Phytochemistry and Medicinal Importance of Herb Mimosa pudica: A Review

Background: Mimosa pudica is a tropical weed that belongs to the legume family and is native to South America. This plant is also found in different regions of India, such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, and Tamil Nadu. It is a known plant that can show thigmonasty. The plant possesses diverse biological properties, including antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticonvulsant, antivenom, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antifungal, antinociceptive, and antiulcer activity, and has an antioxidant and antifertility effect, antihistamine, wound healing, diuretic effect, etc. The herb is traditionally used for ages to treat urogenital disorders, dysentery, sinus piles, and wound healing. Objective: Review stresses on plant movement displayed by the plant Mimosa pudica and the responsible phytocompounds. The bioactive compounds isolated by various researchers to date and the pharmacological activities displayed by the plant are thoroughly reviewed. Methods: The literature related to phytochemical and pharmacological studies has been collected from various databases such as Scopus, PubMed, various student papers, publications, and internet sources from 1877 to 2021. Results: The net result of the study showed that Mimosa pudica possesses various phytochemicals responsible for plant movement and pharmacological activities that are further proven through computational studies. Further, nanoparticles and hydrogels from Mimosa pudica have been studied for their various applications in recent years. Conclusion: The herb seems to be a promising natural medicine to undergo further investigation, as evidenced by its diverse biological profile.