Mucuna pruriens and Parkinson's disease research
Parkinson's disease has a low prevalence in India except in the small Parsi community. Parkinson's disease has been known in India since ancient days and mucuna pruriens seed powder has been used for its treatment. At this point it is too early to tell how to best use mucuna pruriens extract supplements for Parkinson's disease. It is not clear what the ideal dosage would be, how long the treatment would last, how mucuna pruriens combines with other drugs used for this condition, etc. It is quite possible that the addition of mucuna pruriens herb to one's Parkinson's treatment regimen would require lowering the dosage of the prescription medications. Consult with your doctor and ask that he or she read this page.
Anti Parkinson botanical mucuna pruriens prevents levodopa induced plasmid and genomic DNA damage.
Phytother Res. 2007 Dec. Tharakan B, Dhanasekaran M, Mize-Berge J, Manyam BV. Department of Neurology, Scott & White Clinic, Temple, Texas, USA.
Levodopa is considered the 'gold standard' for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, a serious concern is dyskinesia and motor fluctuation that occurs after several years of use. In vitro experiments have shown that in the presence of divalent copper ions, levodopa may induce intense DNA damage. Mucuna pruriens powder has shown anti Parkinson and neuroprotective effects in animal models of Parkinson's disease that is superior to synthetic levodopa. In the present study two different doses of mucuna pruriens protected both plasmid DNA and genomic DNA against levodopa and divalent copper-induced DNA strand scission and damage.
Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson's disease: a double blind clinical and pharmacological study.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004 Dec;75(12):1672-7.
We assessed the clinical effects and levodopa (L-dopa) pharmacokinetics following two different doses of mucuna preparation and compared them with standard L-dopa / carbidopa. 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 L-dopa / carbidopa, and 15 and 30 g of mucuna pruriens preparation in randomised order at weekly intervals. Compared with standard L-dopa / carbidopa, the mucuna preparation led to a considerably faster onset of effect, reflected in shorter latencies to peak L-dopa plasma concentrations. No significant differences in dyskinesias or tolerability occurred. 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 Parkinson's disease.
Note: Mucuna pruriens extract is much more concentrated and potent than mucuna pruriens seed powder.
Neuroprotective effects of the anti Parkinson drug mucuna pruriens herb
Phytother Res. 2004 Sep;18(9):706-12. Manyam BV, Dhanasekaran M, Hare TA. Department of Neurology, Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76508
Mucuna pruriens herb possesses significantly higher anti Parkinson activity compared with levodopa in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease. The present study evaluated the brain restorative effect of mucuna pruriens cotyledon powder on the nigrostriatal tract of 6-OHDA lesioned rats. Mucuna pruriens powder significantly increased the brain mitochondrial complex-I activity but did not affect the total monoamine oxidase activity (in vitro). Unlike synthetic levodopa treatment, mucuna pruriens powder treatment significantly restored the endogenous levodopa, dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin content in the substantia nigra.
Effect of antiparkinson drug HP-200 ( Mucuna pruriens herb ) on the central monoaminergic neurotransmitters.
Phytother Res. 2004 Feb;18(2):97-101
HP-200, which contains mucuna pruriens endocarp, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Mucuna pruriens endocarp has also been shown to be more effective compared to synthetic levodopa in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. The present study was designed to elucidate the long-term effect of mucuna pruriens endocarp in HP-200 on monoaminergic neurotransmitters and its metabolite in various regions of the rat brain. Oral administration of mucuna pruriens endocarp had a significant effect on dopamine content in the cortex with no significant effect on levodopa, norepinephrine or dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites- HVA, DOPAC and 5-HIAA in the nigrostriatal tract. The failure of mucuna pruriens endocarp to significantly affect dopamine metabolism in the striatonigral tract along with its ability to improve Parkinson symptoms in the 6-hydorxydopamine animal model and humans may suggest that its anti Parkinson effect may be due to components other than levodopa or that it has an levodopa enhancing effect.
Epidemiology and treatment of Parkinson's disease in India.
Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2003 Aug;9 Suppl 2:S105-9.
Parkinson's disease has a low prevalence in India except in the small Parsi community where there is a high prevalence. Although early onset Parkinson's disease and familial cases have been described from India, no genetic mutations have as yet been identified. Parkinson's disease has been known in India since ancient days and the powder of mucuna pruriens seeds has been used for its treatment. The present day management of Parkinson's disease in India is similar to that in the other countries. Unfortunately, lack of awareness, limitation of human resources and cost factors deny the benefits of therapy to many patients.
It is widely believed that mucuna pruriens influences the dopamine system, however there may be other factors involved. A study was designed to elucidate the long-term effect of mucuna pruriens on neurotransmitters in various regions of the rat brain. Mucuna pruriens was mixed with rat chow and fed daily ad lib to rats for 52 weeks. Controls received no mucuna pruriens. The rats were sacrificed at the end of 52 weeks and the neurotransmitters were analyzed in the cortex, hippocampus, substantia nigra and striatum. Oral administration of mucuna pruriens had a significant effect on dopamine content in the cortex with no significant effect on levodopa, norepinephrine or dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites. The failure of mucuna pruriens endocarp to significantly affect dopamine metabolism in the striatonigral tract along with its ability to improve Parkinsonian symptoms in the 6-hydorxydopamine animal model and humans may suggest that its anti-Parkinson effect may be due to components other than levodopa or that it has a levodopa enhancing effect.
Mucuna pruriens for fertility help
Effect of Mucuna pruriens on semen profile and biochemical parameters in seminal plasma of infertile men.
Fertil Steril. 2007 Nov 12. Ahmad MK, Mahdi AA, Shukla KK, Islam N, Jaiswar SP, Ahmad S. Departments of Biochemistry and Obstetrics and Gynecology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India.
To investigate the impact of mucuna pruriens seeds on semen profiles and biochemical levels in seminal plasma of infertile men. Sixty normal healthy fertile men (controls) and 60 men undergoing infertility screening. Before and after the treatment, seminal plasma lipid profile, lipid peroxide, fructose, and antioxidant vitamin levels were measured. Treatment with mucuna pruriens significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation, elevated spermatogenesis, and improved sperm motility. Treatment also recovered the levels of total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids, and vitamin A, C, and E and corrected fructose in seminal plasma of infertile men. Treatment with mucuna pruriens increased sperm concentration and motility in all the infertile study groups. Oligozoospermic patients recovered sperm concentration significantly, but sperm motility was not restored to normal levels in asthenozoospermic men. The present study is likely to open new vistas on the possible role of mucuna pruriens seed powder as a restorative and invigorating agent for infertile men.
Mucuna pruriens emails
Q. Could you tell me how much l-dopa that mucuna pruriens contains penetrates the blood brain barrier? Is it true that only a very small amount crosses it? So small that it may not significantly affect parkinsonian tremors and other symptoms of Parkinson's disease? Furthermore, it is also said that the liver plays a role in reducing the amount of l-dopa transported to the brain before it even reaches the blodd brain barrier. I am interested in buying mucuna herb but I need an answer to these questions.
A. We really do not know how much l dopa in mucuna pruriens crosses across the blood brain barrier since we have not seen these types of studies, they are difficult to do. The liver most likely does play a role in the metabolism of this herb, and there is a wide variation in each person regarding this metabolism. For practical purposes, one has to find out by trial and error whether mucuna herb works for them or not.
Q. I'm hoping that you can help answer a question about the mucuna pruriens product sold by Physician Formulas. I found this same supplement made by another manufacturer in my local vitamin supplement store. On the product directions, it said that mucuna pruriens should be taken on a cycle of 3 months on and one month off. That is, it said the supplement should be taken everyday for three months, and then not taken for the 4th month. Then it said the next 3-month cycle could start again, after not taking for one month (the 4th month). My question is this, do you recommend anything similar for your mucuna pruriens product? And if so, I'm curious as to the scientific reasoning behind this. Do you have any idea why the other company would recommend this? I'd like to go with the mucuna pruriens product that you developed, because I really liked your research-based approach which I read about on the internet. However, I would like to find out a little more about these recommendations before purchasing mucuna pruriens and getting started on a regimen.
A. Since human studies with mucuna pruriens are very limited, it is difficult to know the ideal dosage, frequency of use or amount of time of breaks. Plus, each person may have a different need based on their health and medical condition. A break from mucuna pruriens use could be one or two days a week, a week off per month, or any variation thereof. Is the mucuna being used for health enhancement, sexual benefits, Parkinson's disease, or any other condition? All these influence how much and how often one takes mucuna pruriens. There are no clear and simple guidelines that apply to everyone. The use of other supplements and medicines can also make a difference. Hence, the other product mentioning a break for a month every 3 months seems quite arbitrary since each person's need will be completely different.
Q. I want to give you and your staff an update on the use of mucuna pruriens as a treatment for fibromyalgia. Mucuna herb was used in combination with Mirapex daily with remarkable results. Both Mirapex and mucuna supplement raise dopamine level. The ability to handle stress over time in any situation is the most noticeable change. From January through April while taking amucuna pruriens supplement regularly, there was a definite improvement in sleep, waking up refreshed with improved energy throughout the day. My chiropractor, who takes careful notes was so impressed with my response to the mucuna herbal product that both he and his wife started using it. With limited funds, I stopped taking mucuna in April. The emotional stability using the Mirapex alone is still unmistakably the best in my entire life. However, mucuna does provide additional benefit that Mirapex does not, ie improved sleep, perky positive energy, more activities accomplished. Whereas the Mirapex leaves me feeling drugged and sleepy but very calm in the face of stress. Fibromyalgia pain and pain in general is definitely reduced. I definitely will be using mucuna pruriens again soon. In the future, I hope that you, Dr. Sahelian, can develop a natural medication to raise dopamine in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Mirapex is just too harsh, but it's the best that I know of right now. I'm just grateful to have macuna pruriens. It's certainly an improvement over using Mirapex alone. By reducing Mirapex I have fewer side effects and the macuna pruriens seems to be as effective. I am convinced that maintaining a normal level of dopamine is the key in the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Q. If the amino acid tyrosine converts to L- Dopa, then would taking a tyrosine supplement produce the same effect or result as taking mucuna pruriens?
A. Not really. Mucuna pruriens has many other compounds in it besides L Dopa.
Q. I am now taking Sinemet 25/100 three times daily. What is the equivalent in a mucuna pruriens dosage?
A. The equivalent dose is not known, and it is not clear yet whether mucuna pruriens works the same way as Sinemet or has similar benefits. Research with mucuna pruriens is still early and we don't know enough about it to make firm recommendations.
Q. My mother has suffered from Parkinson's Disease for 13 years now, and recently she started taking HP200 (powder form of mucuna beans). I was researching these beans on the internet, and came across your name. I was wondering if you had any information with regards to the side affects of mucuna beans. The powder really seems to cause the symptoms of Parkinson's to subside.
A. Thus far we have not had any reports of any significant side effects with mucuna when taken by itself in reasonable amounts. High dosages can cause side effects such as restlessness, insomnia, and increased body temperature.
Q. I am half way through
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