haemonchus parasite burden in lambs significantly but feeding Mucuna reduced the burden by levels unlikely to eliminate the clinical effects of parasitism. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: The seed powder of the leguminous plant, Mucuna pruriens has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic Indian medicine for diseases including parkinsonism. We have assessed the clinical effects and levodopa (L-dopa) pharmacokinetics following two different doses of mucuna preparation and compared them with standard L-dopa/carbidopa (LD/CD). METHODS: Eight Parkinson's disease patients with a short duration L-dopa response and on period dyskinesias completed a randomised, controlled, double blind crossover trial. Patients were challenged with single doses of 200/50 mg LD/CD, and 15 and 30 g of mucuna preparation in randomised order at weekly intervals. L-dopa pharmacokinetics were determined, and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and tapping speed were obtained at baseline and repeatedly during the 4 h following drug ingestion. Dyskinesias were assessed using modified AIMS and Goetz scales. RESULTS: Compared with standard LD/CD, the 30 g mucuna preparation led to a considerably faster onset of effect (34.6 v 68.5 min; p = 0.021), reflected in shorter latencies to peak L-dopa plasma concentrations. Mean on time was 21.9% (37 min) longer with 30 g mucuna than with LD/CD (p = 0.021); peak L-dopa plasma concentrations were 110% higher and the area under the plasma concentration v time curve (area under curve) was 165.3% larger (p = 0.012). No significant differences in dyskinesias or tolerability occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid onset of action and longer on time without concomitant increase in dyskinesias on mucuna seed powder formulation suggest that this natural source of L-dopa might possess advantages over conventional L-dopa preparations in the long term management of PD. Assessment of long term efficacy and tolerability in a randomised, controlled study is warranted.