Kaunch Beej Extract (Mucuna pruriens)

Kaunch beej extract is made from the dried mature seed of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (Fabaceae), known in Ayurveda as kapikacchu and in trade as cowhage or velvet bean. The seed is the only part used: pods are removed at intake because their trichomes are a handling irritant, and the seed is dehulled before extraction. The characterising constituent is L-Dopa (levodopa), CAS 59-92-7, C9H11NO4, molecular weight 197.19, PubChem CID 6047, present in raw dried seed at roughly 4 to 7 percent, which is why every grade above that figure is a genuine concentration step rather than a milling operation. Thovek standardises at 10%, 15%, 20% and 40% L-Dopa by HPLC-UV against a levodopa reference standard, with 60% grades made to order against a written specification. Very high declared grades deserve scrutiny from any buyer: published surveys of commercial Mucuna preparations have repeatedly found measured L-Dopa diverging sharply from the label figure, and high-percentage material on the open market has been questioned as crystallised or synthetic levodopa presented as a plant extract. Thovek does not blend synthetic levodopa into botanical extract, and will support origin verification by NMR or isotope-ratio testing at the buyer's cost where a specification calls for it. Species identity is equally live — twelve Mucuna species circulate in trade — so lots are confirmed by HPTLC against a retained seed reference, with DNA barcoding available on request. Market access needs checking before you order. Levodopa-bearing preparations are treated differently across jurisdictions: Mucuna pruriens extract is not permitted in food supplements in Italy, the Dutch national institute RIVM published a 2024 risk assessment advising caution for supplements containing the seed, and EU RASFF notifications have covered Mucuna in food supplements. Thovek supplies this as a characterised botanical raw material and makes no health or therapeutic claim for it; confirming permitted-use status, dosage limits and labelling in the destination market is the responsibility of the brand owner or importer.