Mucuna Pruriens, Dopamine, L-dopa, Growth Hormone, Macuna

Mucuna Pruriens, Dopamine, L-dopa, Growth Hormone, Macuna: "MUCUNA PRURIENS (Velvet Bean)

Botanical name: Mucuna Pruriens
Common name: Cowitch, Cowhage, Velvet Bean, Cow-itch, Buffalo bean
Latin name: Mucuna Pruriens
Part used: Seeds, Root, Legumes

Mucuna Pruriens, also known as Cowhage, and velvet bean contains a very powerful neurotransmitter pre-cursor L-Dopa. Mucuna pruriens is a reputed remedy of Ayurveda in nervous and sexual diseases. Traditionally, Mucuna pruriens is commonly used as carminative, hypertensive and hypoglycemic agent. Mucuna pruriens has been found to contain L-DOPA, 40 mg/g of the plant. The plant/seeds contain the bioactive alkaloids mucunine, mucunadine, mucuadinine, pruriendine and nicotine, besides B-sitosterol, glutathione, lecithin, oils, venolic and gallic acids. Studies in experimental model show L-Dopa also helps in the reduction of cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
L-Dopa

L-Dopa is an amino acid that converts into dopamine. Dopamine is an essential component of our body and it's required for proper functioning of the brain. Research discovered the body converts the amino acid tyrosine into L-dopa; L-dopa is then converted into dopamine. Without the neurotransmitter dopamine to serve a damping effect on neural transmissions, muscles become tense and tremble.
Benefits of Mucuna Pruriens L-Dopa:


* Improved sleep (promotes deep sleep)
* Reduced bodyfat & decreased cellulite
* Decreased weinkles
* Improved skin texture & appearance
* Increased bone density and reversal of osteoporosis
* Increased lean muscle mass
* Improved mood and sense of well-being
* Enhanced libido & sexual performance
* Increased energy levels
* Improved cholestorol profile & regeneration of organs (heart, kidney, liver, lungs)
* Dramatically strengthed immune system

Mucuna: Human Growth Hormone

L- Dopa contains natural secretagogues which may support the body's ability to stimulate the natural release of growth hormone. The blood carries the dopamine into the brain, where it naturally increases HGH production from the pituitary gland. The increased dopamine levels also optimize the production of other hormones, including testosterone, leading to increased sex drive and improved sexual performance for both men and women, beneficial in stimulating muscle growth, as well as burning fat from fat cells.
Mucuna and Parkinson

The seed powder of Mucuna pruriens has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic Indian medicine for diseases including parkinson. L-Dopa significantly affects dopamine metabolism in the striatonigral tract. This ability helps improve Parkinsonian symptoms in humans. The seeds of Mucuna pruriens accumulate 0.2% - 2% L-dopa in their dry weight. Parkinson's disease study group evaluated activity of Mucuna pruriens extract v/s Levodopa/ caebidopa in sixty patients and during their 12 weeks treatment , they proved that the extract was effective with less adverse effects.

In a a randomised, controlled, double blind crossover trial published on Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, the clinical effects of levodopa L-dopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) are compared with two different doses of mucuna preparation. Eight Parkinson's disease patients were given with single doses of 200/50 mg LD/CD, or 15 and 30 g of mucuna preparation in randomised order. Compared with standard LD/CD, the 30 g mucuna preparation led to a considerably faster onset of effect (34.6 v 68.5 min; p = 0.021), Mean on time was 21.9% (37 min) longer, peak L-dopa plasma concentrations were 110% higher and the area under the plasma concentration v time curve (area under curve) was 165.3% larger (p = 0.012). 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 PD.
Mucuna Pruriens Aphrodisiac Effects

Mucuna pruriens can improve sexual behavior, libido, and performance. In an aphrodisiac study done at College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal, Mucuna Pruriens when administered in a dose of 75 mg/kg body weight daily, increased the sexual activity of male albino rats considerably by stimulating testosterone level. A ten fold increase in the mounting frequency was observed. The research shows that sexually active animals had increased sexual desire and improved sexual performance after 21 to 28 days. However, impotent animals did not derived any benefits.

Another research shows that Mucuna Pruriens heightened arousal and increased sexual activity to a moderate extent but also sustains it for a longer time as indicated by the increase in below Ejaculation Latency and decrease in Post Ejaculatory Interval. Mucuna Prueins is shown to possess central depressant activity. The delay in ejaculation could be due to toning down of hypersensitity of genitals and hyperexcitation of the regulatory centers. This study show that Mucuna Pruriens can be used to improve libido and delay premature ejaculation."