Mucuna pruriens
Mucuna pruriens suppliers and sourcing guide
Mucuna pruriens is a tropical climbing legume, known as velvet bean, grown in India, Africa and South America for its large seeds. The supplement trade buys the dried seed, sold as powder or as a water or hydroalcoholic extract standardized to levodopa (L-dopa) by HPLC, at levels from about 15% up to 99% for purified grades. Pods carry irritant hairs, so seed is cleaned and dehulled before milling.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- velvet bean · cowhage · kapikacchu · Mucuna pruriens seed extract
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of mucuna pruriens
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Seed powder
Dried, dehulled seed milled to a powder; L-dopa content is whatever the seed carries, typically a few percent.
L-dopa standardized extract
Seed extract sold with a minimum L-dopa percentage, commonly 15%, 20% or 40%, by HPLC.
High-purity L-dopa
Purified seed extract at 98% to 99% L-dopa, a far more concentrated material that some markets treat differently from botanical extracts.
Organic
Seed or extract from certified organic crops, with the certificate tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity
- HPTLC fingerprint or microscopy to confirm Mucuna pruriens seed.
- L-dopa assay (HPLC)
- Levodopa content by a named HPLC method; this sets the dose per gram and is the main specification item.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and any Prop 65 exposure targets.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or E. coli, and Salmonella. Raw powders carry more microbial load than extracts and are often steam treated.
- Aflatoxins
- Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, since stored legume seeds can carry mold.
- Physical tests
- Loss on drying, mesh size, bulk density, extract ratio and any carrier.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep powder and extract sealed in light-proof, lined containers in a cool, dry place; L-dopa darkens and degrades with light, heat, moisture and air. Reseal opened containers promptly and limit exposure on the production floor. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, with the L-dopa assay repeated at retest.
Lots and expiry dates
L-dopa content varies widely by seed variety and extraction, so record the actual assay for each lot and dose from it rather than from the nominal grade. Watch for darkening on older lots and rotate stock FEFO.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Mucuna pruriens (POL-NF-15462) concerns the seeds and the roots and lists them as not yet authorised novel food.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Mucuna pruriens as an approved herbal name, classed as a natural health product under Schedule 1, item 1 (plant or plant material).
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Mucuna pruriens suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking mucuna pruriens suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell mucuna pruriens? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of mucuna pruriens can brands buy?
Common forms include seed powder, l-dopa standardized extract, high-purity L-dopa and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for mucuna pruriens include?
Expect identity, l-dopa assay (HPLC), heavy metals, microbiology, aflatoxins and physical tests, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should mucuna pruriens be stored?
Keep powder and extract sealed in light-proof, lined containers in a cool, dry place; L-dopa darkens and degrades with light, heat, moisture and air. Reseal opened containers promptly and limit exposure on the production floor. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, with the L-dopa assay repeated at retest.
What is the regulatory status of mucuna pruriens?
The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Mucuna pruriens (POL-NF-15462) concerns the seeds and the roots and lists them as not yet authorised novel food. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Mucuna pruriens as an approved herbal name, classed as a natural health product under Schedule 1, item 1 (plant or plant material).
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