Sagar Shinde, Athoiba Singh, Shekhar Shinde and Jagtap Suresh
Abstract
L-DOPA (L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) is a crucial pharmacological agent in the treatment of Parkinsonââ¬â¢s disease (PD). As a precursor to dopamine, its administration serves to address the dopamine deficiency. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and plays a prominent role for motor control and coordination is severely depleted in PD patients, leading to debilitating motor symptoms. L-DOPA crosses the blood-brain barrier, where it is converted into dopamine, While L-DOPA remains the gold standard for PD management, and this review will focus on plant-based L- DOPA sources as an alternative to synthetic L-DOPA in treatment of Parkinsonââ¬â¢s disease. While synthetic L-DOPA which can be associated with various side effects. Plantbased L-DOPA, derived from natural sources such as Mucuna pruriens, Vicia faba and along with other plants offer a promising alternative for the management of Parkinsonââ¬â¢s disease. Different studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Mucuna pruriens and other L-DOPA containing plants to alleviating motor symptoms in Parkinsonââ¬â¢s. Furthermore, the use of natural plant-based L-DOPA may offer advantages in terms of reduced cost and increased availability, particularly in regions where conventional pharmaceutical L-DOPA preparations may be less accessible collectively, the evidence to date suggests a promising future for plant-based L- DOPA sources in the management of Parkinson disease. However, additional research is required to address issues such as the optimal quality and duration of intake as well as potential mechanisms. Studies in the above areas will help formulate optimum dosage. Overall, plant-based L-DOPA holds promise as a complementary approach to conventional therapy, offering potential benefits for those living with Parkinsonââ¬â¢s disease.