Use of Mucuna pruriens Powder Instead of Levodopa

Abstract

There has been considerable interest in the Mucuna pruriens variant utilis (MP) as an alternative to levodopa. MP is a leguminous plant that grows in both tropical and subtropical environments. The MP seed contains levodopa, and Parkinson experts have long encountered patients who have used a MP formulation instead of traditional Sinemet or Madopar. Investigators examined the safety of a single dose of nonpharmacologically processed MP powder derived from roasted seeds. Each of 18 subjects with Parkinson's disease received in random sequence: …