The drug levodopa is the foundation for the conventional treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Surprisingly, this bean is a natural source of levodopa.
A diet rich in legumes is associated with a lower risk of Parkinson’s (Neurology.1996; 46:1270-74). Fava beans actually contain L-dopa; in fact, L-dopa was originally discovered in fava beans. Eating 250mg of cooked fava beans improves motor performance in people with Parkinson’s (Adv Neurol. 1993;60:681-84).
Another bean, Mucuna pruriens, of velvet bean, is also a natural source of levodopa. Now, a new single-blind study has compared velvet bean to the drug levodopa (L-dopa).
The drug levodopa can cause motor complications. This small study gave 12 people who have Parkinson’s with motor complications either the drug levodopa or 30g of Mucuna pruriens powder.
The ones taking the velvet bean went significantly longer without involuntary muscle movements: 232.2 minutes versus 161.8.
This study concludes that velvet bean may be “a promising alternative to synthetic levodopa for managing motor symptoms” in people with Parkinson’s disease.
J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2025 Mar 26. doi:10.1007/s00702-025-02914-2