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Dietary supplement

Mucuna Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by UMZU

Mucuna label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Major
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 23, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Mucuna 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

Mucuna is a dietary supplement by UMZU 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 Mucuna by UMZU

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Mucuna by UMZU — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Mucuna by UMZU

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 Jul 11, 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 single-ingredient product contains Mucuna pruriens seed extract, which naturally delivers levodopa—the same compound found in Parkinson's medications. The extract is paired with inactive ingredients including rice powder, gelatin capsule, purified water, and L-leucine (an amino acid).

Does it work?

Not established
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 established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Cowhage's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: reduce stress and increase mood naturally.
  • We looked for evidence on: Anxiety, Sexual desire, mood, dopamine, stress.
  • The closest evidence on file: Cowhage is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Anxiety (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Cowhage is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Sexual desire.

The evidence we hold rates Mucuna as having insufficient reliable evidence for the conditions it's marketed for: anxiety, skin redness (erythema), high prolactin levels, muscle pain (myalgia), Parkinson disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. That means the research to date hasn't established whether it works for any of these uses.

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.

This product should be used carefully and with professional guidance because it contains L-dopa, an active drug-like compound. The safety data advises against use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding—L-dopa can lower prolactin and reduce milk supply.

Oral side effects reported are usually mild and rare: diarrhea, flatulence, mucosal irritation, dry mouth, and headaches. In research studies using larger amounts, some people experienced nausea, abdominal bloating, vomiting, and insomnia (in about 3% of participants).

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 Mucuna, double-check with your pharmacist if you're on an MAOI antidepressant, methyldopa, levodopa, antidiabetes medications, antipsychotics, tricyclic antidepressants, guanethidine, or if you'll be undergoing anesthesia soon. These are the medication types most likely to interact.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

If you're on an MAOI, methyldopa, levodopa, or diabetes medication, you'll need to check with your pharmacist before trying this—the interactions are serious. Same goes if you take antipsychotics, older antidepressants, or certain blood pressure drugs.

For anyone else without those medications, talk to your pharmacist or doctor first: this product hasn't been proven effective for any condition in our data.

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 May 23, 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 Mucuna, straight from the product label.

Brand UMZU
Barcode (UPC) 850015514081
Net contents 60 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 23, 2024
DSLD ID 309626
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Women (not pregnant or lactating)
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 Mucuna by UMZU, 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:
2 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
30
UPC/BARCODE
850015514081
IngredientAmount% DV
Mucuna pruriens Seed Extract600 mg--

Other ingredients: Rice, Powder, Bovine Gelatin, Water, Purified, L-Leucine

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

Mucuna is all about naturally reducing stress and increasing mood by supplying the body with what it needs to produce the dopamine neurotransmitter. Benefit from increased memory, libido, and a better mood.

Manufactured in the USA from the finest domestic and foreign ingredients.

Memory Libido Mood Cognitive support

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

General Statements

Follow us on Facebook Instagram Twitter @umzu Learn more about us at umzu.com

Follow us on Facebook Instagram Twitter @umzu Learn more about us at umzu.com

30 Day supply

Brand IP Statement(s)

UMZU You deserve to thrive.

Seals/Symbols

T Thermo Approved

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Precautions

Warning: Not for use by persons under 18 years old. Keep out of the reach of children.

Consult a healthcare professional prior to use if you are taking any medications or have any medical conditions. Do not use if pregnant or nursing.

Do not use if safety seal is damaged or missing.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Take 2 capsules 1 time per day with a meal. 2 capsules 1x daily with meal

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

See for yourself

Mucuna by UMZU label

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

Mucuna 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 Mucuna by UMZU

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

Serving size2 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container30 Amounts shown are per serving.

Mucuna pruriens Seed Extract

Interacts with
193 drugs
600 mg per serving

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

Other (inactive) ingredients: Rice, Powder, Bovine Gelatin, Water, Purified, L-Leucine. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Mucuna by UMZU Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Mucuna?

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 Mucuna interact with 193 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Mucuna 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 Mucuna 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 Mucuna, from the product label.

UMZU

See all UMZU products
Name
UMZU, LLC
Street Address
6325 Spine Road
City
Boulder
State
CO
ZipCode
80301
Web Address
umzu.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Mucuna by UMZU: Common Questions

Does Mucuna by UMZU interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Mucuna 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?
Mucuna 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.
Does this really have levodopa in it?
Yes. Mucuna pruriens seed extract naturally contains levodopa, and some products deliver 75–400 mg per dose. That's why it can interact with medications and why you need your pharmacist to review your prescriptions first.
Can I take this while pregnant?
No. The safety data advises against it during pregnancy. There isn't enough safety information, and the levodopa in it can affect dopamine in ways that are concerning in pregnancy. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for guidance.
Can I take this if I'm breastfeeding?
No. Avoid it while breastfeeding. The levodopa can lower prolactin and reduce your milk supply. If you're thinking about it, ask your pharmacist or doctor for safer options.
What side effects should I expect?
Most people who take it orally experience rare or mild side effects: diarrhea, gas, stomach irritation, or headaches. In studies using larger doses, some had nausea, bloating, vomiting, or trouble sleeping (about 3% of participants).
Is there any proof this works?
Not in our data. The evidence we have rates it as insufficient for anxiety, skin redness, high prolactin, muscle pain, Parkinson's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis—meaning studies haven't established whether it actually works for any of these.

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

Not sure if Mucuna is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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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.

Mucuna label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Mucuna’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

Mucuna'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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