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| Latin Name |
English Name |
Sanskrit Name |
Hindi Names |
Mimosa pudica Mimosaceae
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Sensitive
Plant |
Lajjalu |
Lajwanti,
Chui- mui |
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| Habitat |
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Found in tropical and sub-tropical parts of India.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
M.pudica
is a diffuse undershrub, 50-90 cm. high. The stem and rachis are clothed
with prickles; the leaves are bipinnate, pinnae 2-4, digitatively
arranged, with 10-20 pairs of leaflets; the flowers in pinkish globose
heads; the pods, small, flat, straw-coloured, with many bristles;
the seeds, 3-5.
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| Principal
Constituents |
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M.pudica contains
a toxic alkaloid, mimosine identical with leucenine from Leucaena
glauca (q.v.). The leaves, stems and roots give positive tests for
alkaloids, but the total quantity present is small. An adrenaline-like
substance has been identified in the extracts of leaves; a perfusion
of mimosa ground in Ringer`s solution showed adrenaline action on
isolated frog heart. Crocetin dimethyl ester is present in the plant.
The roots contain tannin (c. 10%)1.
The seeds of the plant contain a mucilage composed of d -xylose and
d -glucuronic acid. They yield 17% of greenish yellow fatty oil 2.
The plant contains tubulin which shows the ability to bind colchicine
with its sulfhydryl groups. A new class of phytohormones-turgorines
are active in the plant. These periodic leaf movement factors are
derivatives of 4-O-(ß-D- glucopyranosyl-6-sulphate) gallic acid3.
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| Pharmacology |
It has been observed
that in rats with experimental injury of the sciatic nerve, the process
of regeneration of the nerve was 30-40 per cent higher in rats treated
with M.pudica extract, as compared to hydrocortisone treated
group. The extract was given parenterally(1.6mg/100g) every 4th day
upto 120 days4.
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| Clinical
Studies |
The
aqueous extract of the root powder after pilot studies on patients
with dysfunctional uterine bleeding (menorrhagia) showed promise 5.
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| Toxicity |
LD50
of 50% ethanol extract was found to be more than 1000mg/kg (intraperitoneally)
in albino rats6.
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| Indications |
A decoction of the
root of the plant is considered useful in gravel and other urinary
complaints. A paste of the leaves is applied to glandular swellings;
the juice of the leaves is used in dressings for sinus and also as
an application for sores and piles 7.
The whole plant is crushed and used against itching; it also relieves
scabies patches. A decoction of the root is taken to relieve asthma
and diarrhea8.
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| Product
Range |
Pilex (VeinCare),
Styplon, Gentle Refreshing Toner, Styplon Vet.
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| References |
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- Manske & Holmes, I, 211; Heilbron & Bunbury, III, 175;
Webb, Bull, sci. industr. Res Org. Aust., No. 268, 1952, 54; Chem.
Abstr., 1950, 44, 2180; 1948, 42, 3812; 1949, 43, 3475; Banerji
et. al., Trans. Bose Res. Inst., 1946, 16, 155.
- Hulyalkar et. al., J. Indian chem. Soc., 1956, 33, 864;
Aggarwal & Karimullah, J. sci. industr. Res., 1945-46, 4,
80.
- Chem Abstr, 1992, 116, 250688; 1990, 112, 73778; 1992, 117,
146660.
- Prasad, G. C., et. al., J. Res. Ind. Med., 1975, 10(4),
37.
- Vaidya, G.H. and Seth, U.K. M. pudica - its medicinal
value and pilot clinical use in patients with menorrhagia, Ancient
sci. Life, 1986, 5(3), 156-160.
- Bhakuni, D.S., et. al., Screening of Indian plants
for biological activities. Indian J. Exptl. Biol. 7: 250,
1969.
- Kirt. & Basu, II, 915; Nadkarni, I 799.
- Kapur, Indian Drugs, 1991, 28, 210; Mohiddin et. al.,
Int J Pharmacog, 1992, 30, 105; Ganesan, Geobios, 1993, 20, 264.
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