Genus Mucuna encompasses several plant species renowned for their utilization in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, chiefly due to their exceptionally high L-dopa content relative to other plants. However, limited information exists regarding Mucuna laticifera, a newly identified species within the Mucuna genus. This study unveils a remarkable L-dopa content of 174.3 mg/g in M. laticifera seeds, surpassing all previously documented Mucuna species. Moreover, this research marks the first documentation of L-dopa, flavonoids, and phenolics within M. laticifera seeds. Furthermore, the aqueous extract derived from these seeds exhibits robust antioxidant properties. Investigation into its anti-inflammatory potential reveals a significant reduction in paw swelling and neutrophil infiltration at inflammatory sites in a carrageenan-induced rat model. Gene expression analysis utilizing a rat paw model demonstrates that the seed extract significantly downregulates the expression of various inflammation-related genes compared to carrageenan-treated rats. Collectively, these findings clearly substantiate the anti-inflammatory activity of M. laticifera seed extract. The exceptional L-dopa content combined with its anti-inflammatory properties position M. laticifera seeds as a promising therapeutic option for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, as well as various inflammatory conditions.

黧豆属包含几种因在传统阿育吠陀医学中用于治疗帕金森病而闻名的植物物种，这主要是由于其相对于其他植物的左旋多巴含量异常高。然而，关于黧豆属（黧豆属中新发现的物种）的信息有限。这项研究揭示了M. laticifera种子中左旋多巴的含量高达 174.3 毫克/克，超过了之前记录的所有黧豆属物种。此外，这项研究标志着首次记录乳胶种子中的左旋多巴、类黄酮和酚类物质。此外，从这些种子中提取的水提取物表现出强大的抗氧化特性。对其抗炎潜力的研究表明，在角叉菜胶诱导的大鼠模型中，炎症部位的爪肿胀和中性粒细胞浸润显着减少。利用大鼠爪子模型进行的基因表达分析表明，与角叉菜胶处理的大鼠相比，种子提取物显着下调各种炎症相关基因的表达。总的来说，这些发现清楚地证实了乳胶种子提取物的抗炎活性。特殊的左旋多巴含量与其抗炎特性相结合，使乳胶种子成为帕金森氏症等神经退行性疾病以及各种炎症性疾病的有前景的治疗选择。