What are Mucuna pruriens’ main benefits?

    Last Updated: March 19, 2024

    A small number of clinical trials suggest that dose-matched Mucuna pruriens exhibits comparable effectiveness to pharmaceutical L-DOPA paired with carbidopa/benserazide for alleviating the general symptoms of Parkinson's disease,[1][2][3] with limited animal research suggesting that these neuroprotective properties may extend to other conditions related to dopamine deficiency.[4] Preliminary research has explored the potential impact of Mucuna pruriens on sperm quality and testosterone levels in the context of male infertility, indicating its potential effectiveness in improving sperm concentration, count, and motility and increasing testosterone levels.[5][6][7][8] Limited evidence from animal studies suggests that Mucuna pruriens may also possess antivenom properties against snakebites,[9][10] and might mitigate the development of cataracts and the increase in urinary albumin levels associated with diabetes.[11][12]

    References

    1. ^Katzenschlager R, Evans A, Manson A, Patsalos PN, Ratnaraj N, Watt H, Timmermann L, Van der Giessen R, Lees AJMucuna pruriens in Parkinson's disease: a double blind clinical and pharmacological studyJ Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.(2004 Dec)
    2. ^Roberto Cilia, Janeth Laguna, Erica Cassani, Emanuele Cereda, Benedetta Raspini, Michela Barichella, Gianni PezzoliDaily intake of Mucuna pruriens in advanced Parkinson's disease: A 16-week, noninferiority, randomized, crossover, pilot studyParkinsonism Relat Disord.(2018 Apr)
    3. ^Roberto Cilia, Janeth Laguna, Erica Cassani, Emanuele Cereda, Nicolò G Pozzi, Ioannis U Isaias, Manuela Contin, Michela Barichella, Gianni PezzoliMucuna pruriens in Parkinson disease: A double-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover studyNeurology.(2017 Aug 1)
    4. ^Kasture S, Pontis S, Pinna A, Schintu N, Spina L, Longoni R, Simola N, Ballero M, Morelli MAssessment of symptomatic and neuroprotective efficacy of Mucuna pruriens seed extract in rodent model of Parkinson's disease.Neurotox Res.(2009-Feb)
    5. ^Shukla KK, Mahdi AA, Ahmad MK, Shankhwar SN, Rajender S, Jaiswar SPMucuna pruriens improves male fertility by its action on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axisFertil Steril.(2009 Dec)
    6. ^Shukla KK, Mahdi AA, Ahmad MK, Jaiswar SP, Shankwar SN, Tiwari SCMucuna pruriens Reduces Stress and Improves the Quality of Semen in Infertile MenEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2010 Mar)
    7. ^Gupta A, Mahdi AA, Ahmad MK, Shukla KK, Bansal N, Jaiswer SP, Shankhwar SNA proton NMR study of the effect of Mucuna pruriens on seminal plasma metabolites of infertile malesJ Pharm Biomed Anal.(2011 Jul 15)
    8. ^Mohammad Kaleem Ahmad, Abbas Ali Mahdi, Kamla Kant Shukla, Najmul Islam, Shyam Pyari Jaiswar, Sohail AhmadEffect of Mucuna pruriens on semen profile and biochemical parameters in seminal plasma of infertile menFertil Steril.(2008 Sep)
    9. ^Guerranti R, Ogueli IG, Bertocci E, Muzzi C, Aguiyi JC, Cianti R, Armini A, Bini L, Leoncini R, Marinello E, Pagani RProteomic analysis of the pathophysiological process involved in the antisnake venom effect of Mucuna pruriens extract.Proteomics.(2008-Jan)
    10. ^Guerranti R, Aguiyi JC, Ogueli IG, Onorati G, Neri S, Rosati F, Del Buono F, Lampariello R, Pagani R, Marinello EProtection of Mucuna pruriens seeds against Echis carinatus venom is exerted through a multiform glycoprotein whose oligosaccharide chains are functional in this role.Biochem Biophys Res Commun.(2004-Oct-15)
    11. ^Rathi SS, Grover JK, Vikrant V, Biswas NRPrevention of experimental diabetic cataract by Indian Ayurvedic plant extracts.Phytother Res.(2002-Dec)
    12. ^Grover JK, Vats V, Rathi SS, Dawar RTraditional Indian anti-diabetic plants attenuate progression of renal damage in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice.J Ethnopharmacol.(2001-Aug)