Mucuna extract 20% | Mucuna pruriens

Properties: Healing properties of velvet bean have been known to humanity for millennia. The most important natural medical systems, such as Ayurveda, have used this plant to treat various diseases. It also gained recognition in Africa where herbalists eagerly make use of its health-promoting properties. The secret of Mucuna pruriens species is hidden in the seeds. They are actually the main source of L-DOPA – one of the most important precursors of dopamine. Thus, they are the raw herbal material. Although it is not the only bioactive substance found in the extract of Mucuna, it is responsible for most of the properties that this plant has to offer.

L-DOPA is a direct precursor of dopamine and as such it supports dopaminergic activity in the brain. What does it mean exactly? Dopamine is one of the main excitatory neurotransmitters and plays a big role in the functioning of the so-called reward system. When the level of dopamine is increased, it provides our organism with more energy to act and helps us to feel more satisfaction when we complete our goals. Thus, we become more productive and our mood also improves. There is more to that! Bioactive substances found in the velvet bean limit the activity of hormones related to stress. Therefore, difficult situations become less of a challenge and we start to treat them with more ease. 

Physically active people will also benefit from the supplementation of Mucuna pruriens extract. This is because L-DOPA – its main component – increases the levels of testosterone and growth hormone. Thus, our performance during workout becomes more effective and the muscle tissue accumulates faster. On top of that, L-DOPA helps to metabolize the fat tissue faster. Therefore, we store less fat “for later”. All these effects combined make the extract of Mucuna pruriens a perfect choice when we are trying to lose some extra pounds. 

Ok, now let’s talk about sex, shall we? Bioactive substances found in velvet bean are capable of improving the quality of intimate moments. This is not just a word-of-mouth story. The results of clinical trials clearly show that the supplementation of Mucuna pruriens increases libido. This is because it upregulates the production of testosterone in the organism, which in turn improves the sexual drive and fertility. 

Supplementation with Mucuna pruriens is recommended especially to those who aim at increasing the motivation and boosting the mood. Moreover, L-DOPA contained in the seeds of this plant will help to improve the physical and sexual performance.

Occurrence: Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) is a climbing, vine-like shrub of the Fabaceae family. It carries distinctive fruits shaped like pods that are about 15 cm long and covered with long, stinging hairs. Originally, it is native to Africa and tropical regions of Eastern Asia. Nowadays however, it grows in the entire tropical zone – both wild and cultivated. 

In traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda), velvet bean has been used for millennia as a remedy to a variety of diseases, notably these related with the nervous system dysfunctions or sexual ailments. In Niger, the seeds of this plant are a common anti-inflammatory treatment applied after snake poisoning.

Biochemistry: The seeds of velvet bean are a natural source of L-DOPA which is its most important bioactive compound. Other active substances include: saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, tannins, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), inositol, bufotenin and minerals (selenium, iron, magnesium).

Fun fact: Velvet bean is famous for its… itchiness. Young leaves and pods irritate the human skin extremely. The reason for this is the protein mucunain contained in the hairs inside of the pods. This irritant is not present in the mature plant, though. This is why the local people of northern Mozambique call the beans “crazy beans” (feijões malucos), and in Nigeria the seed pods are referred to as “devil beans”.