Mimosa Pudica, the Medicinal Herb

Plants are the back bone of our life on this earth. In our everyday life we depend on plants for food, shelter, clothing and medicines. Plants are the first living organisms to evolve on this earth. Life would not be possible on this earth if plants would not have existed. Our planet Earth is called Green Planet because there are varieties of plants all over the Earth.

The importance of plants are as follows:

 In addition to above uses plants give us rubber, resin, pesticides, bio-fuels, essential aromatic oils, paper and bio-manure.  Plants help maintain gaseous balance in air and prevent air pollution. They prevent soil erosion and they maintain soil fertility. They help in reducing heat and bring in rainfall. They nurture birds and animals to thrive on this planet.

There are several plants that grow around us. Each plant is unique and contain chemicals in its leaves, flowers, barks or stems. The chemicals present in the plants may be medicinal. The medicinal plants contain biologically active constituents of plants called alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds.  They help in the treatment and curing of diseases. Several allopathic drugs are prepared from plant extracts to cure our illness. For example Vincristine, a medicine used in the treatment of cancer of the lymphatic system is extracted from the plant Vinca Rosea/Periwinkle.  Theophylline, a drug used for treating asthma is extracted from coffee and tea plants. Medicines prepared from plant extracts are preferred over medicines prepared from synthetic chemicals because the former do not have any side effects.

Nature has blessed humanity with several medicinal plants around us. It is the duty of man to conduct research on plant extracts and find out the importance of each one of them. Recently, researchers conducted various tests on the commonly growing plant Mimosa Pudica. They found that this plant is medicinal herb.  They found that the chemicals present in this plant can cure leprosy, dysentery, vaginal and uterine complaints, inflammations, burning sensation, asthma, leucoderma, fatigue and certain blood diseases.

Mimosa Pudica is reported to contain alkaloids, tannins, glycosides and flavonoids. Therefore this herb is anti-diabetic, antitoxin, anti-hepatotoxic, antioxidant and wound healing activities.

Mimosa Pudica contains Mimosine, a toxic alkaloid. Adrenalin like substance has been identified in the extract of its leaves.  Roots contain tannin up to 10 per cent. Seeds contain a mucilage composed of d-xylose and d-glucuronic acid. The plant extract contains green yellow fatty oil. The plant is reported to contain tubuline and a new class of phytohormone turgorines is found to be active in the plant.

Leaf extract of Mimosa Pudica  showed the presence of bioactive components such as terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, quinines, phenols, tannins, saponins, and

Coumarins.

According to the recent research, the root and the shoot of Mimosa Pudica plant in methanolic extract heal all types of wounds due to the presence of phenolic constituents present in them.

The methanolic extract of Mimosa Pudica was tested for disease causing pathogens and microbes and it was found that the herb is capable of destroying the microbes because it has bio active constituents like terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, quinines, phenols, tannins, saponins, and coumarins.

The ethanolic extract of the leaves of Mimosa Pudica cures inflammation and works like a painkiller due to the presence of flavonoids present in the leaves.

The ethanolic extract of the leaves of Mimosa Pudica also cures diarrhoea and other gastro intestinal diseases due to the presence of flavonoids and tannin present in the leaves.

The root of this plant is also having medicinal value. If extraction of the root is given orally, it cures infertility by increasing the production of hormones like FSH, prolactin and progesterone.

The methanolic extract of the leaves of Mimosa Pudica scavenges the free radicals present in our body due to various physiological activities and work like anti-oxidants.

The ethanolic extract of the Mimosa Pudica leaves were investigated against plasmodium parasite for anti-malarial activity. The study revealed that the phytochemicals present in the leaves terpenoids, flavonoids and alkaloids were anti- plasmodial by nature.

Chloroform extract of Mimosa Pudica leaves was injected into the blood stream of rats, the total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels became normal. In addition, HDL cholesterol levels increased by decreasing LDL cholesterol levels. To sum it up, the leaf extract worked like the drug Atorvastatin.

Aqueous extract of dried roots of Mimosa Pudica neutralised the lethal activity of Naja naja and Bangarus caerulus venoms respectively.

The ethanolic extract of the leaves of Mimosa Pudica was given by oral route, it controls total acidity, ulcer index, and an increase in pH of gastric juice in pylorus stomach and hence an anti-ulcer agent.

The extract of seeds of Mimosa Pudica will be able kill round worms present in our intestines.

The ethanolic extract of Mimosa Pudica leaves protects liver from damage due to alcoholic drinks or cirrhosis of liver.

The ethanolic extract of Mimosa Pudica leaves produces diuretic activity. The extract increases the excretion of urine and Na⁺ ion, K⁺ ion and Cl^- ion concentration in the urine.

Immune functions are indispensable for defending the body against attack by pathogens or cancer cells, and thus play a pivotal role in the maintenance of health.

However, the immune functions are disturbed by malnutrition, aging, physical and mental stress or undesirable lifestyle. Immuno modulatory effect is associated with compounds capable of modifying or regulating immune function. The Immuno modulatory effect of plant is reported for alcoholic extract of the various aerial parts of Mimosa Pudica.

This is the long list of medicinal and therapeutic values of the plant Mimosa Pudica, the medicinal herb. It is very clear that there is an inseparable bond between plants and humans. Humans cannot live in this planet if plants are removed from the earth. Mother Nature has blessed the humanity with variety of plants around us. We have to take care of them just as we take care of us. Each one of these plants are useful to us in number of ways. We have to investigate their uses and propagate their values for the benefit of humanity. Then no plant will become endangered or extinct. If we preserve plants then we are saving life on this planet Earth.