Mucuna Pruriens
Mucuna pruriens, or velvet bean, is a tropical climbing legume whose seeds naturally contain L-dopa.
Also listed as Velvet Bean, Cowitch, Werepe, Karara
What do the fertility findings mean?
A prospective study compared 75 men undergoing infertility assessment with 75 fertile controls and measured changes before and after treatment. Sperm count, movement and some hormone measures improved. This was not a randomized placebo trial, and semen changes do not establish more pregnancies or live births. 1
Promising treatment research, with tolerability limits
A 2026 open-label randomized trial in 32 previously untreated Parkinson’s patients found similar symptom and quality-of-life outcomes with carefully adjusted roasted-seed powder and standard levodopa treatment over 12 months. Its small size and lack of blinding limit certainty. In an earlier 16-week study of advanced disease, 7 of 14 participants stopped Mucuna because of digestive side effects or worsening movement. 2 3
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Fertility2 effects
Stress & Mood3 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Sexual Health1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Cognition3 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Men's Hormones1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
All studies
4 publications are linked to Mucuna Pruriens, newest first.