Mucuna pruriens, offering new hope to those with Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s disease: definition and causes

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disease of the nervous system characterised by the slow, progressive death of neurons in a region of the brain called the substantia nigra.

Those affected normally suffer uncontrollable, jerky movements as the neurons concerned are located in an area of the brain that controls movement.

What causes Parkinson’s disease and its symptoms?

By the time the first symptoms occur (tremors, rigidity), 60%-80% of the neurons in the substantia nigra have already been destroyed.

As this is an area that produces dopamine, a chemical messenger essential for motor control, the death of these neurons leads to a general lack of dopamine, and an increase in two other messengers in the brain : acetylcholine and glutamate.

It is this growing imbalance which triggers symptoms which then worsen over time. The scientific community has unfortunately not yet identified precisely why these neurons die.

Are there effective treatments for Parkinson’s disease?

As yet, there are no drug or surgical treatments able to cure Parkinson’s disease.

We probably need to first understand what causes the disease before any miracle cure can be found.

Current treatments are thus aimed at alleviating the symptoms and at making some attempt to slow the progression of the disease.

Four main avenues are being explored:

• increasing dopamine levels by relying on a precursor: levodopa (L-DOPA), an organic compound that occurs naturally in the body, levels of which can be increased with the use of drugs. This is a standard treatment, but since it becomes less effective over time, doctors usually wait until symptoms are significant before recommending it;
• mimicking dopamine’s action by using dopamine-like molecules;
• preventing the body from destroying what little dopamine is circulating, particularly through the use of drugs called MAO-B inhibitors and levodopa (which is converted into dopamine) ;
• reducing the effects of acetylcholine, levels of which are excessive compared with dopamine.

Why is Mucuna pruriens

Mucuna pruriens has a high content of natural levodopa

It might seem somewhat paradoxical to refer to ‘therapeutic hope’ in relation to velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens), given its millennia-old history of use in Ayurvedic medicine for the relief of kampavata (ie, Parkinson’s disease).

But the fact is that science has not yet unravelled all the mysteries of this unusual plant, despite the numerous studies devoted to it. But one secret has been unlocked: its high content of natural levodopa.

Velvet bean is one of the few natural sources of this molecule, the synthetic form of which is the standard treatment for Parkinson’s. This unusual composition is obviously the n°1 reason why it is so highly-rated by those affected.

Having said that, taking velvet bean for Parkinson’s disease should always be medically-supervised.

A synergistic range of active molecules

In fact, several studies suggest that Mucuna pruriens is not simply a source of L-DOPA (1).

It is thought to contain other synergistic molecules able to optimise the effects of levodopa, such as DOPA decarboxylase inhibitors (which prevent L-DOPA from being broken down before it reaches the brain) and NADH (which may play a role in the production of chemical messengers essential for maintaining neuronal circuits).

As proof, some studies have highlighted neuronal effects from extracts of Mucuna pruriens that contain no L-DOPA (2). Recent research has identified ursolic acid (3), and chlorogenic acid (4), but much remains to be done to understand the role of each of velvet bean’s active molecules, their potential complementarity, and their actual effects on the disease.

Expectations are all the greater since treatments based on the use of isolated (synthetic) levodopa gradually lead to dyskinesia (abnormal involuntary movements), a long-term side-effect which might, however, be reduced by supplementation with Mucuna pruriens (5).

Mucuna pruriens supplements for nerve and brain health

Velvet bean supplements already available for the nervous system

If a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease has been made, it’s advisable, as indicated above, to consult a health professional before considering any supplementation.

The potential effects of this Ayurvedic remedy on degenerative disease and its contraindications are still being studied and have yet to be confirmed.

On the other hand, in a non-disease context, Mucuna pruriens supplements have a role to play in maintaining the nervous system and supporting the immune system, especially if they are standardised in L-DOPA (such as the supplement Mucuna Pruriens). Their use must, however, be supervised by a health professional, especially in the case of polypharmacy.

Some additional advice for optimising the effects of Mucuna pruriens

Here are some tips for increasing its efficacy:

• remain active. Taking regular exercise helps to maintain mobility and coordination, strengthen the skeleton (important in the event of a fall) and prevent depression (a risk factor in the development of Parkinson’s disease);
• eat a diet high in fibre, and low in saturated fat and animal protein. This will increase the beneficial effect of levodopa;
• alternate with other neuroprotective supplements, such as Ginkgo Biloba, or vitamin E (try, for example, Natural E 400), known for helping to protect cells against oxidative stress which is involved in the onset of the disease.