(1)
Canberra, Aust Capital Terr, Australia
Plate 1
Globose flower head, foliage and prickly stems
Scientific Name
Mimosa pudica L.
Synonyms
Mimosa hispidula Kunth
Family
Fabaceae, also placed in Mimosaceae
Common/English Names
Action Plant, Ant-Plant, Bashful Mimosa, Humble Plant, Live-and-Die, Modest Plant, Sensitive Plant, Sensitive Weed, Sleeping Grass, Shame Plant, Shameful Plant, Shrinking Plant, Shy Plant, Tickle-Me Plant, Touch-Me-Not, Touch-Shy Plant, Virgin Plant
Vernacular Names
Afrikaans: Kruidjie-Roer-My-Nie
Brazil: Dormideira, Juquiri, Malícia-Das-Mulhees, Não-Me-Toque, Sensitiva, Vergonha (Portuguese)
Brunei: Puteri Malu, Rumput Malu, Sopan Malu
Burmese: Hti Ka Yoan
Chamorro: Betguen Sosa
Chinese: Han Xiu Cao, He He Cao, Pa Chou Cho, Zhi Xiu Cao
Cook Islands: Paope ‘Āvare, Pikika‘A, Pikika‘A, Rākau ‘Avare, Rākau ‘Avarevare, Rākau Pikika‘A, Rākau Pikika‘A, Tiare Pikika‘A, Titā ‘Āvarevare, Titā ‘Āvarevare, Titā Pikika‘A (Maori)
Costa Rica: Dormilona
Cuba: Dormidera, Morivivi
Czech: Citlivka Stydlivá
German: Gemeine Mimose, Mimose, Schamhafte, Sinnpflanze, Sinnpflanze
Danish: Almindelig Mimose
Dutch: Kruidje-Roer-Me-Niet
Dominican Republic: Morí-Viví, Moriviví
Eastonian: Häbelik Mimoos
Finnish: Tuntokasvi
Fijian: Co Gadrogadro, Cogadrogadro, Cokadrokadro, Cokadrokadro, Ngandrongandro, Tho Kandrodandro, Tho Ngandrongandro
French: Mimeuse Commune, Mimeuse Pudique, Sensitive
Hawaiian: Pua Hilahila
India: Adoriban, Nilajban (Assamese), Laajak, Lajjavathi, Lajjaboti (Bengali), Reesamani (Gujarati), Chhui-Mui, Chuimui, Lajaalu, Lajalu, Lajawanti, Lajjavanthi, Lajouni, Lajvanti, Lajwanti, Najuk, Sharminda, Sharmpate (Hindi), Ganda Kaali, Hadergitte, Lajja, Lajjaavathi, Lajjavat, Lajjavathy, Lajje, Muchha Muri, Mudugudavara, Mudugudavare, Muduguthaavare, Mudurelegida, Muthamurike, Mutlamurike, Muttalu Muduru, Muttalu Muruka, Muttidare Muni, Muttidaremuniva, Naachike Gida, Naachike Mullu, Nachikay-Gida, Nacike, Nacikegida, Nacikimullu, Nasike, Thotuthe-Ramum, Thotutheramum (Kannada), Kambatsam-Thia, Sunteshuh (Khasi), Thendarmani, Thotavadi, Thottamvati, Thottavadi, Tindarmani, Tintarmani, Tottalvati, Tottamvati, Tottavati (Malayalam), Laajari, Lajaalu, Lajalu, Lajri, Lazalu (Marathi), Durum-Janum (Mundari), Lajakulilata (Orissa), Lajkuri (Oriya), Ajalikalika, Alambusa, Anjalikaraka, Anjalikarika, Asrarodhani, Gandamalika, Kandiri, Khadiraka, Khadirpatrika, Lajja, Lajjalu, Lajjaluh, Lajjika, Mahabhita, Mahaushadhi, Mamaskari, Namaskari, Prasarini, Raktamula, Raktapadi, Samanga, Samangga, Samipatra, Saptaparni, Shamipatra, Sparshalajja, Sprikha, Svagupta, Tamra, Tamramula, Varaha-Kranta, Varahakranta, Varakranta, Vashini (Sanskrit), Al, Alavananki, Alcunanki, Alcunankicceti, Arcalakacceti, Arcalakam, Camankai, Camanki, Caminnai, Cayanti, Cillam, Cinunki, Cunti, Cuntil, Cuntiyilai, Curukki, Cuvetamuli, Cuvetamulinicceti, Cuvetavati, Ilaccaki, Intiriyakkoti, Intu, Iracalakacceti, Iracalakam, Kacankukanni, Kacankukannicceti, Kacirorttam, Kasirottam, Laccaru, Milananceti, Namakkari, Nilaccurunki, Palakamoti, Palakamoticceti, Samangai, Tamiramulam, Tantakkari, Thotalpadi, Thotalvadi, Thottai-Surungi, Thottal Shurungi, Thottal-Surungi, Thottalsurungi, Thottalvadi, Thottar Chunnungi, Thottar-Chunungi, Thottasiningi, Total Vadie, Totalvadi, Tottachurungi, Tottakkalvati, Tottalcinunki, Tottalcurunki, Tottalvadi, Tottalvati, Tottalvaviricceti, Tottalvayiri, Tottar Cinunki, Tottar Cunanki, Tottar Curunki, Tottarcinunki, Tottarcunanki, Tottarcurunki, Urumarmulicceti, Urumarumuli, Vaku, Varakakkiranti, Vati (Tamil), Atthapatthi, Lajjavanthi, Manugumaramu, Mudatha Damara, Munuguda, Munuguda-Maramu, Muttavapulagamu-Chettu, Muttavapulagamucettu, Nidrakanti, Peda Nidrakanti, Pedda Nidrakanti, Peddanidrakanti, Siggaku, Thottalasingi (Telugu), Chhui-Mui (Urdu)
I-Kiribati: Te Kaimatu
Indonesia: Putri Malu (Malay), Kuchingan, Pis Kucing, Randelik, Ri Sirepan (Javanese), Bujang Kagit, Jukut Borang, Jukut Borangan, Jukut Gehgehran, Jukut Riyud, Rondo Kagit (Sundanese)
Italian: Sensitiva
Japanese: Nemurigusa
Khmer: Smau Bânla, Bânkrap
Korean: Mimosa
Laos: Fa:Z Langab, Thu’üb Nhub
Malaysia: Malu-Malu, Memalu, Puteri Malu, Keman, Kembang Gajah, Kemunchup, Rumput Rimau, Semalu (Malay), Todop-Todop (Dusun), Kommon (Kadazan)
Nicaragua: Sarka Dormilona
Niuean: Memege
Palauan: Mechiuaiu
Papua New Guinea: Matmat (Gunantuna, New Britain)
Philippines: Torog-Torog (Bikol), Huya-Huya, Kirom-Kirom (Bisaya), Babain, Dilgansusu (Iloko), Tuyag-Huyag (Panay Bisaya), Makahia (Pangasingan), Harupai, Kiromkirom (Samar Leyte Bisaya), Sipug-Sipug (Subanum), Damohia, Makahia (Tagalog)
Pohnpeian: Limemeirkelik, Limemeirpong, Limemeirpwong
Polish: Mimoza Wstydliwa
Portugal: Dormideira, Não-Me-Toque, Sensitiva
Rotuman: Aifeaefarmori
Russian: Mimoza Stydlivaja
Samoan: Vao Fefe, Vao Fefe
Spanish: Dormidera, Minosa, Sensitiva, Vergonzosa
Swahili: Kifyauwongo
Swedish: Sensitiva
Tahitian: Pohe Ha‘Avare, Pope Ha‘Avare
Thai: Ka-Ngap (Peninsular), Mai Yaraap, Ra Ngap (Central), Yaa Pan Yot (Northern)
Tibetan: Btsod Rigs Gcig Pa, Sa Mam Ga
Tonga: Mateloi
Vietnamese: Cỏ Trinh Nữ, Mắc Cỡ, Trinh Nữ, Xấu Hổ
West Indies: Mori Vivi
Wallisian: Malualoi, Malualoi
Origin/Distribution
The species is native to South America and Central America but is now a pantropical weed.
Agroecology
In the warm, wet tropics, the species has naturalized as a weed in cultivated areas, along roadsides, in plantations, in cropping areas, in orchards, in lawns, in pastures and on wasteland and forming mats on the dry mud of river banks, at elevations from near sea level up to about 2,000 m elevation. The plant is found on a wide range of soil types but thrives on well-drained soils, even scalped or eroded subsoils and soils with low nutrient concentrations and water-logged soils. On coralline soils, iron chlorosis has been observed (Rachman 1999). The plant is tolerant to light shade but does not compete with tall vegetation or grow under forest canopies. This plant is spread mainly by seeds clinging to man and animals and the seeds can remain viable for many years.
Edible Plant Parts and Uses
Botany
Mimosa pudica is a low sprawling, prickly, 15–40 cm, branched annual or perennial, that may grow into a 70–100 cm prickly sub-shrub. The leaves are very sensitive to touch, alternate, green, compound, digitately bipinnate with 1–2 pairs of pinna and 10–20 pairs of leaflets per pinna (Plate 1). Each leaflet is 0.6–1.2 cm long by 0.3–0.4 cm broad, sessile, narrowly oblong or linear oblong; obliquely rounded at base, acute tip, nearly glabrous and lack prickles. The flowers are produced in globose head borne on a bristly or prickly peduncle (Plate 1). Flowers pink or mauve, 4-merous, subtended by linear, marginally setose bracteoles; calyx minute; corolla glabrous or with puberulous, ovate-oblong lobes; stamens 4 exserted; ovary sessile. Fruit is a lomentum, simple, dry, flat, slightly curved, 1.5–1.8 cm by 0.4–0.5 cm, bristly along the margins, with 2–5 segments that break up at the sutures. Seeds subcircular to elliptic, pale-brown, flat, 2.5–3 mm across.
Nutritive/Medicinal Properties
Plant (Aerial Parts) Phytochemicals
A non-protein amino acid leucine, mimosine, was isolated from M. pudica (Renz 1936) and its structure determined as 3-hydroxy-a-amino-4-oxo-1 (4H)-pyridinepropionic acid (Kleipool and Wibaut 1950). The same compound had been called leucenol. Serine and α-aminoadipic acid precursors of mimosine, pipecolic acid and 5-hydroxypipecolic acid, were found in Mimosa pudica (Tiwari et al. 1967). Norepinephrine was isolated from the plant (Applewhite 1973).
Two C-glycosylflavones, 2′-O-rhamnosyl-orientin and 2′-O-rhamnosylisoorietnin, were isolated from the aerial parts (Englert et al. 1994) Two C-glycosylflavones 4″-hydroxymaysin and cassiaoccidentalin B and myricetin were isolated from the aerial plant parts (Lobstein et al. 2002). Flavonoids found in M. pudica included orientin, kaempferol 7-rutinoside and kaempferol 3-glucoside-7-rhamnoside (Yusof et al. 2003).
Four compounds were isolated from M. pudica and identified as 7, 8, 3′, 4′-tetrahydroxyl-6-C-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl flavone (I); 5, 7, 4′-trihydroxyl-8-C-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl flavone (II); 5, 7, 3′, 4′-tetrahydroxyl-6-C-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl flavone (III); and catcher (IV) (Yuan et al. 2006). C-glycosylflavones were isolated from the whole plant of Mimosa pudica, and their structures elucidated as 5, 7, 3′, 4′-tetrahydroxy-6-C-[β-d-apiose-(1 → 4)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl flavone and 5, 7, 4′-trihydroxyl-8-C-β-d-glucopyranosyl flavones (Yuan et al. 2007a) and 6, 7, 3′, 4′-tetrahydroxyl-8-C-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl flavones and, 5, 7, 3′, 4′-tetrahydroxy-8-C-[β-d-apiose-(1 → 4)]-β-d-glycopyranosyl flavone (Yuan et al. 2007b). Crocetin dimethyl ester and tannin have been isolated from the plant. The mucilage from seed was composed of d-xylose and d-glucuronic acid 4-O-(3, 5-dihydroxybenzoic acid)-β-d-glucuronide. Mimosine, α-spinasterol and phenyl ethylamine derivatives were isolated from the plant (Muthumani et al. 2012).
Leaf Phytochemicals
M. pudica pulvinus was found to contain adenosine triphosphatase; the molecular weight of purified Ca, Mg-ATPase, was determined to be 139,000, and it played a role in the seismonastic movements of the leaf (Liubimova-Engel’gardt et al. 1978). Actin-like protein was found in the leaves (Ghosh et al. 1987). From Mimosa pudica fresh leaves and pulvinar callus cells, tubulin protein was isolated and purified (Pal et al. 1990). The purified protein consisted of alpha and beta subunits and trace quantities of other proteins. This protein constituted 5–6 % of the total extractable protein in the leaves. They postulated that movement of the leaves of this plant may be regulated by the presence of a high amount of this protein. Turgorin, the periodic leaf movement factor 1 (PLMF-1) (gallic acid β-d-glucopyranosyl-6′-sulphate), and sulphotransferase, the enzyme involved in sulphation of the turgorin, were found to be localized in the pulvinus of M. pudica plant (Varin et al. 1997). The pulvinus was also found to have annexin which may also have contributed to the nyctinastic movement in the pulvinus (Hoshino et al. 2004). The amount of annexin in the pulvinus increased at night and was sensitive to abscisic acid. Two tonoplast proteins, a putative water-channel protein (aquaporin belonging to the [gamma]-TIPs [tonoplast intrinsic proteins]) and the catalytic A-subunit of H+-ATPase, were found in the mature motor cell in the leaves (Fleurat-Lessard et al. 1997). [Gamma]-TIP aquaporin was detected almost exclusively in the tonoplast of the colloidal vacuole, and the H+-ATPase was also mainly localized in the membrane of the same vacuole. M. indica was found to contain a gelsolin/fragmin family actin-modulating protein that severed actin filament in a Ca2+-dependent manner (Yamashiro et al. 2001). Kanzawa et al. (2006) found that changes in actin isoforms, fragmentation of actin filaments and the leaf bending movement were all inhibited after injection of a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. On this basis they propose that the phosphorylation status of actin at tyrosine residues affected the dynamic reorganization of actin filaments and caused seismonastic movement.
The cerebroside fraction of lipids of both the leaves and chloroplasts of M. pudica was found to contain a polyunsaturated fatty acid (20:4ω3) and a long-chain sphingosine base (Choudhury and Chakrabarti 1980). A phenolic ketone, 4-(24′-methoxy-24′-methyl-1′ -oxo-5′-n-propyltetracosanyl)-phenol, was isolated from the leaves (Josewin et al. 1999).
A 5-deoxyflavonol derivative identified as 7,3,4-trihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxy flavone and p-coumaric acid were isolated from the leaves (Kirk et al. 2003).
Flower Phytochemicals
Flavonoids identified in pollens: isoquercetin, quercetin and isorhamnetin were most commonly found; other less commonly found in decreasing frequency were kaempferol, myricetin, tricetin and luteolin (Freire et al. 2012).
Seed Phytochemicals
A saponin (Jiang et al. 1990) and a novel bufadienolide, hellebrigenin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β-d-galactopyranoside, from the seeds of Mimosa pudica (Yadava and Yadav 2001). The mucilage from seed was reported to compose of d-xylose and d-glucuronic acid 4-O-(3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid)-β-d-glucuronide (Chatterjee and Pakrashi 2006). Mimosa mucilage was found to contain yellowish-brown and odourless flakes, which hydrate rapidly on contact with water to swell but is sparingly soluble in water (Singh et al. 2009). The pH of 1 % (wt/vol) aqueous dispersion of the mucilage was found to be 6.0–6.5. The swelling index of mucilage was found to be 81.77 % (vol/vol). The mucilage showed a loss on drying of 6.8 % (wt/wt) and yielded 0.106 % (wt/wt) of water-soluble extractive; the total ash contents were found to be 86.75 % (wt/wt); water-soluble ash and acid-insoluble ash were 61 and 7.5 % (wt/wt), respectively.
M. pudica seed oil extract was found to contain amino acids and derivatives: d-alanine, N-dl-alanylglycine, dl-alanine ethyl ester, dl-alanyl-dl -valine, 1-alanine ethyl amide; fatty acid derivatives: 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z), methyl ester; 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester; 11, 13-eicosadienoic acid, methyl ester, carbohydrate derivatives: meglumine; 1, 3-dioxolane-4-methanol; other compounds: methylamino-N- phenyl-acetamide; 1-butanamine, N-methyl; 2-methylamino-N-phenyl acetamide; 1-alanine ethylamide (S); 1-octamine, N-methyl; and 2, 5-dimethoxy-4-(methylsulphonyl) amphetamine (Saraswat and Pokharkar 2012).
Root Phytochemicals
One new sterolglucoside characterized as 4-a,24-dimethylcholest-7-en-3β-ol-3β-d-glucoside along with stigmasterol, β-sitosterol and betulinic acid isolated from the roots (Dinda et al. 2006). The proximate analysis of M. pudica roots revealed values for total ash 17.365 %, water-soluble ash 9.65 %, alcohol-soluble ash 4.55 %, loss on drying 2.55 %, moisture content 0.58–5 %, foreign organic matter 0.5 % and sulphated ash 3.78 % (Pande and Pathak 2010). The petroleum ether fraction was found to contain flavonoids, phytosterol, alkaloids, amino acids. Flavonoids were found in the acetone fraction and alkaloids in the chloroform fraction.
According to the Herbal Medicine Research Center, Malaysia (2002), the plant is believed to have diuretic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antispasmodic and hypoglycaemic properties. These and other pharmacological properties of the plant have been reported in in-vitro and some in-vivo animal studies.
Antioxidant Activity
The dichloromethane and methanol extracts of both M. pudica and M. rubicaulis showed prominent antioxidant property, with the RC50 values ranging from 4.70 × 10−1 to 2.10 × 10−2 mg/ml (Genest et al. 2008). The dichloromethane and methanol extracts of both M. pudica and M. rubicaulis showed prominent antioxidant property, with the RC50 values ranging from 4.70 × 10−1 to 2.10 × 10−2 mg/ml (Genest et al. 2008). The sequence of antioxidant activity of the ethanol extracts of M. pudica was as follows: leaf > the whole plant > seed > stem (Zhang et al. 2011). Leaf extracts of M. pudica contained the highest amount of total flavonoid and total phenolic, significantly higher than in other parts of the plant. The antioxidant sequence of the 5 flavonoid monomers was 5, 7, 3′, 4′-tetrahydroxy-6-C-[β-d-apiose-(1 → 4)]-β-d-glycopyranosyl flavone (1) > isorientin (2) > orientin (3) > isovitexin (4) > vitexin (5), and the antioxidant activity of compound 1 was equivalent to the synthetic antioxidant trolox or a bit stronger than trolox, and significant correlations were found among the active ingredient contents and the results of antioxidant activity.
Antiinflammatory Activity
The ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts of M. pudica exhibited significant dose-dependent antiinflammatory activity in the carrageenan-induced paw oedema and cotton pellet tests in rats while the petroleum ether extract exhibited minimum effect (Goli et al. 2011). The ethanol extract of dried, powdered M. pudica plant significantly inhibited the HMC-1 cell migration induced by stem cell factor and blocked the release of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in EoL-1 cells in BALB/c mice with asthma induced by ovalbumin (Yang et al. 2011). Leukocytosis, eosinophilia and mucus hypersecretion in asthmatic lung were significantly suppressed by mimosa extract. The release of ovalbumin-specific IgE in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum was also decreased. The extract treatment resulted in no liver cytotoxicity. The results suggested that M. pudica extract had inhibitory properties on asthma and may be used as a potent therapeutic agent for allergic lung inflammation.
Anticonvulsant Activity
The decoction of Mimosa pudica leaf decoction administered intraperitoneally at dose of 1,000–4,000 mg/kg protected mice against pentylenetetrazol- and strychnine-induced seizures (Bum et al. 2004). It also antagonized N-methyl-d-aspartate-induced turning behaviour. These properties could explain its use in African traditional medicine.
Antiulcerogenic Activity
The methanolic leaf extract of M. pudica was found to possess remarkable ulcer-protective properties at 100 and 200 mg/kg in the aspirin-induced ulcer model in rats when compared to the other chloroform and diethyl ether extracts (Vinothapooshan and Sundar 2010). Pretreatment of rats with Mimosa pudica leaf extracts produced a dose-dependent protection in the ethanol-induced ulceration model as compared to control group. The methanolic, chloroform and diethyl ether extracts in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg produced a reduction in the ulcer index, gastric volume, free acidity, total acidity and raised gastric pH significantly in comparison with control rats. The control animals had ulcers and haemorrhagic streaks, whereas in animals administered with the extracts of Mimosa pudica, there was significant reduction in the ulcer index.
Hepatoprotective Activity
Methanolic leaf extract of M. pudica showed significant hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity Wistar albino rats by lowering the serum levels of various biochemical parameters such as serum glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvates transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phospatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBL) and total cholesterol and by increasing the levels of total protein and albumin (Rajendran et al. 2009). These biochemical observations were in turn confirmed by histopathological examinations of liver sections and were comparable with the standard hepatoprotective drug silymarin (100 mg/kg body weight i.p.) which served as a positive control. Simultaneous administration of the aqueous leaf extract of Mimosa pudica along with the toxin ethanol in rats showed a considerable protection against the toxin-induced oxidative stress and liver damage as evidence by a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase and glutathione levels (Nazeema and Brindha 2009). The study revealed that the co-administration of Mimosa pudica aqueous extract significantly lowered the level of lipid peroxidation in alcohol-fed mice.
Anticancer Activity
Mimosine, an iron chelator, was found to have potent cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects on human (CaOV-3 & OvCAR) and rat (NuTu 19) ovarian cancer cells in-vitro (Restivo et al. 2005). Iron challenge studies indicated that the antiproliferative effect of mimosine was mediated by iron chelation. Further, mimosine-induced apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation analysis.
The alkaloid fractions of the ethanol extracts of Ervatamia coronaria and M. pudica showed significant cytotoxicity with LC50 values of 65.83 and 85.10 μg/ml in the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, respectively (Hullatti et al. 2013).
Antiophidic Activity
The aqueous root extract of M. pudica, particularly the normal water extract, displayed a significant inhibitory effect on the lethality, myotoxicity and tested enzyme activities of Naja kaouthia venom compared with alcoholic root extracts (Mahanta and Mukherjee 2001). The aqueous root extract of Mimosa pudica dose dependently inhibited the hyaluronidase and protease activities of Indian snakes (Naja naja, Vipera russelli and Echis carinatus) venom (Girish et al. 2004). The water extract of Mimosa pudica showed 100 % ability in neutralizing the 2LD50 lethality of Naja naja kaouthia venom (Vejayan et al. 2007). M. pudica also exhibited >50 % ability in neutralizing the 2LD50 toxicity of venoms of other snakes, namely, Ophiophagus hannah, Bungarus candidus, B. fasciatus and Calloselasma rhodostoma. Aqueous extract of Mimosa pudica dried roots displayed significant inhibitory effect on the lethality, phospholipase activity, oedema-forming activity, fibrinolytic activity and haemorrhagic activity of venoms of Naja naja and Bungarus caeruleus (Meenatchisundaram et al. 2009). About 0.14 and 0.16 mg of M. pudica extracts were able to completely neutralize the lethal activity of 2LD50 of Naja naja and Bungarus caeruleus venoms, respectively.
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