Mimosa pudica L., traditionally known as the sensitive plant
or touch-me-not, is a species with a wide pantropical distribution and a
history of ethnomedical use in treating gastrointestinal disorders, infections,
and inflammatory processes. The plant has a diverse phytochemical profile,
including L-mimosine, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, triterpenes, and a
mucilage rich in glucuronoxylans. This metabolic arrangement confers
multifunctional pharmacological activities, highlighting three main axes: (i)
antiparasitic, through the cytostatic action of mimosine and synergistic
effects of flavonoids and saponins on helminths and protozoa; (ii) antibiofilm,
with the ability to interfere in critical stages of microbial community
formation, reducing adhesion, biomass, and virulence of pathogens such as
Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans; and (iii) anti-mucoid, attributed to
the seed mucilage, which exhibits bioadhesive and mechanical properties capable
of promoting the removal of luminal residues and muco-biofilm structures
associated with intestinal dysbiosis. From a toxicological point of view,
studies indicate low acute toxicity in animal models, but prolonged exposure
requires caution due to the iron-chelating effects of mimosine, reinforcing the
need for chemical standardization and monitoring of safe doses. Translational
perspectives include the standardization of extracts, randomized clinical
trials, and integrative applications with probiotics, prebiotics, and
conventional antihelminthics, as well as potential use in nanotechnological
platforms. It is concluded that Mimosa pudica gathers sufficient ethnomedical,
pre-clinical, and pharmacological evidence to be considered a multifunctional
phytotherapeutic for intestinal health. Clinical validation and phytochemical standardization
are essential steps to consolidate its role as an integrative and innovative
therapeutic resource.
Author(s) Details
Pinheiro, Elizabeth
American University, United States of America and UCDB, Campo Grande, Mato
Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/psnid/v8/6301
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