Comment · Fri, February 21, 2020
Thoughts on offering Mucuna Pruriens?
Original post in this thread
Berengersbottle · 2 points
In my few experiences with it at a 15% extract, it has proved to be a powerful nootropic. There is some concern that it could be dangerous/unhealthy, but nobody on r/nootropics seem to be able to offer evidence based arguments for or against it. Moreover, much of the evidence people point to are studies done on pure L-dopa, which mucuna is not.
So, has ND considered offering a mucuna extract or even just the raw powder? Or are the potential concerns too much?
Thanks in advance!
What they were answering
Direct reply to the original post — see the thread post above.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb
I have considered it. I sort of put it in the same category as 5-HTP. It could be useful for occasional use, but I would not use it every day. The dangerous thing people are referencing are the studies that show the L-DOPA in it degrades into harmful quinones.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4460905/
So around half of the L-DOPA in it eventually becomes these damaging quinones in the body. That study showed that these quinones can result in oxidative stress and cause selective cytotoxicity of neuronal cells. So I would not say the fears/concerns are unwarranted.