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Dietary supplement

Mucuna pruriens Extract Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by BulkSupplements.com

Mucuna 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 Mucuna 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

Mucuna pruriens Extract is a dietary supplement by BulkSupplements.com 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 pruriens Extract by BulkSupplements.com

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

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Mucuna pruriens Extract by BulkSupplements.com

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 product contains one active ingredient: Mucuna Pruriens Seed Extract, also called cowhage. It's a plant-based source of levodopa, a compound your body converts to dopamine, a brain chemical involved in movement, motivation, and mood.

The extract contains no inactive ingredients — it's the powder alone.

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 this extract isn't established yet. We hold data on its use for anxiety, skin inflammation, high prolactin levels, muscle pain, Parkinson's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, but all of these are rated insufficient reliable evidence to rate — meaning the science so far hasn't been solid enough to say whether it works.

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 extract needs to be used carefully and with professional guidance because it contains levodopa, which is a potent compound. Side effects from taking it by mouth are rare but do happen: the most common are diarrhea, flatulence, and mouth irritation.

Clinical trials of larger doses (22.5 to 67.5 grams daily) also reported nausea, belly bloating, vomiting, headaches, and insomnia in a small number of participants. During pregnancy, the safety data advises against it — there isn't enough data and its effects on dopamine make it best avoided.

While breastfeeding, levodopa can lower prolactin and reduce milk supply, so avoid it then too.

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, double-check with your pharmacist if you take an MAOI (risk of dangerous high blood pressure), methyldopa or guanethidine for blood pressure (risk of dangerous low blood pressure), levodopa itself, an antidiabetes drug, an antipsychotic, a tricyclic antidepressant, or if you're scheduled for surgery and might need certain anesthetics.

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.

If you take any blood pressure medication, an antidepressant (especially an MAOI), diabetes medication, an antipsychotic, or if you have Parkinson's disease, talk to your pharmacist before using this extract. It's a potent supplement with real drug interactions, so professional guidance is important.

Because the evidence for what it's supposed to do isn't solid yet, weigh that against the interaction risks.

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 Jul 25, 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 pruriens Extract, straight from the product label.

Brand BulkSupplements.com
Barcode (UPC) X001BFSXIP
Net contents 100 Gram(s); 3.5 Ounce(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jul 25, 2024
DSLD ID 311067
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 Extract by BulkSupplements.com, 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:
500 mg
Maximum serving Sizes:
500 mg
Servings per container
200
UPC/BARCODE
X001BFSXIP
IngredientAmount% DV
Mucuna Pruriens Seed Extract500 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.
Brand IP Statement(s)

BulkSupplements.com Clean & Pure Bulk Supplements

Formulation

Color may vary

Free of: Added sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, additives

FDA Disclaimer Statement

Warning: This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Precautions

Always consult a physician before taking any dietary supplement.

Keep out of reach of children.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take 500 mg (about 1/5 tsp) up to two times daily, or as directed by a physician.

Storage

Store in a dry, cool place Contents are sold by weight, not volume. Settling may occur.

General Statements

Use an accurate milligram scale. New

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

See for yourself

Mucuna pruriens Extract by BulkSupplements.com label

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

Mucuna 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 Mucuna pruriens Extract by BulkSupplements.com

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

Serving size500 mg Dosage formPowder Servings per container200 Amounts shown are per serving.

Mucuna Pruriens Seed Extract

Interacts with
193 drugs
500 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
Interaction report

Mucuna pruriens Extract by BulkSupplements.com Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Mucuna 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 Mucuna pruriens Extract interact with 193 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

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

BulkSupplements.com

See all BulkSupplements.com products
Name
BulkSupplements.com
Street Address
7511 Eastgate Rd
City
Henderson
State
NV
ZipCode
89011
Web Address
BulkSupplements.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Mucuna pruriens Extract by BulkSupplements.com: Common Questions

Does Mucuna pruriens Extract by BulkSupplements.com interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Mucuna 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?
Mucuna 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 levodopa and why does this extract have it?
Levodopa is an amino acid your body converts to dopamine, a neurotransmitter that controls movement and mood. Mucuna Pruriens seeds naturally contain it — that's why the extract is active enough to interact with medications.
Can I take this if I have Parkinson's disease and already take levodopa?
No — combining them increases the risk of side effects from levodopa itself. Talk to your doctor before adding this extract to a Parkinson's regimen.
What side effects might I actually experience?
The most common are diarrhea, gas, and mouth irritation. In clinical trials using larger doses, some people also reported nausea, belly bloating, vomiting, headaches, and trouble sleeping — though these weren't frequent.
Is this safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No to both. During pregnancy, there isn't enough safety data and the dopamine effects make it best avoided. While breastfeeding, levodopa can lower prolactin and reduce your milk supply, so you should avoid it then.
Does this actually work for what it's marketed for?
The evidence isn't established yet. We have data on its use for anxiety, Parkinson's disease, muscle pain, and other conditions, but none of them have enough solid science behind them to say it works.

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

Not sure if Mucuna 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.

Mucuna pruriens Extract label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Mucuna 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

Mucuna 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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