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Dietary supplement

Macuna pruriens Extract Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs

Macuna pruriens Extract label
See full label image
Powder Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Major
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Macuna pruriens Extract against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Macuna pruriens Extract is a dietary supplement by Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for parkinson's disease symptoms, male fertility and libido, mood and stress support.Based on those ingredients, 193 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are Mucuna pruriens seed extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Macuna pruriens Extract by Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Macuna pruriens Extract by Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Macuna pruriens Extract by Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Aug 20, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: Mucuna pruriens seed extract, also called cowhage. It's a plant-derived source of levodopa, a naturally occurring compound that your body converts to dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in movement, mood, and motivation.

The extract is presented as a powder with no inactive fillers listed.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Cowhage product and its label doesn't state a use — see Cowhage's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence we hold on this extract is insufficient to rate it reliably for any of its proposed uses — anxiety, erythema (skin redness), hyperprolactinemia (excess prolactin hormone), muscle pain, Parkinson disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. That doesn't mean it won't help, but the data to confirm benefit simply isn't established in our monograph.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Cowhage

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Oral use of cowhage appears generally well tolerated overall, though a thorough safety review hasn't been completed. The most commonly reported side effects are gastrointestinal: diarrhea, flatulence, and mucosal irritation.

Clinical trials with higher doses (22.5–67.5 grams daily in divided doses) reported nausea, abdominal bloating, vomiting, headaches, and insomnia in a small number of participants. Because this extract contains levodopa — an active drug-like compound — it should be used carefully under professional guidance.

The safety data advises against use during pregnancy due to insufficient safety information and its dopamine effects. L-dopa can lower prolactin levels and reduce milk supply, so the data advises against use while breastfeeding.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Cowhage

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Cowhage.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications; Parkinson's medications.
  • For scale: 193 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, double-check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're on a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), methyldopa, guanethidine, levodopa itself, any antipsychotic, tricyclic antidepressant, antidiabetes drug, or if you'll be undergoing anesthesia. These carry Major or Moderate interaction risks.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This extract is a concentrated source of levodopa and carries serious risks with common medications — especially blood pressure drugs, MAOIs, and antipsychotics. If you take any prescription medication, check your specific drugs with the tool on this page before considering it.

Talk it over with your doctor or pharmacist to see if it fits your health picture.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Mar 22, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Macuna pruriens Extract, straight from the product label.

Brand Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs
Net contents 1.5 Pound(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 22, 2024
DSLD ID 307169
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Powder
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Dairy Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Macuna pruriens Extract by Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
650 mg
Maximum serving Sizes:
650 mg
IngredientAmount% DV
Mucuna pruriens seed extract650 mg--

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formulation

No stearates! No fillers, soy, corn, rice, wheat, yeast, dairy, artificial colors or flavors, or titanium dioxide. Non-GMO.

Widely used in Ayurvedic Herbalism.

Vegetarian standardized extract

General Statements

For more information call 954-479-4320 or go to BarlowesHerbalElixirs.com.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Formula

40% L-Dopa

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: As a dietary supplement, take as needed with or without food.

Precautions

Warning: Consult your physician prior to using this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have medical condition.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Macuna pruriens Extract by Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Macuna pruriens Extract label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Macuna pruriens Extract by Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size650 mg Dosage formPowder Amounts shown are per serving.

Mucuna pruriens seed extract

Interacts with
193 drugs
650 mg per serving Form: L-Dopa

Cowhage (Mucuna pruriens) is a tropical legume best known as a natural source of L-dopa, the compound the body turns into dopamine. It is most studied...

Mucuna pruriens seed extract monograph & interactions
Interaction report

Macuna pruriens Extract by Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Macuna pruriens Extract?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
193Drugs
17 Major 176 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Mucuna pruriens seed extract 193

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Macuna pruriens Extract interact with 193 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Macuna pruriens Extract interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Mucuna pruriens seed extract

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Macuna pruriens Extract with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Mucuna pruriens seed extract8 drug types · 193 drugs

Levodopa

Concomitant use can increase the risk of levodopa-related adverse effects.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Some cowhage products have been standardized to contain 75-400 mg of levodopa per dose.

Likelihood Likely Evidence D
Methyldopa (Aldomet)

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and methyldopa might increase the risk of hypotension.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with methyldopa might cause additive hypotension. In addition, methyldopa may inhibit peripheral decarboxylation of levodopa and increase levodopa levels in the central nervous system; avoid using.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (Maois)

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and non-selective MAOIs might increase the risk of hypertensive crisis.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with non-selective MAOIs might cause hypertensive crisis. However, this interaction has not been reported with MAO-B selective inhibitors such as selegiline.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Anesthesia

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and anesthesia might increase the risk of arrhythmias.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with cyclopropane or halogenated hydrocarbon anesthesia has led to arrhythmias. Other anesthetics have not been implicated. Use other anesthetics in patients taking cowhage or tell patients to stop taking cowhage at least 2 weeks before surgery.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Animal research shows that cowhage might have hypoglycemic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antipsychotic Drugs

Theoretically, use of cowhage might decrease the clinical effects of antipsychotic drugs.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa might counteract the antidopaminergic effects of antipsychotic medications.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Guanethidine (Ismelin)

Theoretically, concomitant use of cowhage and guanethidine might increase the risk of hypotension.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of levodopa with guanethidine might cause additive hypotension; avoid using.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Tricyclic Antidepressants (Tcas)

Theoretically, use of TCAs might reduce the levels and clinical effects of cowhage.
Cowhage contains levodopa. Use of TCAs might reduce the absorption of levodopa. Some case reports describe patients that developed hypertension and dyskinesia when taking both levodopa and TCAs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Mucuna pruriens seed extract full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Macuna pruriens Extract, from the product label.

Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs

See all Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs products
Name
Aphrodite's Apothecary LLC
Street Address
1125 Old Dixie Hwy, Suite 3 B
City
Lake Park
State
FL
ZipCode
33403
Phone Number
954-479-4320
Web Address
BarlowesHerbalElixirs.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Macuna pruriens Extract by Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs: Common Questions

Does Macuna pruriens Extract by Barlowe's Herbal Elixirs interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Macuna pruriens Extract has a known interaction with 193 medications, including 17 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Macuna pruriens Extract contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What exactly is in this powder?
It's an extract of Mucuna pruriens seed, commonly called cowhage. The active compound is levodopa, which your body turns into dopamine. It's just the extract — no other added ingredients.
Can I take this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No — the safety data advises against it during pregnancy because there isn't enough safety information and dopamine effects are a concern. During breastfeeding, levodopa can lower your milk supply, so it's best avoided then too.
What side effects should I expect?
Most people tolerate it orally without much trouble, but digestive issues are the most common: diarrhea, gas, and mouth irritation. At higher doses, some people reported nausea, belly bloating, vomiting, headaches, and trouble sleeping.
Does this actually work for Parkinson disease, anxiety, or the other conditions listed?
We don't have reliable evidence to say whether it works for any of those conditions. The data we hold isn't strong enough to rate it one way or the other.
Why does the label say to use it carefully?
Because it contains levodopa — that's an active pharmaceutical compound, not just a mild herb. It affects your dopamine and blood pressure, so it needs respect and professional guidance like a medication would.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Macuna pruriens Extract is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Macuna pruriens Extract label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Macuna pruriens Extract’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Cowhage

Interacts with 193 drugs

Cowhage (Mucuna pruriens) is a tropical legume best known as a natural source of L-dopa, the compound the body turns into dopamine. It is most studied for Parkinson's disease symptoms and ma...

Read the full Cowhage monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Macuna pruriens Extract's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 12 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Cowhage 12 references
  1. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
  2. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  3. Anon. Epidemiological notes and reports: Mucuna pruriens-associated pruritus--New Jersey. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1985;34:732-3.
  4. HP-200 in Parkinson's Disease study group. An alternative medicine treatment for Parkinson's disease: Results of a multicenter clinical trial. J Alt Comp Med 1995;1:249-55. DOI
  5. Infante ME, Perez AM, Simao MR, et al. Outbreak of acute toxic psychosis attributed to Mucuna pruriens. Lancet 1990;336:1129. PubMed
  6. Vaidya AB, Rajagopalan TG, Mankodi NA, et al. Treatment of Parkinson's disease with the cowhage plant-Mucuna pruriens Bak. Neurol India 1978;26:171-6.
  7. Vadivel V, Janardhanan K. Nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of velvet bean: an under-utilized food legume in south India. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2000;51:279-87. PubMed
  8. Akhtar MS, Qureshi AQ, Iqbal J. Antidiabetic evaluation of Mucuna pruriens, Linn seeds. J Pak Med Assoc 1990;40:147-50.
  9. Prakash, D., Niranjan, A., and Tewari, S. K. Some nutritional properties of the seeds of three Mucuna species. Int.J.Food Sci.Nutr. 2001;52(1):79-82.
  10. Vadivel, V. and Janardhanan, K. Nutritional and antinutritional characteristics of seven South Indian wild legumes. Plant Foods Hum.Nutr 2005;60(2):69-75. PubMed
  11. Creapure (Creatine Monohydrate). Toxicological Datasheet. Degussa BioActives. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/DOCKETS/.../95s-0316-rpt0154-54-Ref-50-vol112.pdf.
  12. Pulikkalpura H, Kurup R, Mathew PJ, Baby S. Levodopa in Mucuna pruriens and its degradation. Sci Rep 2015;5:11078. PubMed

See these in context on the Cowhage monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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