Abstract
The nonprotein amino acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) (Fig. 1) is present in high concentrations (about 3–6%) in Mucuna spp. The in vitro addition of L-DOPA to the red blood cells from individuals deficient in glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase decrease the glutathione content in red blood cells and this ultimately induces the favisum (hemolytic anemia; breakup of red blood cells). The inclusion of L-DOPA in fish feed has been reported to signifi- cantly reduce the growth performance. L-DOPA is susceptible to oxidation, giving a semiquinone that complexes with proteins. This decreases protein digestibility. On the other hand, it has been used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease because of its being a precursor of dopamine, a neurotransmitter.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Siddhuraju, P., and Becker, K. (2001) Rapid reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantification of L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), non-methylated and methylated tetrahydroisoquinoline compounds from Mucuna beans. Food Chem. 72, 389–394.
Siddhuraju, P., Becker, K., and Makkar, H. P. S. (2000). Studies on the nutritional composition and antinutritional factors of three different germplasm seed materials of an under-utilized tropical legume, Mucuna pruriens var. utilis. J. Agric. Food Chem. 48, 6048–6060.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Makkar, H.P.S., Siddhuraju, P., Becker, K. (2007). L-DOPA (L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine). In: Plant Secondary Metabolites. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 393. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-425-4_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-425-4_10
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-993-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-425-4
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols