HP-200 is sourced from Mucuna pruriens , a plant belonging to the leguminous family. There is no cure available for Parkinson's disease. Many patients are only mildly affected and need no treatment for several years after the initial diagnosis. When symptoms grow severe, doctors usually prescribe levodopa, or L-dopa. Levodopa helps supplement the brain's neurotransmitter dopamine.
Dopamine is a chemical that transmits electrical signals to and from the brain.
With old age the dopamine secretions get depleted, causing involuntary body movements and impair coordinated movements of the limbs. Current medical management is considered largely unsatisfactory, as it is limited to symptom alleviation, says a CMI release. Approximately 50 per cent of the patients treated with available medicines have reported side-effects. However, there is not enough evidence to show that Mucuna pruriens can delay or stop the progression of the disease. HP-200 is marketed in India under the brand name Zandopa.