Mucuna Pruriens is a natural brain supplement touted for improving mood and keeping the brain healthy and protected.
It supplies the brain with many of the nutrients and ingredients it needs in order to function at its best while also reducing susceptibility to anxiety and stress.
One of the most important compounds found in this plant is L-Dopa which is used to produce Dopamine among other hormones.
Many researchers are making widespread discoveries about the effects of Mucuna Pruriens which range from being able to increase levels of human growth hormone (and other potentially anabolic hormones) to increasing testosterone and improving sexual drive and promoting positive feelings.
It is also thought to have a neuroprotective effect upon the brain cells and other bodily processes, possibly reducing signs of aging.
What exactly is Mucuna Pruriens and will it work for you as advertised?
Mood
Nootropic
Body -building- Elevates dopamine & norepinephrine
- Boosts mood, focus & motivation
- Improves stress response & libido
What Is Mucuna Pruriens:
Related Topics
Mucuna Pruriens is a plant that technically is consider to be among the legume family. It is also called cowitch and velvet bean.
The plant itself is found mainly in the forests of tropical climates like the Caribbean and Africa.
It has also been used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.
This plant has a high nitrogen content and is typically used today as a soil fertilizer.
The plant, which itself can grow up to 15 meters high, is also noted for the presence of L-Dopa which is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the human body. This compound is known to boost the mood and is often used as an herbal remedy for depression and anxiety.
L-Dopa Mucuna is one of the most popular sources for this mood-enhancing compound that is converted into Dopamine in the brain.
The appearance of the plant is not particularly notable, although it can produce some beautiful flowers in colors from white to purple. Contact with the orange, prickly hair-like projections on this plant can cause severe itching in humans thanks to the macunain contained therein.
Another interesting fact about this plant is that it may also be used as an alternative to coffee. The seeds are dried and then brewed in the typical fashion. Many people consider Mucuna Pruriens Tea to be highly stimulating and just as effective as coffee for improving alertness.
Mucuna Pruriens Bioactive Components:
If you are interested in buying Mucuna Pruriens extract to increase L-Dopa levels in your diet, there are a few different options out there for you.
The best Mucuna Pruriens powder is made from the beans only, so be sure to look for this. Almost all of the studies and research which shows health benefits focused on using the beans only.
There are a number of different bioactive compounds and ingredients in this supplement. They include:
- Mucunadine
- Mucunine
- Mucunainine
- Prurienine
- Purienidine
- Beta Sitosterol
- Glutathione
- Lecithin
- Venolic Acid
- Gallic Acid
Another important point to remember is to avoid Mucuna Pruriens powder that has not been irradiated.
Top Mucuna Pruriens Supplements
Health Benefits Of Mucuna Pruriens:
One of the main benefits of this supplement is that it naturally helps to increase growth hormone. This is primarily due to the presence of L-Dopa within the supplement.
There have been a number of studies and research that shows this substance is found in high levels within Mucuna extract. The researchers have also concluded that this increase in growth hormone was NOT related to an increase in Dopamine in the brain.
As L-Dopa is produced by the supplement, many critical neurotransmitters and their processes are also supported. With this L-Dopa, you are giving the brain more building blocks to create needed compounds. It is also essential in the formation of Dopamine and Norepinephrine.
These powerful brain chemicals are connected with feelings of positive mood, energy, pleasure and motivation. Some of the L-Dopa in Mucuna Pruriens is also used to make the pigment melanin. This helps to protect the brain by removing a number of different toxins and chelating metals like mercury and lead.
Mucuna Pruriens supplements are also known to boost sexual function. This means increasing male endurance and libido in both men and women. In other words, no more need for things like Viagra. It can also help to protect sperm from oxidative damage.
The supplement even has a number of anti-oxidant properties, meaning it is capable of removing toxins and other poisons from the body.
Mucuna is further recognized for increasing mental alertness. Many users also report having an improved level of focus and concentration. But this energy boost is not like the effects of caffeine which can lead to anxiety and nervousness.
Mucuna Pruriens has been shown to calm down the nerves within the brain and promote alpha brain waves.
- Elevates levels of dopamine and norepinephrine
- Boosts mood, focus, energy and motivation
- Improves stress response, libido and fertility
Mucuna Pruriens Side Effects:
Mucuna Pruriens is quite safe and a favorite among people who prefer natural or herbal nootropics over the synthetic counterparts.
However, there are a few side effects associated with this including headaches, vomiting, insomnia, and possibly some confusion. These are all very uncommon and usually only present themselves in those taking excessively high dosages.
The most commonly reported side effect from the Mucuna Pruriens plant is severe itching, but this only occurs when using the raw plant stems or leaves themselves. If you are consuming an extract version, you will not encounter this effect.
Mucuna Pruriens Dosage & Usage:
The daily recommended dosage range is between 200 and 500 mg. Most people will start with 200 mg at a time and only increase if they do not feel anything at the lower levels.
It is most commonly sold in powdered extract form, though you may be able to find some tablet or capsule sources. You can add the powder to smoothies or other liquids. It is best to consume with food to ensure that it is properly absorbed from your intestines.
Most people will take Mucuna Pruriens in combination with several other mood enhancing supplements to improve your emotional wellbeing, reduce stress and anxiety and help you focus and boost mental energy.
- Obogwu MB, Akindele AJ, Adeyemi OO. Hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant activities of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) in antitubercular drugs and alcohol models. Chin J Nat Med. 2014
- Pulikkalpura H, Kurup R, Mathew PJ, Baby S. Levodopa in Mucuna pruriens and its degradation. Sci Rep. 2015
- Dendup T, Prachyawarakorn V, Pansanit A, Mahidol C, Ruchirawat S, Kittakoop P. α-Glucosidase inhibitory activities of isoflavanones, isoflavones, and pterocarpans from Mucuna pruriens. Planta Med. 2014
- Fung SY, Sim SM, Kandiah, Jeyaseelan, Armugam A, Aguiyi JC, Tan NH. Prophylactic effect of Mucuna pruriens Linn (velvet bean) seed extract against experimental Naja sputatrix envenomation: gene expression studies. Indian J Exp Biol. 2014
- Yadav SK, Prakash J, Chouhan S, Westfall S, Verma M, Singh TD, Singh SP. Comparison of the neuroprotective potential of Mucuna pruriens seed extract with estrogen in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mice model. Neurochem Int. 2014
- Yadav SK, Prakash J, Chouhan S, Singh SP. Mucuna pruriens seed extract reduces oxidative stress in nigrostriatal tissue and improves neurobehavioral activity in paraquat-induced Parkinsonian mouse model. Neurochem Int. 2013
- Suresh S, Prakash S. Effect of Mucuna pruriens (Linn.) on sexual behavior and sperm parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rat. J Sex Med. 2012
- Suresh S, Prithiviraj E, Lakshmi NV, Ganesh MK, Ganesh L, Prakash S. Effect of Mucuna pruriens (Linn.) on mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage in epididymal sperm of streptozotocin induced diabetic rat. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013
- Chaudhary SK, De A, Bhadra S, Mukherjee PK. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory potential of standardized Mucuna pruriens seed extract. Pharm Biol. 2015
- Loyra-Tzab E, Sarmiento-Franco LA, Sandoval-Castro CA, Santos-Ricalde RH. Nutrient Digestibility and Metabolizable Energy Content of Mucuna pruriens Whole Pods Fed to Growing Pelibuey Lambs. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci. 2013
- Li X, Chen Z, Yang F, Pan J, Li Y. Development of a microchip-pulsed electrochemical method for rapid determination of L-DOPA and tyrosine in Mucuna pruriens. J Sep Sci. 2013
- Singh AP, Sarkar S, Tripathi M, Rajender S. Mucuna pruriens and its major constituent L-DOPA recover spermatogenic loss by combating ROS, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis. PLoS One. 2013
- Rana DG, Galani VJ. Dopamine mediated antidepressant effect of Mucuna pruriens seeds in various experimental models of depression. Ayu. 2014
- Raghavendra S, Kumar V, Ramesh CK, Khan MH. Enhanced production of L-DOPA in cell cultures of Mucuna pruriens L. and Mucuna prurita H. Nat Prod Res. 2012
- Hasegawa T, Takahashi K, Fukiwake T, Saijo M, Motoki Y. Enantiomeric determination of DOPA in dietary supplements containing Mucuna pruriens by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2013
- Kumar P, Rawat A, Keshari AK, Singh AK, Maity S, De A, Samanta A, Saha S. Antiproliferative effect of isolated isoquinoline alkaloid from Mucuna pruriens seeds in hepatic carcinoma cells. Nat Prod Res. 2015
- Suresh S, Prakash S. Effect of Mucuna pruriens (Linn.) on oxidative stress-induced structural alteration of corpus cavernosum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. J Sex Med. 2011
- Lampariello LR, Cortelazzo A, Guerranti R, Sticozzi C, Valacchi G. The Magic Velvet Bean of Mucuna pruriens. J Tradit Complement Med. 2012
- Munhoz RP, Teive HA. Darkening of white hair in Parkinson’s disease during use of levodopa rich Mucuna pruriens extract powder. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2013
- Poddighe S, De Rose F, Marotta R, Ruffilli R, Fanti M, Secci PP, Mostallino MC, Setzu MD, Zuncheddu MA, Collu I, Solla P, Marrosu F, Kasture S, Acquas E, Liscia A. Mucuna pruriens (Velvet bean) rescues motor, olfactory, mitochondrial and synaptic impairment in PINK1B9 Drosophila melanogaster genetic model of Parkinson’s disease. PLoS One. 2014
- Majekodunmi SO, Oyagbemi AA, Umukoro S, Odeku OA. Evaluation of the anti-diabetic properties of Mucuna pruriens seed extract. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2011
- Chukwudi NH, Simeon O, Chinyere AJ. Analysis of some biochemical and haematological parameters for Mucuna pruriens (DC) seed powder in male rats. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2011
- Kala BK, Mohan VR. Nutritional and anti-nutritional potential of three accessions of itching bean (Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC var. pruriens): an under-utilized tribal pulse. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2010
- Fung SY, Tan NH, Sim SM, Marinello E, Guerranti R, Aguiyi JC. Mucuna pruriens Linn. seed extract pretreatment protects against cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular depressant effects of Naja sputatrix (Javan spitting cobra) venom in rats. Indian J Exp Biol. 2011
- Raina AP, Khatri R. Quantitative Determination of L-DOPA in Seeds of Mucuna Pruriens Germplasm by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2011
- Lieu CA, Venkiteswaran K, Gilmour TP, Rao AN, Petticoffer AC, Gilbert EV, Deogaonkar M, Manyam BV, Subramanian T. The Antiparkinsonian and Antidyskinetic Mechanisms of Mucuna pruriens in the MPTP-Treated Nonhuman Primate. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012
- Lieu CA, Kunselman AR, Manyam BV, Venkiteswaran K, Subramanian T. A water extract of Mucuna pruriens provides long-term amelioration of parkinsonism with reduced risk for dyskinesias. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2010
- Champatisingh D, Sahu PK, Pal A, Nanda GS. Anticataleptic and antiepileptic activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Mucuna pruriens: A study on role of dopaminergic system in epilepsy in albino rats. Indian J Pharmacol. 2011
- Fung SY, Tan NH, Sim SM. Protective effects of Mucuna pruriens seed extract pretreatment against cardiovascular and respiratory depressant effects of Calloselasma rhodostoma (Malayan pit viper) venom in rats. Trop Biomed. 2010
- Suresh S, Prithiviraj E, Prakash S. Effect of Mucuna pruriens on oxidative stress mediated damage in aged rat sperm. Int J Androl. 2010
- Luthra PM, Singh S. Identification and optimization of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in Mucuna pruriens DC. var. utilis. Planta. 2010
- Agbafor KN, Nwachukwu N. Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Property of Leaf Extracts of Vitex doniana and Mucuna pruriens. Biochem Res Int. 2011
- Shukla KK, Mahdi AA, Ahmad MK, Shankhwar SN, Rajender S, Jaiswar SP. Mucuna pruriens improves male fertility by its action on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. Fertil Steril. 2009
- Suresh S, Prithiviraj E, Prakash S. Dose- and time-dependent effects of ethanolic extract of Mucuna pruriens Linn. seed on sexual behaviour of normal male rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009
- Soares AR, Marchiosi R, Siqueira-Soares Rde C, Barbosa de Lima R, Dantas dos Santos W, Ferrarese-Filho O. The role of L-DOPA in plants. Plant Signal Behav. 2014
- Manyam BV, Dhanasekaran M, Hare TA. Neuroprotective effects of the antiparkinson drug Mucuna pruriens. Phytother Res. 2004
- Bhaskar A, Vidhya VG, Ramya M. Hypoglycemic effect of Mucuna pruriens seed extract on normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Fitoterapia. 2008
- Dhanasekaran M, Tharakan B, Manyam BV. Antiparkinson drug–Mucuna pruriens shows antioxidant and metal chelating activity. Phytother Res. 2008
- Kasture S, Pontis S, Pinna A, Schintu N, Spina L, Longoni R, Simola N, Ballero M, Morelli M. Assessment of symptomatic and neuroprotective efficacy of Mucuna pruriens seed extract in rodent model of Parkinson’s disease. Neurotox Res. 2009
- Manyam BV, Dhanasekaran M, Hare TA. Effect of antiparkinson drug HP-200 (Mucuna pruriens) on the central monoaminergic neurotransmitters. Phytother Res. 2004
- Ahmad MK, Mahdi AA, Shukla KK, Islam N, Jaiswar SP, Ahmad S. Effect of Mucuna pruriens on semen profile and biochemical parameters in seminal plasma of infertile men. Fertil Steril. 2008
- Katzenschlager R, Evans A, Manson A, Patsalos PN, Ratnaraj N, Watt H, Timmermann L, Van der Giessen R, Lees AJ. Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson’s disease: a double blind clinical and pharmacological study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004
- Donati D, Lampariello LR, Pagani R, Guerranti R, Cinci G, Marinello E. Antidiabetic oligocyclitols in seeds of Mucuna pruriens. Phytother Res. 2005
- Misra L, Wagner H. Extraction of bioactive principles from Mucuna pruriens seeds. Indian J Biochem Biophys. 2007
- Tomita-Yokotani K, Hashimoto H, Fujii Y, Nakamura T, Yamashita M. Distribution of L-DOPA in the root of velvet bean plant (Mucuna pruriens L.) and gravity. Biol Sci Space. 2004
- Misra L, Wagner H. Alkaloidal constituents of Mucuna pruriens seeds. Phytochemistry. 2004
- Tharakan B, Dhanasekaran M, Mize-Berge J, Manyam BV. Anti-Parkinson botanical Mucuna pruriens prevents levodopa induced plasmid and genomic DNA damage. Phytother Res. 2007
- Akhtar MS, Qureshi AQ, Iqbal J. Antidiabetic evaluation of Mucuna pruriens, Linn seeds. J Pak Med Assoc. 1990
- Chattopadhyay S, Datta SK, Mahato SB. Production of L-DOPA from cell suspension culture of Mucuna pruriens f. pruriens. Plant Cell Rep. 1994
- Tripathi YB, Upadhyay AK. Effect of the alcohol extract of the seeds of Mucuna pruriens on free radicals and oxidative stress in albino rats. Phytother Res. 2002
- Pras N, Woerdenbag HJ, Batterman S, Visser JF, Van Uden W. Mucuna pruriens: improvement of the biotechnological production of the anti-Parkinson drug L-dopa by plant cell selection. Pharm World Sci. 1993
- Vaidya AB, Rajagopalan TG, Mankodi NA, Antarkar DS, Tathed PS, Purohit AV, Wadia NH. Treatment of Parkinson’s disease with the cowhage plant-Mucuna pruriens Bak. Neurol India. 1978
8 Comments
Hello.
I think you guys should review the recommendation of taking mucuna with food as I’ve seen two apparently high quality (concentrated for L-dopa %) supplement products saying it should be taken half an hour before meals for the best absorption. Both were at different potencies.
How long until I start noticing a difference from when I started taking mucuna pruriens? I started taking 333mg twice a day yesterday – how long should it be before I start noticing a difference in my mood (depression?)
From all my experience, Mucuna prurien should be made into a tea, and particles should not be consumed because they irritate the stomach.
I put a teaspoon into my coffee maker with my coffee every morning. I notice the effects immedatly. My mother used Mucuna for parkinsons she used to drink it, and get sick. Now she is in ObamaCare and she cant afford Mucuna nor will her Assisted Living allow her to have it. Oh well she is a walking Lev Dopa zombie. I am healthy as a horse.
I take a 333mg capsule twice a day, once in the morning and once mid-afternoon. I have also recently switched from Ritalin to Adderall, and neither stimulant seems to be making me feel or focus (depression or ADD) much better. Will mucuna pruriens help with this? Should I keep taking it, or I’m thinking of switching to gotu kola. Your thoughts?
I’ve been taking Mucuna for a long time now and it helps me sleep. I kind of can’t imagine not taking it now. I use Keter Wellness Mucuna, you can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KXD4NI4
Also, check out this article from a recovered opiate addict.
Great info about Mucuna and combining it with other supplements for increased energy.
Hi,
My Energy/Mood Macuna stack:
L-tyrosine 2000mg, Creatine 5000mg, and 5HTP 75mg at night and what a combo.
L-Dopa or Maccuna reacts amazingly with L-tyrosine, there is definitely a powerful synergy with the mixing of these two. If I want the ultimate work-out boost, I add Guarana 1500mg to the mix. The amino acid stack is the ultimate for mood enhancement too. I cannot brag enough about the work-out level I am having with this, I feel like I am 20 again at age 42! When you reach your 40s your dopa-levels start to drop, this will fix it. My Mood and confidence is steroid-like too. I just can’t say enough about this amino acid stack. Highly recommend!!!
My husband has Parkinson’s and he consume Carbilev 25/250 4times per day and 2 Mucuna capsules in the morning and two late afternoon( serving size 2 x 250g . We live in South Africa and the only available product is Himalaya. Would like to know whether we use correct dosage!
Attention please ! 2×250 g is a very very big dose rather for an animal reconsider it.