Levodopa Content of Mucuna pruriens Supplements in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database

Abstract

This case series assesses the levels of levodopa in Mucuna pruriens supplements available in the US that are included in the National Institutes of Health Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Compounds Characterization of a Mucuna Seed Extract: L-Dopa, Arginine, Stizolamine, and Some Fructooligosaccharides

“…In most of these experimentations, however, there is no characterization of the extracts. There is just L-dopa quantification, although their content does not always correspond with the declared on the label [38]. In this work, we decided to investigate the component resultants on the Mucuna seed extract to be more precise on the potential effects it could result in experimentations.…”

“…However, there are few characterizations of the molecules in these extracts beyond L-dopa, and their direct use in animal experiments is customarily done [36]. Notably, there are many commercial suppliers of both seeds in powder and seed extracts with a wide range of levodopa content [37] [38]. But these are poorly characterized, or no metabolite composition is reported in these products.…”

Accuracy of Labeling of Galantamine Generic Drugs and Dietary Supplements

“…Studies have reported mislabeling of both generic drugs and dietary supplements. 1,2 While the regulatory framework for prescription drugs and dietary supplements are distinct in the US, labels in both categories are required to accurately represent the products' contents. To our knowledge, whether label accuracy differs between generic drugs and dietary supplements containing the same active pharmaceutical ingredient has not been studied.…”

Dopamine Dysregulation Syndrome Presenting as Overuse of Mucuna pruriens Levodopa Supplement

“…Alternative practitioners have proposedMucuna pruriens as a treatment for parkinsonism which may be more palatable to some patients, despite containing the same primary active ingredient 4 . The levodopa content of Mucuna pruriens extracts is quite variable, and measured amounts can range from nearly negligible to more than twice the stated amount 5 .DRT is associated with side effects including dyskinesias, impulse control disorders, and psychosis. The pathophysiology of impulse control disorders is complex but linked to changes in striatal dopamine signaling induced by exposure to pulsatile dopamine.…”