Major interaction on record — check this product against your medications before combining. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Hard Rhino

Powder Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Major
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract is a dietary supplement by Hard Rhino 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. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract by Hard Rhino

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

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, a plant extract standardized for its levodopa content (also called L-dopa). Levodopa is a compound your body converts into dopamine, a brain chemical involved in movement, mood, and motivation.

The product has no other active ingredients and 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 for Mucuna Pruriens isn't established in the data we hold. The product has been studied for anxiety, skin inflammation, high prolactin levels, muscle pain, Parkinson disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, but all of these carry insufficient reliable evidence to rate.

If you're considering it for a specific condition, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what the research actually supports.

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.

Mucuna Pruriens is rare in causing side effects when taken by mouth, though a full safety review hasn't been done. The most commonly reported effects are diarrhea, flatulence, and stomach irritation.

Some people have reported headaches, dry mouth, nausea, bloating, or vomiting — and in about 3% of people taking higher doses in studies, insomnia occurred. Because this product contains an active drug-like compound (levodopa), it should be used carefully under professional guidance.

The safety data advises against it during pregnancy due to its dopamine effects and lack of safety information. While breastfeeding, levodopa can lower prolactin levels and reduce milk supply, so it's best avoided then too.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or 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 take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), methyldopa, levodopa, antidiabetes medications, antipsychotic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, guanethidine, or if you're scheduled for surgery under anesthesia.

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.

Mucuna Pruriens is a concentrated levodopa product — powerful enough to interact seriously with blood pressure drugs, certain antidepressants, and MAOIs. It's not something to add on your own if you take any regular medication.

If you're considering it, bring your medication list to your doctor or pharmacist and use the checker below to confirm your prescriptions before you start.

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 Apr 25, 2017.

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 Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract, straight from the product label.

Brand Hard Rhino
Barcode (UPC) 798711500017
Net contents 125 Gram(s); 4.4 Oz(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Apr 25, 2017
DSLD ID 72739
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Powder
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, 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 Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract by Hard Rhino, 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:
1 Gram(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Gram(s)
Servings per container
125
UPC/BARCODE
798711500017
IngredientAmount% DV
Mucuna Pruriens1 Gram(s)--

Other ingredients: None

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 added fillers

Allergens: This product contains no soy, dairy, dairy byproducts, eggs, shellfish, wheat, gluten, tree nuts, or sesame seeds.

This is a non-GMO ingredient.

General Statements

Only pure ingredients

Pure powder

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take 1 level scoop (~1 gram) mixed with 8-12 ounces of water or suitable beverage. Taken 1-3 times daily, preferably with meals or as directed by your qualified health professional.

1 Carefully measure out suggested serving size using a microscale. 2 Add to preferred beverage. 3 Mix well. 4 Drink within 10-15 minutes. How to use

FDA Disclaimer Statement

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

Precautions

Warning: Keep out of the reach of children. Do not take this or any other supplement if under the age of 18, pregnant or nursing a baby, or if you have any known or suspected medical conditions and/or taking prescription drug(s) or OTC medication(s).

Do not take this or any other supplement if under the age of 18, pregnant or nursing a baby, or if you have any known or suspected medical conditions and/or taking prescription drug(s) or OTC medication(s).

Always consult with a qualified health physician before taking any new dietary supplement.

Do not use or consume if pressure seal is broken.

Do not use or consume if seal is broken.

Seals/Symbols

Lab tested for purity and quality

Packaged in USA

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Storage

Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Re-seal zipper immediately after use to preserve freshness.

See for yourself

Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract by Hard Rhino label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract by Hard Rhino

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

Serving size1 Gram(s) Dosage formPowder Servings per container125 Amounts shown are per serving.

Mucuna Pruriens

Interacts with
193 drugs
1 Gram(s) 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 monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: None. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract by Hard Rhino Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa 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

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa 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 Pruriens8 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
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract, from the product label.

Hard Rhino

See all Hard Rhino products
Name
Guardian Wholesale
Street Address
1607 West Whispering Wind Drive
City
Phoenix
State
AZ
ZipCode
85085
Phone Number
(866) 961-8378
Web Address
HardRhino.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract by Hard Rhino: Common Questions

Does Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract by Hard Rhino interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa 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?
Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa 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's levodopa, and why is it in here?
Levodopa (L-dopa) is a compound your body converts into dopamine, a brain chemical that regulates movement and mood. This product is standardized to contain meaningful amounts of it — the extract can range from 75 to 400 mg per dose depending on the batch — which is why it acts more like a medication than a typical supplement.
What side effects might I get?
Most people tolerate it without trouble, but some report diarrhea, gas, stomach irritation, headaches, dry mouth, or nausea. In studies using higher doses (22.5–67.5 grams daily), a small number of participants had nausea, bloating, or vomiting; about 3% reported insomnia. Start low and watch how you feel.
Is this safe while I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
The safety data advises against it during pregnancy — there isn't enough information and its dopamine effects are a concern. While breastfeeding, levodopa can lower prolactin and reduce milk supply, so it's best avoided then too. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your situation.
Does this actually work for Parkinson's disease?
The evidence we hold is insufficient to rate it for Parkinson's disease or any other condition it's marketed for. If you're considering it for a specific health issue, discuss it with your doctor — they can tell you what research exists and whether it might fit into your care.
Why can't I take this with my blood pressure medication?
Mucuna Pruriens contains levodopa, which affects dopamine levels and can lower blood pressure on its own. Combining it with methyldopa (or guanethidine) can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are even riskier — they can trigger a hypertensive crisis, where blood pressure spikes dangerously high.

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

Not sure if Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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 Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa Extract’s Ingredients

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

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Mucuna Pruriens 4:1 L-Dopa 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

Keep exploring