Bioavailability of L-DOPA from HP-200 - A formulation of seed powder of Mucuna pruriens (Bak): A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study

HP-200, a formulation made from the seed powder of Mucuna pruniens, 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 (C-max = 1.56 +/- 0.163 mu g/mL) achieved at T-max = 83 +/- 16.09 min. The plasma half life was 102 +/- 2 min and the auc was determined as 6.508 +/- 0.421 mu g/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.