Mucuna pruriens

Mucuna pruriens, or itch bean, belongs to the legume family and is rich in L-dopa as well as coenzyme Q10.

Ayurvedic medicine has known the plant for more than 4500 years. No monograph from ESCOP, EMA or Commission E to date.

Clinical studies indicate an effect in neurodegenerative diseases, e.g. Alzheimer's dementia or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease similar to L-dopa drugs with fewer side effects, but there is currently no standardized finished preparation.

1. Chopra AS (2021) The treatment of Parkinson's disease from the perspective of Āyurvedic medicine. EHK 0: 322-327
2. Katzenschlager R et al. (2004) Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson's disease: a double blind clinical and pharmacological study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 75:1672-1677
3. Kamkaen N et al. (2022) Mucuna pruriens Seed Aqueous Extract Improved Neuroprotective and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Effects Compared with Synthetic L-Dopa. Molecules 13;27:3131
4. Cilia R et al. (2017) Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson disease: A double-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover study. Neurology. 89:432-438