Mucuna pruriens as adjunct therapy to levodopa in advanced Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder whose treatment in advanced stages is often complex and challenging. The treatment goal at this stage is to provide greater clinical stability, with less “off” time and longer “on” time. Mucuna pruriens (MP) is a legume plant traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for Parkinsonian-type diseases. This plant contains a diversity of elements, among which levodopa stands out. Objective: We explored the effect of MP as adjunct therapy to levodopa in a PD patient. Methods: We report the case of a 42-year-old woman with PD in advanced stages due to motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. Due to the progression of her disease, the limitations that it generates and the economic inability to opt for other therapies such as surgical treatments, we used MP as an adjunct therapy to levodopa. Results: MP produces a clinical motor effect similar to conventional levodopa. MP shortened the time to reach the “on” state and prolonged this state without exacerbating dyskinesias. Psychiatric side effects were observed only with high dosages of MP. Conclusions: MP shows to be a promising adjunct therapy to levodopa in advanced PD patients without access to other conventional therapies.