Objective: To characterize M. pruriens use among local (primarily Argentinian) PwPD.

Background: M. pruriens is a leguminous plant used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat Parkinsonism (1–3) due to its high levodopa content. It grows wild in tropical regions (4) and is traditionally cultivated in Northeastern Argentina (5–7). It is thought as an affordable substance (8–10) to improve symptoms in PwPD (2,8,9,11,12); however, evidence is limited (13).

Method: Observational, cross-sectional study (Feb-May 2025) with 71 PwPD (mean age 62 [±10] years, 33 women [46%]; 97% from Argentina; mild to severe symptomatology).

Ad hoc questionnaire delivered through instant messaging application groups of PwPD.

Descriptive and frequency analysis.

Results: Regarding M. pruriens consumption, 41% of participants (29 PwPD) were current users, 37% (26) had never consumed it, and 23% (16) had used it only in the past.

Pertaining to consumption, PwPD’ physicians were neutral (27%), agreed (23%), or disagreed (11%); 25% had not been consulted, and few PwPD reported that their physicians were unfamiliar with M. pruriens.

Participants reported that M. pruriens was helpful (44%), somewhat helpful (15%), and not helpful (6%); the rest did not consume it. It was useful mainly for alleviating tremor and other motor symptoms, and for enhancing the effects of conventional L-dopa formulations. Additionally, it was reported to help with pain, mood, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

M. pruriens was used either simultaneously with or prior to doses of conventional medication. Most participants consumed the powder dissolved in liquid. The reported current dose showed wide dispersion (median=16 g/day [Q1=5.75, Q3=28]).

Reasons for discontinuing M. pruriens included gastrointestinal intolerance, medication burden, preparation difficulty, and no perceived effect.

Participants (72%) reported that they would recommend M. pruriens to PwPD because of its perceived effectiveness, natural origin, complementary antiparkinsonian effects, accessibility, and hope.

Conclusion: M. pruriens is used as a complementary therapy to medication, with reported effects on both motor and non-motor symptoms; however, some side effects have been reported. It has moderate acceptance among PwPD and physicians. Although several antecedents exist, more local studies are needed.

References: 1. Botello-Villagrana F, Martinez-Ramirez D. Mucuna pruriens como terapia adjunta a levodopa en enfermedad de Parkinson avanzada. Rev Mex Neuroci. 2021 Oct 1;22(5):180–3. Available from: https://doi.org/10.24875/RMN.21000010
2. Katzenschlager R, Evans A, Manson A, Patsalos PN, Ratnaraj N, Watt H, et al. Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson’s disease: a double blind clinical and pharmacological study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004 Dec 1;75(12):1672. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2003.028761
3. Nacul N, Debenedetti S, Bosco S, Merino D, Martínez C, López M. Un medicamento para la enfermedad de Parkinson a base de Mucuna pruriens como alternativa terapéutica [Internet]. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Belgrano: Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Belgrano; 2018 [Interview]. Available from: http://repositorio.ub.edu.ar/handle/123456789/8649
4. Caronni S, Del Sorbo F, Barichella M, Fothergill-Misbah N, Denne T, Laguna J, et al. Mucuna pruriens to treat Parkinson’s disease in low-income countries: recommendations and practical guidelines from the farmer to clinical trials. Paving the way for future use in clinical practice. Parkinsonism Relat Disord [Internet]. 2024 May 7 [cited 2024 May 13]; Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2024.106983
5. Avalos BI, Ojeda GA, Spinnenhirn ED, Acevedo BA, Vallejos MM. Evaluation of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in Mucuna pruriens and Cajanus cajan pods extracts. Food Chemistry Advances. 2023 Dec 1; 3:100503. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2023.100503
6. Avalos BI, Ojeda GD, Vallejos M, Acevedo BA. Compuestos polifenólicos en vainas de legumbres del Nordeste Argertino. In: XXIII SINAQO Simposio Nacional de Química Orgánica. Cordoba: Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Química Orgánica; 2021. p. 180. Available from: http://repositorio.unne.edu.ar/handle/123456789/58236
7. Avalos BI. Extracción asistida por ultrasonido de compuestos polifenólicos en vainas de Mucuna pruriens y su actividad antioxidante, optimizada por metodología de superficie de respuesta. In: XXVII Comunicaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas. Corrientes: Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Secretaría General de Ciencia y Técnica; 2022. Available from: http://repositorio.unne.edu.ar/handle/123456789/55483
8. Cilia R, Cham M, Obese V, Akpalu A, Cereda E, Ame-Bruce E, et al. Mucuna pruriens in untreated Parkinson’s disease in sub-Saharan Africa: A 12-month, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. J Parkinsons Dis. 2025 Nov 21;1877718X251383721.
9. Fothergill-Misbah N, Maroo H, Cham M, Pezzoli G, Walker R, Cilia R. Could Mucuna pruriens be the answer to Parkinson’s disease management in sub-Saharan Africa and other low-income countries worldwide? Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2020 Apr 1; 73:3–7. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2020.03.002
10. Modugno N, Fothergill-Misbah N. Seeds of hope: Mucuna Pruriens offers promise for persons with Parkinson’s disease in Africa. J Parkinsons Dis. 2025 Nov 11;1877718X251394771. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1877718X251394771
11. Cilia R, Laguna J, Cassani E, Cereda E, Raspini B, Barichella M, et al. Daily intake of Mucuna pruriens in advanced Parkinson’s disease: A 16-week, noninferiority, randomized, crossover, pilot study. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 2018 Apr 1; 49:60–6. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2018.01.014
12. Rai SN, Chaturvedi VK, Singh P, Singh BK, Singh MP. Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson’s and in some other diseases: recent advancement and future prospective. 3 Biotech. 2020 Nov 10;10(12):522. Aavilabre from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-020-02532-7
13. Hammoud F, Ismail A, Zaher R, El Majzoub R, Abou-Abbas L. Mucuna pruriens Treatment for Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials. Parkinsons Dis. 2025 Jan 1;2025(1):1319419. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1155/padi/1319419

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