On 7-Jan-07, at 2:17 AM, M.Schild wrote: >> I suspect that Zandopa might contain >> other beneficial ingredients besides mucuna. > > > Zandopa is often called H-200 and comes in gelule form. Easier to > use. If i > remeber correctly, mucuna doesn´t need carbidopa but in the long > term, side > effetcs are the same as synthetic ldopa ( sinemet). > John used it some years ago and found it helped with constipation > Maryse cg JOhn 77,17 In my research on "mucuna" I haven't found it anywhere, that taking mucuna in the long term will have the same side effects as synthetic (sinemet). All I could find says otherwise. Here's a couple of examples: Example#1) http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/CRISP_LIB.getdoc? textkey=6870829&p_grant_num=1R21AT001607-01A1&p_query=&ticket=19936581&p _audit_session_id=88437379&p_keywords= Aurveda is an indegenious medical practice of India. Recent investigations indicate the Aurvedic medicinal compound Mucuna pruriens is effective in improving Parkinsonism. Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) develop severe and often disabling side effects after 3-5 years of medical therapy with currently available medications used in modern medicine. Review of Aurvedic scriptures and consultation with practitioners of Aurveda indicate that PD patients treated with Aurvedic medications containing Mucuna pruriens do not develop disabling side effects........ Example#2) http://www.vedicspa.com/kaunch.html Research Update In a a randomised, controlled, double blind crossover trial published on Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, the clinical effects of levodopa L-dopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) are compared with two different doses of mucuna preparation. Eight Parkinson's disease patients were given with single doses of 200/50 mg LD/CD, or 15 and 30 g of mucuna preparation in randomised order. Compared with standard LD/CD, the 30 g mucuna preparation led to a considerably faster onset of effect (34.6 v 68.5 min; p = 0.021), Mean on time was 21.9% (37 min) longer, peak L-dopa plasma concentrations were 110% higher and the area under the plasma concentration v time curve (area under curve) was 165.3% larger (p = 0.012). The rapid onset of action and longer on time without concomitant increase in dyskinesias on mucuna seed powder formulation suggest that this natural source of L- dopa might possess advantages over conventional L-dopa preparations in the long term management of PD. Despite the fact Mucuna was used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease in ancient times, it is still important today to establish that the drug dose not have adverse effects on various vital organs. This was accomplished by administering low to very high doses of the drug in rats and rabbits and testing the effect of Mucuna on blood chemistry and blood count (such as the one that many physicians perform in their offices and the hospitals) and various organs. Some of the tests were done for as long as one year and the results indicated no adverse effects were present from Mucuna preparations. To establish how Mucuna would compare to synthetic L-DOPA, experiments were undertaken in animal models of Parkinson’s disease. Two different doses of synthetic L-DOPA and two different doses of Mucuna were administered making sure that the amount of L-DOPA present is the same in Mucuna as was the doses of synthetic L-DOPA. The effects of the drugs were tested using a specially designed instrument called "Rotometer." Dose for dose, Mucuna was two to three times more effective than equivalent amounts of synthetic L-DOPA. This suggests that Mucuna may contain compounds that make L-DOPA function better such as carbidopa, tolcapone (Tasmar), or entacapone (COMTan). It may also suggest that Mucuna independently improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Although quite encouraging, more research is needed to confirm these findings. This work was done at the time when the United States Congress established the Office of Alternative Medicine in the National Institute of Health and the work was one of the first to receive funding for alternative medicine. Additional studies in India were undertaken to establish the benefit of HP200 in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Four medical centers were selected involving sixty patients and several neurologists. The studies were conducted for three months. During that time, the patients received HP200 while no concomitant L-DOPA preparations were administered. Trained neurologists monitored changes in the degree of patent’s symptoms and any side effects. At the end of the study, it was determined that the HP200 was highly beneficial in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The side effects were minimal. HP200 was approved by the Indian Food and Drug Administration and is available in India under the brand name Zandopa. Further, the cost of the drug was much cheaper compared to the synthetic drugs; thus it became more affordable to the patients. The United States Food and Drug Administration approve the drug for clinical studies, however, it is not available from the pharmacist. Work on the Mucuna for Parkinson’s disease is being continued. The importance of this particular study is not that Mucuna is an alternative to L-DOPA, rather it is that compounds occurring naturally in plants for example, may contain biologically active components that can be isolated, tested, and used to provide safer and better treatments for Parkinson’s disease. Example #3) http://www.parkinson.org/site/pp.asp?c=9dJFJLPwB&b=184301 .......Despite the fact Mucuna was used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease in ancient times, it is still important today to establish that the drug dose not have adverse effects on various vital organs. This was accomplished by administering low to very high doses of the drug in rats and rabbits and testing the effect of Mucuna on blood chemistry and blood count (such as the one that many physicians perform in their offices and the hospitals) and various organs. Some of the tests were done for as long as one year and the results indicated no adverse effects were present from Mucuna preparations. To establish how Mucuna would compare to synthetic L-DOPA, experiments were undertaken in animal models of Parkinson’s disease. Two different doses of synthetic L-DOPA and two different doses of Mucuna were administered making sure that the amount of L-DOPA present is the same in Mucuna as was the doses of synthetic L-DOPA. The effects of the drugs were tested using a specially designed instrument called "Rotometer." Dose for dose, Mucuna was two to three times more effective than equivalent amounts of synthetic L-DOPA. This suggests that Mucuna may contain compounds that make L-DOPA function better such as carbidopa, tolcapone (Tasmar), or entacapone (COMTan). It may also suggest that Mucuna independently improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Although quite encouraging, more research is needed to confirm these findings. This work was done at the time when the United States Congress established the Office of Alternative Medicine in the National Institute of Health and the work was one of the first to receive funding for alternative medicine...... Example #4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15548480&query_hl=2 ..........No significant differences in dyskinesias or tolerability occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid onset of action and longer on time without concomitant increase in dyskinesias on mucuna seed powder formulation suggest that this natural source of L-dopa might possess advantages over conventional L-dopa preparations in the long term management of PD....... Example #5) Rat study (I don't approve of animal studies, but this one is interesting) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15478206&query_hl=2 .......Mucuna pruriens cotyledon powder significantly increased the brain mitochondrial complex-I activity but did not affect the total monoamine oxidase activity (in vitro). Unlike synthetic levodopa treatment, Mucuna pruriens cotyledon powder treatment significantly restored the endogenous levodopa, dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin content in the substantia nigra. Nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and coenzyme Q-10, that are shown to have a therapeutic benefit in Parkinson's disease, were present in the Mucuna pruriens cotyledon powder. Earlier studies showed that Mucuna pruriens treatment controls the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This additional finding of a neurorestorative benefit by Mucuna pruriens cotyledon powder on the degenerating dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra may be due to increased complex-I activity and the presence of NADH and coenzyme Q-10......... I hope this info is helpful for anyone considering taking "Mucuna". I haven't been taking it for long, less than two months, but I find it very beneficial. In regards to my taking Mucuna (Zandopa from India) 3 times a day with sinemet. In my last e-mail, I said that I was taking one level tbsp of Zandopa with my sinemet. I made a mistake, sorry, I checked my measuring spoon and it actually says: 1/2 tbsp or 7.5ml. I take this amount with 1/3 (sinemet 200/50 CR) three times per day. I would rather use plain sinemet but I don't have any right now. My last prescription was for Sinemet CR. When I run out , I'll ask my doctor for a new prescription of 100/25 sinemet. I'm still trying to gradually reducing my sinemet and replacing it with Zandopa. I'm hoping that I can stop taking sinemet all together. So far, I reduced my intake of 4 sinemet 200/50 CR per day to only 1 sinemet 200/50 CR per day with excellent results. I suspect that Zandopa might contain other beneficial ingredients besides mucuna. I haven't been able to find this out jet. For anyone just taking mucuna, the carbidopa contained in sinemet, will actually help the mucuna cross the brain barrier. I have no proof of this, just my own experiences. Ken Allan, who grows his own mucuna, suspects the same thing. You can check out his website at: http://home.cogeco.ca/~allan/ He has lots of great information on PD & mucuna. He's not taking Zandopa, but grows his own, pretty remarkable. I found that raw mucuna (powder or capsules) made me anxious. My source for mucuna was: http://www.satveda.com/ product.asp?pID=160&cID=5&c=6045 Zandopa works much better for me, lasts longer, don't get anxious, or any side effects. My source for Zandopa is: http://mall.coimbatore.com/bnh/zandu/zandopa.htm Sincerely, Max ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn