Mucuna Pruriens is actually a legume often called Velvet Bean. It is indigenous to Africa and Asia, though numerous attempts have been made to naturalize it with most cases being successful. Velvet Bean is considered to be an invasive plant in Florida. It has been widely used as fodder for animals as well as for medicinal purposes in the ancient culture of both Asia and Africa. Mucuna Pruriens contains a very important chemical called L-Dopa which is precursor to a neurotransmitter known as dopamine.
Effects of L-Dopa on Testosterone Levels
Located adjacent to the testicles and seminiferous tubules are what are known as interstitial cells of Leydig. They are responsible for producing testosterone when stimulated by the presence of lutropin or luteinizing hormones. The Environmental Health Science Laboratory of Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. in Osaka, Japan evaluated the effects of large, long term doses of L-Dopa on the production of luteinizing hormones.
Four hours following the administration of L-Dopa the serum luteinizing hormone levels were elevated in male rats. These findings indicate that treatment of L-Dopa induces the pituitary to release luteinizing hormone. This increased release in turn stimulates the interstitial cells of Leydig to increase the production of testosterone.
A New Generation of Sperm
The process within the male body in which primordial germ cells undergo meiosis and mitosis in order to produce spermatozoa in known as spermatogenesis. Spermatogenic failure is often a diagnosis of subfertility and means that after one year of unprotected sex a man is unable to conceive. A study was conducted to observe the effects of Mucuna Pruriens on rats presenting with spermatogenic failure due to its major constitute L-Dopa.
Mucuna Pruriens effectively and efficiently recovered the spermatogenic loss. This recovery was mediated by the restoration of mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced the level of reactive oxygen species, and regulated apoptosis. The number of germ cells also saw an increase. This result demonstrates that the main property of Mucuna Pruriens, L-Dopa, contains pro-spermatogenic properties.
The Department of Biochemistry, C.S.M. of Medical University in Lucknow, India also conducted a study of the effects of Mucuna Pruriens on male infertility. A group of 75 fertile men were measured against 75 infertile men to validate infertility. The levels of serum T and luteinizing hormone were decreased resulting in lower sperm count as well as motility rate in the infertile subjects. The blood levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine were are also reduced in these men.
Following treatment with Mucuna Pruriens the levels of serum T, luteinizing hormone, noradrenaline, adrenaline, and dopamine were significantly increased. The infertile men also demonstrated a considerable increased sperm count and motility. This treatment not only dramatically improved the semen quality in the infertile men, but also resulted in a regulation of steroidogenesis.
There have been numerous studies on the effects of this amazing little bean. The above mentioned studies provide scientific validation for the claims that Velvet Bean has the ability to treat many types of infertility in men. Mucuna Pruriens has been proven to increase levels of luteinizing hormone in men which in turn raises testosterone levels validating claims that it can increase the libido. This plant was also demonstrated that its main constitute L-Dopa directly intensifies levels of dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline all three of which dramatically increases energy levels.
Cited Sources:
Yamada, T. “Effect of Chronic L-dopa Administration on Serum Luteinizing Hormone Levels in Male Rats.” Pub Med. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, 1 Mar. 1995. Web.
Sarkar, Saumya. “Mucuna Pruriens and Its Major Constituent L-DOPA Recover Spermatogenic Loss by Combating ROS, Loss of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Apoptosis.” Pub Med. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, 22 Jan. 2013. Web. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles
Shukla, KK. “Mucuna Pruriens Improves Male Fertility by Its Action on the Hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal Axis.” Pub Med. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, 1 Dec. 2009. Web
