L-DOPA

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L-DOPA: a simple overview

L-DOPA, or L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, is a natural compound found in humans, other animals, and some plants. Your body makes it from the amino acid L-tyrosine. It is the starting material for making important brain chemicals called dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (catecholamines).

In plants, L-DOPA can be a building block for pigments called betalains and, in some plants, helps produce melanin. It also appears in some animal and marine contexts, such as mussel adhesives and cephalopod ink.

Medicine: levodopa. L-DOPA is sold as levodopa to treat Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders. It is usually given with another drug (carbidopa or benserazide) to prevent it from breaking down before it reaches the brain, which makes treatment more effective. Sometimes it is given in combinations like levodopa/carbidopa or levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone.

How it works: in the brain, the enzyme aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) converts L-DOPA into dopamine, helping improve movement. Outside the brain, it can be broken down by other enzymes, which reduces how much reaches the brain.

Extra notes: L-DOPA comes in two mirror versions, L and D, but only the L form works for humans. It is found naturally in some plants like velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) and is also available as a supplement.