Bioavailability of L‐DOPA from HP‐200—a Formulation of Seed Powder of Mucuna pruriens (Bak): a Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Study

SS Mahajani, VJ Doshi, KM Parikh, BV Manyam

Abstract

HP‐200, a formulation made from the seed powder of Mucuna pruriens, contains among other constituents, about 4% L‐DOPA. After five normal human volunteers were each given a single oral dose of 30 g of HP‐200, plasma samples were obtained at 0, 20, 40, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 and 360 min for assay of L‐DOPA by HPLC technique using electrochemical detection. The supine systolic and diastolic blood pressures were recorded at each sampling time. The results indicate that on oral administration, L‐DOPA was absorbed from HP‐200 with plasma peak levels (Cmax=1.56±0.163 μg/mL) achieved at Tmax=83±16.09 min. The plasma half life was 102±2 min and the auc was determined as 6.508±0.421 μg/h/mL. The pharmacokinetic profile of HP‐200 exhibited characteristics similar to formulations of synthetic L‐DOPA, except for the lack of a sharp peak. HP‐200, a new herbal formulation, appears to be suitable for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.