Mucuna is a plant that has been used for its various health benefits.
This herb has been used for millennia in the traditional Ayurvedic Indian medicine. It was used to manage male infertility, various nervous system disorders (such as Parkinson’s disease), and also as an aphrodisiac.
Also known by its full name, Mucuna pruriens, this herb has powerful effects on the body.
We’ll get into the benefits of mucuna, its history, and safety below.
Table of Contents
What is Mucuna pruriens?
Mucuna is a plant in the legume family (fabaceae). This plant is widespread in tropical, and sub-tropical, regions of the world.
M. pruriens is also known as “velvet bean”. It’s one of the most popular crops grown in the tropics. As a food, it’s high in protein, with 23-35% of its macronutrient profile being protein. It’s said to be as digestible as other beans, like soybeans and lima beans.
Mucuna contains many different chemical compounds, most notably L-dopa (4-7%). L-dopa is a precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical in our brains.
Health Benefits of Mucuna pruriens:
Mucuna benefits the body in many different ways, below is a summary of its top research-backed benefits.
1. Dopamine Booster & Neuroprotective Effects
Taking M. pruriens boosts dopamine production and overall brain function.
Mucuna beans contain roughly 5% of the amino acid L-dopa.
L-dopa, also known as l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, is an amino acid. This amino acid is the precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Dopamine works in the brain as a feel-good chemical messenger as it stimulates the reward centers within the brain.
L-dopa is typically made within the body by the kidneys and brain. Taking in exogenous L-dopa (i.e. taking a Mucuna pruriens dietary supplement) can help to improve overall dopamine production.
Inadequate amounts of dopamine are associated with a variety of nervous system dysfunctions, including Parkinson’s Disease. Thus, individuals with Parkinson’s disease often take L-dopa drugs (notably Levodopa).
A clinical study showed that taking mucuna was more effective than standard synthetic forms of L-dopa in Parkinson’s disease patients. The researchers did note that long-term efficacy and tolerability should be further researched.
Another clinical trial compared M. pruriens to standard synthetic L-dopa and found that the clinical effects were similar at the same dose. The researchers also noted that the natural mucuna form of L-dopa was more tolerable.
Another comparative trial by the same researchers ran into tolerability issues with the M. pruriens group.
Summary:
Human studies indicate that Mucuna pruriens may benefit brain function and Pakinson’s disease by increasing dopamine production.
2. May Support Blood Sugar Regulation
Mucuna seeds are said to have an anti-diabetic effect.
In vitro testing shows that various phytochemicals in M. pruriens (including D-chiro-inositol) have an anti-glycemic (or blood sugar lowering) effect.
Further animal studies showed that mucuna helped to reduce blood glucose in rabbits.
It’s noted that the blood sugar-stabilizing properties of Mucuna pruriens extract are most likely due to d-chiro-inositol and its galacto-derivatives found in this plant.
Summary:
Several phytochemicals found in mucuna may be responsible for this herb’s ability to regulate blood sugar. Human clinical studies are needed for confirmation of this finding.
3. May Increase Sexual Function
Mucuna has a long history of use as a potent aphrodisiac.
Various animal trials have shown that the alkaloid content in velvet beans works to increase spermatogenesis, testicular weight, and sexual activity.
Human clinical trials have shown that mucuna increased sperm concentration and motility in infertile men.
Further clinical trials have shown that M. pruriens can increase testosterone production, luteinizing hormone, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline levels. It also worked to reduce levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and prolactin in infertile men.
These studies also found that mucuna helps in the management of stress and improves semen quality.
In review, mucuna seems to be effective in supporting male sexual function, however (as in most cases), further research is warranted.
Summary:
A combination of both human and lab-based trials show that Mucuna pruriens may effectively promote sexual function.
4. Antioxidant Properties
Mucuna is said to have strong antioxidant activity.
Antioxidants are beneficial for health because they help to neutralize free radicals. As a note, free radicals are unstable molecules that “steal” from other molecules in your body. This creates oxidative stress in the body, which can impact health.
Mucuna pruriens is rich in phenols (specifically flavonoids) which are noted for their ability to stabilize free radicals.
Test tube research shows that M. pruriens possesses high antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. The researchers noted that these in vitro assays indicate that mucuna is a significant source of natural antioxidants, which could be useful in preventing various oxidative stresses.
Summary:
Lab-based research indicates that mucuna may support overall health through its ability to neutralize free radicals, however, human studies are required for verification.
5. May Support Skin Health
New research findings indicate that mucuna may be beneficial for skin health.
Many skin disorders (such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema) are tied to increased levels of oxidative stress.
As discussed earlier, M. pruriens has strong antioxidant properties. This is due to its high phenolic compound content.
Preliminary studies have shown that human keratinocytes treated with mucuna exhibit down regulation of total protein expression. These studies also showed that this herb helped to decrease the baseline levels of 4HNE present in human keratinocytes.
All of this appears promising for skin health.