Mimosa Pudica benefits

How Mimosa pudica benefits were found?

In Ayurveda, Mimosa pudica is a widely used herb commonly known as lajjalu. This herb is a perennial or annual creeper. The leaves of Mimosa pudica is touch and heat sensitive. The sensitivity of M. pudica leaves is controlled by the biological clock or depending upon the electrical and mechanical stimulation. The leaves of this herb is adapted the reopen closing response depending upon the electrical and mechanical stimulation. In English, this plant is commonly known as Touch Me Not due to its response of tough, and heat. [1] The whole plant, root, and leaves of this plant are used for medicinal purposes.

In the Ayurvedic medicinal system, this herb is used for its analgesic, antiasthmatic, antidepressant, and aphrodisiac properties. Throughout the tropical and subtropical parts of India and tropical America are the native place of Mimosa pudica.

What are the phytochemicals present in Mimosa pudica?

Mimosa pudica leaves is a rich source of alkaloid. Mimosine is the primary alkaloid present in this herb. The leaf extract of Mimosa pudica contains alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, quinines, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids. Some phytochemicals are also present in the roots of the plant, which include alkaloids, amino acids, fatty acids, flavonoids, glycoside, phytosterol, and tannins. However, depending upon the solvent used for the extraction process also alters the composition and concentration of phytochemicals present in Mimosa pudica. [1]

What is the Mode of action of Mimosa pudica health benefits?

Health benefits of Mimosa pudica follows the different mode of actions due to presence of different phytochemicals in it.

Phenols constituents of this herb is effective to heal up the wound.
The presence of certain phytochemicals like alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, quinines, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids are responsible for the antimicrobial property of this herb.
Ethanolic extract of Mimosa pudica has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of flavonoids.
The ethanolic extract of leaves of M. pudica contains flavonoids, and tannins, which can inhibit diarrhea by restrict frequent bowel movement.
The root extract of Mimosa pudica altered gonadotropin release and estradiol secretion, which regulate the estrous cycle and release of fertility hormones like luteinizing hormone, Follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, prolactin, and progesterone.
The metanolic extract of the aerial part of Mimosa pudica plant has 1,1- diphenyl 1-2-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and exerts antioxidant property.
Alkaloid, flavonoids, and terpenoids are different active phytochemicals present in Mimosa pudica plant leaves extract has significant antiplasmodial activity.
The antioxidant property of Mimosa pudica prevents liver injury and provides a hepatic protective effect.
Alkaloids, glycosides, and flavonoids present in Mimosa pudica significantly reduce LDL, VLDL and triglycerides level and exerts a hypolipidemic effect.
Mimosa pudica containing herbal extract can increase pH of gastric juice and reduce total gastric acid content. Thus it prevents gastric ulcer.
The dried aqueous root of Mimosa pudica has an inhibitory effect of phospholipase activity, fibrinolytic activity, hemorrhagic activity. [2]

What are the different forms of Mimosa pudica?

Different ayurvedic formulations like Samangaadi Churna, Pusyanug Churna, Kutajavaleha, Bhret Gangadhara Churna are different powdered dosage form of Mimosa pudica. The recommended dose is 10–20 g of the drug for decoction. [1]

Mimosa pudica uses

Our ancestors have already discovered sedative, emetic, and tonic properties of Mimosa pudica and traditionally this herb is used to treat insomnia, alopecia, urogenital infections, diarrhea, dysentery, and tumor. [1]

Antivenom Effect against snake bite

One of the reasons of the premature death of Indian villagers is due to poisoned from a snake bite. Naja naja (Asian cobra), and Bangarus caerulus (kraits) are very common snake in India. [3] Delay treatment often causes death. The antivenom effect of Mimosa pudica can inhibit phospholipase activity, fibrinolytic activity, hemorrhagic activity by neutralizing the venom obtain from snakebite. [2] Therefore, the antivenom activity of Mimosa pudica is an immediate and cost-effective treatment for Indian villagers. A proper dosage form can be used to treat for snakebite. The dried root extract of Mimosa pudica is recommended for its antivenom activity.

Antidiabetic activity

The leaf extract of this herb has anti-diabetic activity and lower down the plasma glucose level. [4]

Allergic asthma treatment

Mimosa pudica root extract has anti-asthmatic effect. However, it has found that this herb is effective to stabilize mast cell and reduces histamine release. Thus it controls bronchospasm and also prevents an allergic asthma attack. [4]

Anti-convulsion

In African traditional medicinal practice, Mimosa pudica is recommended to control seizure attacks. An animal research result also reported that Mimosa pudica leaf extract can control strychnine-induced seizures. [4]

Wound healing

Mimosa pudica stem extract is particularly used to accelerate wound healing mechanism. [4]

Ulcer protection

Mimosa pudica leaf extract has significant ulcer protective effect. Therefore, patients taking aspirin or other ulcer-triggering medicines can take this herb to prevent ulcer formation. [4]

Infection control

Mimosa pudica has broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, including antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal effect. The strong antibacterial property of Mimosa pudica has effective against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A, Salmonella paratyphi B, Staphylococcus albus, and Shigella flexneri.

The anti-fungal property of Mimosa pudica is effective against Aspergillus fumigates and other similar class of fungal infection.

The antiviral property of Mimosa pudica may treat cholera due to its efficacy against Vibrio cholerae. [1]

Uterine bleeding

Root extract of Mimosa pudica has showed promising treatment measure for uterine bleeding symptom. [1]

Fertility control

Root extract of Mimosa pudica can be used for family planning as it has antifertility effect. It extends the estrous cycle and restrict the gonadotropin hormone release. Administration of Mimosa pudica decreases FSH levels in the proestrous and estrous stages and ovulation disturbed. M. pudica root powder treatment for two weeks reduces the number of ova release and significantly increase the amount of degenerated ova. These findings are confirmed through animal research. [1]

Aphrodisiac activity

pudicaroot extract has aphrodisiac property. It increases the testosterone level in male and enhances libido. [1]

Anxiolytic

Recently a research result reported M. pudica leaves has promising anxiolytic effect due to its agonistic effect on GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex. The flavonoids present in this plant leaves structurally similar like diazepam. M. pudica leaves also act as an antagonistic effect on 5-HT_1B receptors, or an agonistic activity on 5-HT_1A receptors. [5]

Antidepressant

pudica leaves can regulate monoaminergic functions and modulate neuronal BDNF expression. In addition, this herbal treatment also effective to control the dopaminergic system. All these neurological effects reduce depression. [5]

Cognitive functioning improvement

pudica leaves extract acts as memory booster by significantly attenuating acetylcholinesterase activity, which enhances the basal level of acetylcholine. [5]

Following are some widespread traditional application of M. pudica:

M. pudica leaves formulation recommended for enhancing the sexual potency of male.
Root and leaves of M. pudica is recommended to treat gravel disease and other kidney problems. These plant parts also used to treat piles and fistula.
An oral dose of M. pudica root is recommended for snakebite remedy.
Decoction of root is used as gargle for toothache and gum problem.
Leaves of M. pudica are kept inside the pillow to induce sleep for both elderly individuals and children.
The root paste is topically applied to wound healing purposes.
The mixture of M. pudica leaf paste with honey is prescribed in empty stomach for anthelmintic effect. [1]

Mimosa pudica Side effects

High dose of M. pudica can cause kidney and liver toxicity due to its high tannin content. Therefore dosage is an important consideration to safe use of this herbal remedy. [6]