Major pharmacological properties of touch-me-not (according to ancient science)

Krishna: Touch-me-not prominently features in the texts of ‘Ayurveda′, i.e. the traditional Indian system of medicine. It is also used in folk medicines all over the world. These claims  were ‘tested’ in labs on rats and mice(1), (12).

The plant’s major pharmacological properties (1) are ….

1. Wound healing activity: The roots of M. pudica exhibit wound healing activity probably due to phenol constituents. (2).
2. Regeneration of sciatic nerve: An extract administered in a dose of 1.6 mg/100 g parenterally every 4th day up to 120 days in rats having experimental injury of sciatic nerve, exhibited 30–40% higher results in the process of regeneration of sciatic nerve as compared to the hydrocortisone group (3).
3. Antidepressant action: In Mexico, aqueous extracts from dried leaves of M. pudica are employed to alleviate depression. Research results showed that clomipramine (1.25 mg/kg, I.P.), desipramine (2.14 mg/kg, I.P.), and M. pudica (6.0 mg/kg and 8.0 mg/kg, I.P.) reduced immobility in the forced swimming test and increased the rate of reinforces received in the DRL-72 s test; these data suggest that M. pudica produces antidepressant effects in the rat(1) M. pudica produced an anti-depressant like profile similar to two tricyclic anti- depressants.
4. Anticonvulsant action: The decoction of M. pudica leaves given intraperitoneally at a dose of 1000-4000 mg/kg protected mice against pentylenetetrazole and strychnine-induced seizures. M. pudica had no effect against picrotoxin-induced seizures. It also antagonized N-methyl-d-aspartate-induced turning behavior (1). These properties could explain its use in African traditional medicine.
5. Hyperglycemic effect: Ethanolic extracts of M. pudica leaves given by oral route to mice at a dose of 250 mg/kg showed a significant hyperglycemic effect (4).
6. Diuretic effect: Decoction of leaves of M. pudica in doses of 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg in rats and dogs exhibited diuretic activity (considering urinary output Na+–K+–Cl- excretion). The activity in rats at 250 mg/kg dose was found to be 82% of standard diuretic (hydrochlorthiazide 2.5 mg/kg) treated group of rats. There was significant reduction (above 50%) of Na+ and Cl- excretion without affecting K+ excretion. The drug can be combined as a moderate diuretic with any modern synthetic diuretic causing K+ loss (1).
7. Effect on uterine bleeding: Aqueous extracts of root powder in pilot studies on patients with dysfunction uterine bleeding gave promising results (3).
8. Antifertility activity: Mimosa pudica is one of the folk medicinal plants commonly used as antifertility agent in some places in India. M. pudica root powder (150 mg/kg body weight) when administered intragastrically during tests, altered the estrous cycle pattern in female Rattus norvegicus. Nucleated and cornified cells were absent in all rats. The smear was characterized by leucocytes only, as in diestrus, which persisted for 2 weeks. There was a significant reduction in the number of ova in rats with the root powder compared with the control rats, and a significant increase in the number of degenerated ova (5).
9. Spasmogenetic potential: Ethanol extracts (50%) of the whole plant exhibited spasmogenetic activity in isolated guinea pig ileum (3).
10. Antihepatotoxic and antioxidant potential:Simultaneous administration of the leaf extract M. 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 (P < 0.05) in antioxidant activities. The study reveals that the co-administration of the M. pudica aqueous extract significantly lowered the level of lipid peroxidation in alcohol-fed mice (6).
11. Antivenom activity: The aqueous root extract of M. pudica dose dependently inhibited the hyaluronidase and protease activities of Indian snakes (Naja naja, Vipera russelii, and Echis carinatus) venom. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of dried roots of M. pudica were tested for their inhibitory activity on lethality, myotoxicity, and toxic enzymes of Naja kaouthia venom. The aqueous extract, particularly the normal water extract, displayed a significant inhibitory effect on the lethality, myotoxicity, and tested enzyme activities of venom compared with alcoholic extracts. The present findings suggest that an aqueous extract of M. pudica root possesses compound(s), which inhibit the activity of cobra venom (7).
12. Antimicrobial properties: Antimicrobial activity of the successive extracts of M. pudica whole plant in petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water was studied against various Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains using the zone of inhibition. The results of the study revealed that the M. pudica whole plant extract possesses good antimicrobial activity between the range of 7–18 mm against the pathogens used for screening (8).
13. Antifungal activity: The methanolic extract and aqueous extract of 100, 200, and 500 mg were tested against different fungal pathogens, Aspergillus fumigates for their antifungal activity. It was demonstrated by a well diffusion assay (9).
14. Antiviral properties: Four of the seven tested medicinal plants exhibited antimicrobial activity against Vibrio cholerae. These seven plants are: Ficus capensis, Mitragyna stipulosa, Entada Africana, Piliostigma reticulatum, Terminalia avicennoides, M. pudica, and Lannea acid. M. pudica showed antimicrobial activity (10).
15. Aphrodisiac property: Oral administration of the root extract significantly increased the libido and hormonal levels of testosterone. The most appreciable effect of the extract was observed at the dose of 500 mg/kg. The results indicated that the ethanolic extract of roots of M. pudica Linn. (Mimosae) produced a significant and sustained increase in the aphrodisiac activity of normal male mice, without any adverse effects (11).
16. Traditioanl uses: Charak and Sushruta prescribed a decoction, with Samangaa as an important ingredient in hemothermia, piles, diarrhea, and persistent dysentery. Included in an ointment, the herb was applied over piles, ulcers, and wounds.The leaves together with leaves from other medicinal plants are used in treating hemorrhoids and urinary infections(1).Decoction is efficacious in gravel and other urinary complaints. Treats dysentery, fever, syphilis, leprosy, stomach worms, veneral diseases, insect bite, insomnia, nervousness, and piles.

However, I am not very comfortable with the words used in these research papers. The words like “There is a potential”, “found to possess the properties”, don’t denote anything in reality. These things are not fully and satisfactorily studied and therefore whether this works in human beings in reality is a big question mark. Most of the tests were conducted on rats and mice and not on human beings.

If you ask a drug developer who uses modern scientific methods to develop drugs, you won’t get a positive response for such studies.

Okay, folk medicine, ancient traditional medicines work on trial and error methods, placebo effects and just belief systems.

So I cannot guarantee the authenticity of these medicines and the work described here. I just answered your Q based on ancient medical practices and not on modern medicine. Please note this.

Footnotes:

1. Mimosa pudica L. (Laajvanti): An overview
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