Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and toxicological effects of Mimosa pudica- A review

Introduction: Mimosa pudica L. is a creeping herbaceous ornamental plant belonging to the Mimosaceae family. It is used in ethnomedicine to prevent or treat various illnesses like diarrhoea, dysentery, diabetes, alopecia, cancer and urinary tract infection. This study extensively reviewed the phytochemicals and pharmacological activities of M. Pudica. Method: The materials used in this study were obtained from the following databases: ScienceDirect, PubMed, Wiley, Springer and google scholar using relevant keywords. Only papers in the English language between January 2001 and December 2022 were included. Results: In vivo and in vitro studies revealed that M. pudica and its bioactive components possess numerous pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, wound healing, anxiolytic, anthelminthic, antiophidian, hepatoprotective, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and anticancer activities. These numerous pharmacological activities may be attributed to various bioactive compounds in M. pudica. Conclusion: This study revealed that M. pudica and its numerous bioactive compounds have a strong therapeutic effect against various diseases, including life-threatening diseases such as cancer and diabetes. However, despite the widespread therapeutic potential of M. pudica, no clinical trial and quality control studies exist in the literature. Therefore, clinical trials and quality control studies are recommended to establish safe and effective doses for the prevention and treatment of diseases.