Mucuna Pruriens Research
26 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 7/10
Levodopa and Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Parkinson's Disease: Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Future Perspectives
Aktaş E et al. • CNS neuroscience & therapeutics (2025)
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.
- 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.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Phytochemicals in Parkinson's Disease: a Pathway to Neuroprotection and Personalized Medicine
Das S et al. • Cell biochemistry and biophysics (2025)
The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
- This review provides a comprehensive overview of the neuroprotective potential of phytochemicals in PD management, examining the mechanisms underlying PD pathogenesis and emphasizing neuroprotection.
- It explores the historical and current research on medicinal plants like Mucuna pruriens, Curcuma longa, and Ginkgo biloba, and discusses the challenges in clinical translation, including ethical and practical considerations and the integration with conventional therapies.
- The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Natural angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors: A safeguard against hypertension, respiratory distress syndrome, and chronic kidney diseases
Khaled A et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2023)
More clinical trials are required before new natural compounds and herbs can be used to treat chronic hypertension and its ramifications, such as respiratory distress syndrome and kidney failure.© 2023 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Alkaloids, amino acids, anthocyanidins, flavonoids, glucosinolates, isoflavonoids, phenolic acids, polyphenolics, and triterpenoids are among the bioactive metabolites pocessing an impressive ACE inhibitory activity.
- Many herbs including Rosmarinus officinalis, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Curcuma longa, Rauwolfia serpentina, Emblica officinalis, Cynara scolymus, Punica granatum, Mucuna pruriens, Capsicum annuum, and Moringa olifera were found having ACE inhibitory activities comparable to captopril and enalpril.
- These enticing natural ACE inhibitors deserve to be a safeguard medicine against hypertension, respiratory distress syndrome, and chronic kidney diseases.
Mucuna pruriens to treat Parkinson's disease in low-income countries: Recommendations and practical guidelines from the farmer to clinical trials. Paving the way for future use in clinical practice
Caronni S et al. • Parkinsonism & related disorders (2024)
All rights reserved.
- This manuscript summarizes the knowledge gained about MP by the authors, focusing on how to cultivate, store, and provide it to patients in the safest and most effective way in clinical trials.
- We aim to increase clinical trials investigating its safety and efficacy in PD, before promoting individual use of MP on a global scale, particularly in countries where availability and affordability of levodopa-based medications is still limited.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd.
- All rights reserved.
Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Cilia R et al. • Journal of the Neurological Sciences (2018)
Mucuna pruriens seed powder showed comparable efficacy to synthetic levodopa with faster onset and longer duration of action in Parkinson's patients.
- Mucuna pruriens showed comparable motor improvement to synthetic levodopa/carbidopa
- Onset of action was faster than conventional levodopa formulations
- Duration of 'on' time was significantly longer with mucuna pruriens
Neuroprotection by Mucuna pruriens in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Zahra W et al. • Neurochemical research (2022)
The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
- It aims to summarize the medicinal importance of Mucuna pruriens in treatment of these diseases, and put forward the potential targets where Mucuna pruriens can act for therapeutic interventions.
- In this review, the effect of Mucuna pruriens on ameliorating the neurodegeneration evident in PD, AD, ALS and stroke is briefly discussed.
- The potential targets for neuroprotection by the plant are delineated, which can be studied further to validate the hypothesis regarding the use of Mucuna pruriens for the treatment of these diseases.© 2022.
Beyond tribulus (Tribulus terrestris L.): The effects of phytotherapics on testosterone, sperm and prostate parameters
Santos HO et al. • Journal of ethnopharmacology (2019)
Scientific evidence supports the use of mucuna and ashwagandha as phytotherapics for improving serum T concentrations and semen parameters.
- Scientific evidence supports the use of mucuna and ashwagandha as phytotherapics for improving serum T concentrations and semen parameters.
- Despite inconclusive evidence for use of tribulus as a T booster, it may provide advantageous effects on sperm parameters in men with idiopathic infertility.
- Nutraceutical strategies and some phytotherapics may also be effective to promote prostate health.
Mechanisms for alternative treatments in Parkinson's disease: acupuncture, tai chi, and other treatments
Ghaffari BD et al. • Current neurology and neuroscience reports (2014)
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.
- At least 40% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) use one or more forms of alternative therapy (AT) to complement standard treatments.
- 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.
Plants in the management of male infertility
Abarikwu SO et al. • Andrologia (2020)
Further, collaborative efforts at isolating pro-drug candidates from medicinal plants for studies at the molecular, cellular and clinical level towards elucidating their mechanisms of action on the testes are therefore warranted in the light of the current male fertility crisis.© 2020 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
- There still appear to be many more extracts of medicinal plants that have not been characterised to determine the phytochemicals unique to them that have target effects on the gonads.
- Published in Andrologia (2020)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
The potential role of herbal products in the treatment of Parkinson's disease
Amro MS et al. • La Clinica terapeutica (2018)
The present review may be beneficial for designing future drugs for effective treatment of PD.
- In the present narrative review, the main aim is to discuss the pathogenesis of PD, define the role of different potential herbal extracts on its pathogenesis which may form the basis of treatment.
- We also discuss in detail the active chemical compounds present each herb which are effective in the treatment of PD.
- The present review may be beneficial for designing future drugs for effective treatment of PD.
Management of Parkinson's disease in Ayurveda: Medicinal plants and adjuvant measures
Pathak-Gandhi N et al. • Journal of ethnopharmacology (2017)
Ayurveda with its medicinal plants and treatment approaches, can strengthen the therapeutic armamentarium of PD to improve clinical outcomes, if these leads are systematically further investigated by well-designed longer term studies.
- Ayurveda with its medicinal plants and treatment approaches, can strengthen the therapeutic armamentarium of PD to improve clinical outcomes, if these leads are systematically further investigated by well-designed longer term studies.
- Published in Journal of ethnopharmacology (2017)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Important medicinal herbs in Parkinson's disease pharmacotherapy
Srivastav S et al. • Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (2017)
All rights reserved.
- It is evident that redox stabilization and replenishment of mitochondrial function seem to be an important therapeutic approach against PD as both are required for optimal neuronal functioning.
- Enormous research done in this field has shown that some natural and synthetic products exhibit neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic potential by improving mitochondrial function and alleviating oxidative stress.
- All rights reserved.
An evidence-based approach to medicinal plants for the treatment of sperm abnormalities in traditional Persian medicine
Tahvilzadeh M et al. • Andrologia (2016)
Further studies are recommended for obtaining more conclusive results about the efficacy and safety of the mentioned medicinal plants.© 2016 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
- Male factors account for 20%-50% of cases of infertility.
- For some of them, including Chlorophytum borivilianum, Crocus sativus, Nigella sativa, Sesamum indicum, Tribulus terrestris, Mucuna pruriens and Withania somnifera, more reliable evidence was found.
- The mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of medicinal plants in sperm abnormalities are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-oedematous and venotonic activity as well as containing precursors for sperm production and increasing blood testosterone level.
Microneurography of pruritus
Handwerker HO • Neuroscience letters (2010)
The neuronal mechanisms of clinically important pruritic states, e.g. in uremia are still unexplored.
- Though histamine seemed to be the prototypical itch mediator it plays a minor role in part of the clinical itch states.
- Experimentally, the spicules of mucuna pruriens (cowhage) induce strong non-histaminergic itch.
- It turned out that they excite an entirely different population of C-fibers, namely mechano-responsive polymodal nociceptor units (CMH) and Adelta units.
Alternative food/feed perspectives of an underutilized legume Mucuna pruriens var. utilis--a review
Pugalenthi M et al. • Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands) (2005)
Hence, the present review has been emphasized on the nutritional potential of this underutilized, nonconventional legume and current state of its utilization as food/feed for both human beings and livestock throughout the world.
- Recently, the velvet beans are exploited as a protein source in the diets of fish, poultry, pig, and cattle after subjected to appropriate processing methods.
- Although the velvet beans contain high levels of protein and carbohydrate, their utilization is limited due to the presence of a number of antinutritional/antiphysiological compounds, phenolics, tannins, L-Dopa, lectins, protease inhibitors, etc., which may reduce the nutrient utilization.
- Unfortunately, even though many researchers all over the world working on Mucuna, only scanty and conflicting information are available regarding its utilization as a food/feed and no scientific gathering to date has focused on the food/feed applications of Mucuna.
Mucuna pruriens in untreated Parkinson's disease in sub-Saharan Africa: A 12-month, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial
Cilia R et al. • Journal of Parkinson's disease (2026)
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.
- 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.
- 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.
The effect of photobiomodulation on histamine and Mucuna pruriens-induced pruritus, hyperknesis and alloknesis in healthy volunteers: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study
Lang-Illievich K et al. • PloS one (2024)
LLLT effectively reduced histamine-induced pruritus, alloknesis, and hyperknesis; however, LLLT was ineffective against Mucuna pruriens-induced pruritus.
- 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).
Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson disease: A double-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover study
Cilia R et al. • Neurology (2017)
Single-dose MP intake met all noninferiority efficacy and safety outcome measures in comparison to dispersible levodopa/benserazide.
- 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.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Comparative efficacy of Mucuna pruriens and conventional levodopa in Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial on pharmacokinetics and clinical perspectives from Asia
Boonmongkol T et al. • Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996) (2025)
The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.
- The geometric mean ratio was 155.67% (90% CI 134.59-180.04), exceeding the bioequivalence acceptance range of 80-125%.
- 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.
Daily intake of Mucuna pruriens in advanced Parkinson's disease: A 16-week, noninferiority, randomized, crossover, pilot study
Cilia R et al. • Parkinsonism & related disorders (2018)
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.
- 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.
- 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.