Mimosa pudica

Scientific name: Mimosa pudica L.

Synonym: Mimosa tetrandra Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.

Botanical family: FABACEAE

Vernacular names

Other vernacular names

Nicaragua:

Amin

Haiti:

Kapris
Wont

Dominica:

Mese marie sensitiva
sensitiva, mese marie

Geographical distribution

Widely distributed in tropical America. Naturalised in the tropics of the Old World.

Botanical description

Annual plant or subshrub, pilose, with recurved spines on the stems. Leaves with 1 to 2 pairs of pinnae, leaflets of 15 to 25 pairs, oblong or linear oblong of 5 to 10 mm, obtuse or acute. Pink flowers in globular heads, pedunculate. Linear oblong legume, segmented, from 1 to 1.5 cm, with bristles on the margins.

Voucher(s)

Delaigue,18,NHTT

For menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhoea):

prepare a decoction or infusion with 5 grams of leaves and roots in 4 cups (1 litre) of water. For the decoction, boil for 10 minutes in a covered vessel. For the infusion, add the boiling water to the 15 grams of leaves and roots and cover. Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup 3 times a day for a maximum of 3 to 5 days.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

The use for dysmenorrhoea is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the scientific information published.

Due to the risk that dysmenorrhoea may be caused by more complex health problems (endometriosis, myomas, pelvic inflammatory disease, sexually transmitted infections, ectopic pregnancy, tumors, among others), an initial medical assessment is recommended. The use of this resource must be considered complementary to medical treatment, unless contraindicated.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or if the condition persists for more than 5 days, seek medical attention.

Not for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 12 years of age.

The aqueous extract from dried roots, in a carboxymethyl cellulose suspension (80 mg/ml; 200, 400, 600 and 1600 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, in the acute toxicity test in mice and rats (groups of 5 animals), showed a slight sedative effect in the first hour after administration. No deaths occurred¹⁵.

The aqueous root extract (100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) intraperitoneally in female albino mice, showed a LD100 of 400 mg/kg and a DLo of 100 mg/kg¹⁵.

A preclinical pilot study in 9 women, variable oral doses, showed no side effects¹⁵.

The hydroalcoholic extract (50%) from the whole plant, intraperitoneally in mice, revealed an LD50 = 1 g/kg¹¹.

The methanolic extract from dried roots (300 mg/kg/day/21 days), intraperitoneally in Swiss female mice, showed no liver toxicity or other visible signs of toxicity⁹.

The ethanolic extract defatted in petroleum ether from leaves (100, 150, 200, 250 mg/kg), orally in pregnant rats, exerted an anti-implantation activity; a dose of 50 mg/kg did not show this effect¹⁶.

There is no information available documenting the safety of medicinal use in children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The whole plant contains norepinephrine²; histamine; N,N- dimethyltryptamine³; sesquiterpene: jasmonic acid⁴; tannins⁵; protein: mimosine⁶ and 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridone⁷.

The aqueous extract (decoction) from dried leaves (1000-4000 mg/kg) intraperitoneally in male Swiss mice, protected against seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol and strychnine dose- dependently, confirming the sedative and anticonvulsant properties of the leaf decoction⁸.

The methanolic extract from dried roots (300 mg/kg/day), orally in albino mice, prolonged the length of the oestrous cycle with a significant increase in the duration of the dioestrus phase and reduced the number of litters. Analysis of the main hormones (LH, FSH, prolactin, oestradiol and progesterone) involved in the regulation of the oestrous cycle showed that the root extract alters the release of gonadotropin and oestradiol secretion⁹.

The ethanolic leaf extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) orally in Swiss albino mice and Wistar rats (groups of 6 animals) showed significant dose-dependent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. This analgesic activity was more significant in the acetic acid model (contortions) than in the anti-inflammatory tail-flick latency model¹⁰.

The hydroalcoholic extract (50%) of the whole plant, in vitro, showed antispasmodic activity caused by histamine in isolated guinea pig ileum at an unspecified concentration¹¹.

The aqueous extract from dried leaves (6 and 8 mg/kg/30 days) intraperitoneally in rats subjected to the forced swim test compared to those that received diazepam (1.3 mg/kg, ip) showed an antidepressant effect¹².

An unspecified extract from dried leaves and roots, administered orally and rectally at variable doses, in adult humans of both sexes, showed anti-inflammatory activity^13-14.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

DELAIGUE J, 2005

TRAMIL survey. UAG & PRDI, Tobago House of Assembly, Scarborough, Tobago.

APPLEWHITE P, 1973

Serotonin and norepinephrine in plant tissues. Phytochemistry 12:191.

GUPTA MP, ARIAS TD, CORREA M, LAMBA SS, 1979

Ethnopharmacognostic observations on Panamanian medicinal plants. Part I. Q J Crude Drug Res 17(3/4):115-130.

TSURUMI S, ASAHI Y, 1985

Identification of jasmonic acid in Mimosa pudica and its inhibitory effect on auxin- & light-induced opening of the pulvinules. Physiol Plant 64(2):207-211.

ATAL CK, SRIVASTAVA JB. WALI BK, CHAKRAVARTY RB, DHAWAN BN, RASTOGI RP, 1978

Screening of Indian plants for biological activity. Part. VIII. Indian J Exp Biol 16:330-349.

SEAFORTH C, ADAMS C, SYLVESTER Y, 1982

A guide to the medicinal plants of Trinidad and Tobago. CSC (82) NP7 London, England: Commonwealth Secretariat.

TANGENDJAJA B, WILLS R, 1980

Analysis of mimosine & 3-hydroxy-4 (1H)- pyridone by high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr 202(2):317- 318.

NGO BUM E, DAWACK DL, SCHMUTZ M, RAKOTONIRINA A, RAKOTONIRINA SV, PORTET C, JEKER A, OLPE HR, HERRLING P, 2004

Anticonvulsant activity of Mimosa pudica decoction. Fitoterapia 75:309-314.

GANGULY M, DEVI, N MAHANTA R, BORTHAKUR MK, 2007

Effect of Mimosa pudica root extract on vaginal estrous and serum hormones for screening of antifertility activity in albino mice. Contraception 76(6):482-485.

CHANDRASHEKAR DK, MANTHALE DM, 2012

Invention of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of Mimosa Pudica Linn leaves. J of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical 1(1):36-38.

BHAKUNI S, DHAR ML, DHAR MM, DHAWAN BN, MEHROTRA BN, 1969

Screening of Indian plants for biological activity. Part II. Indian J Exp Biol 7:250-262.

MOLINA M, CONTRERAS CM, TELLEZ-ALCANTARA P, 1999

Mimosa pudica may possess antidepressant actions in the rat. Phytomedicine 6(5):319-323.

VIJAYASARATHY V, SHARMA L, PRAKASH A, 1981

Indigenous drug treatment for hemmorhoids. Probe 20(4):285-287.

AGRAWAL RC, KAPADIA LA, 1982

Treatment of piles with indigenous drugs-pilex tablets and ointment along with styplon. Probe 21(3):201-204.

VAIDYA GH, SHETH UK, 1986

Mimosa pudica (Linn.) its medicinal value and pilot clinical use in patients with menorrhagia. Anc Sci Life 5(3):156-160.

NORTON S, 1979

Anti-fertility activity of leaves of Mimosa pudica in early pregnancy of albino rats. Indian J Zool 6(2):89-93.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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