Abstract / Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an increasing global health challenge, and although L-DOPA remains the cornerstone of treatment, its long-term use in synthetic form is associated with complications such as dyskinesia and wearing-off. In Ayurveda, Mucuna pruriens (Kapikacchu/MP) is used in conditions similar to PD. However, the effects of classical purification methods and different dosage forms on their phytochemical composition and functional outcomes have not been well investigated. The present in vitro study evaluated the qualitative phytochemical profiling (untargeted) of traditionally Purified Kapikacchu Choorna (PKC), Non-Purified Kapikacchu Choorna (NKC), and Market sample Kapikacchu Choorna (MKC). Additionally, commonly used Ayurvedic dosage forms – Kapikacchu Choorna (KC), Kashaya (KK), and Ksheerapaka (KKP) – were compared for L-DOPA quantification and bioavailability to assess cellular safety and intestinal transport characteristics using the Caco-2 cell line. UPLC-MS/MS QTOF was used to characterise compositional differences among samples and assess the impact of processing methods on therapeutic potential. A total of 486 unique compounds were identified across the three Kapikacchu Choorna formulations with NKC (n = 102), PKC (n = 344), and MKC (n = 129). Among these, the phytochemical profiling identified 51 compounds with reported toxicological associations and 20 compounds with reported neuroprotective properties across all samples, with the exclusive presence of the phytoconstituent L-DOPA 3’-glucoside. The L-DOPA content was 0.022% in NKC, 0.087% in PKC and 0.027% in the MKC. Among the KK and KKP samples, KKP demonstrated the most favorable functional performance, exhibiting higher absolute L-DOPA content both before (82.27% vs. 66.67%) and after (29.29% vs. 22.75%) Caco-2 transport. These findings imply that traditional Ayurvedic milk-based purification and dosage form can significantly influence the phytochemical composition, functional L-DOPA delivery, and therapeutic potential of KC, with KKP emerging as the most promising formulation for L-DOPA delivery in the Caco-2 model. From a public health perspective, this is particularly relevant, as KC is already in use either clinically as a standalone therapy or as part of integrative care for PD, making evidence-based guidance on processing methods and dosage forms increasingly important.