A Novel Approach of the Isolation of L–Dopa from the Methanolic Extract of Mucuna pruriens Seeds and its Quantitative Analysis by HPTLC

Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae), also known as cowitch and velvet bean contains very powerful neurotransmitter precursor L-Dopa. The seeds of Mucuna pruriens accumulate 0.2%-2% L-Dopa in their dry weight. L-Dopa is an amino acid that converts into dopamine. Dopamine is an essential component of our body and it requires for the proper functioning of the brain. The seeds powder of Mucuna pruriens has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic Indian Medicine for hypertensive, hypoglycemic agent and Parkinson diseases. The research was focused on a novel approach of the isolation of L-Dopa in semi pure form by chemical fractionation followed by quantitative analysis of L-Dopa by HPTLC.