Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica)
Authors: P.T.Yeole*,Malode S.S.,. Kharade S.S., Wagh S. S.
K. K. Wagh College Agricultural Biotechnology, Nashik
Email : ptyeole@kkwagh.edu.in


Binomial name : Mimosa pudica

Description -:

The stem is erect in young plants, but becomes creeping or trailing with age. It can hang very low and become floppy. The stem is slender, branching, and sparsely to densely prickly, growing to a length of 1.5 m (5 ft).

The leaves are bipinnately compound, with one or two pinnae pairs, and 10–26 leaflets per pinna. The petioles are also prickly. Pedunculate (stalked) pale pink or purple flower heads arise from the leaf axils in mid summer with more and more flowers as the plant gets older. The globose to ovoid heads are 8–10 mm in diameter (excluding the stamens). On close examination, it is seen that the floret petals are red in their upper part and the filaments are pink to lavender. The fruit consists of clusters of 2–8 pods from 1–2 cm long each, these being prickly on the margins. The pods break into 2–5 segments and contain pale brown seeds some 2.5 mm long. The flowers are pollinated by the wind and insects. The seeds have hard seed coats which restrict germination.

The roots of Mimosa pudica create carbon disulfide, which prevents certain pathogenic and mycorrhizal fungi from growing within the plant’s rhizosphere. This allows the formation of nodules on the roots of the plant that contain endosymbiotic diazotrophs , which fix atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into a form that is usable by the plant.

Mimosa pudica is a tetraploid (2n = 52).

Plant Movement -:

1. Mimosa pudica is well known for its rapid plant movement . Like a number of other plant species, it undergoes changes in leaf orientation termed "sleep" or nyctinastic movement.
2. The foliage closes during darkness and reopens in light. This was first studied by the French scientist Jean-Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan .
3. The leaflets also close when stimulated in other ways, such as touching, warming, blowing, or shaking. These types of movements have been termed seismonastic movements.
4. The stimulus is transmitted as an action potential from a stimulated leaflet, to the leaflet's swollen base ( pulvinus ), and from there to the pulvini of the other leaflets, which run along the length of the leaf's rachis .
5. The action potential then passes into the petiole , and finally to the large pulvinus at the end of the petiole, where the leaf attaches to the stem. The action potential causes potassium ions to flow out from the vacuoles of cells in the various pulvini.
6. This causes water to flow out from those cells by osmosis through aquaporin channels, making them lose turgor , which is the force that is applied onto the cell wall by water within the cell. Differences in turgidity in different regions of the leaf and stem results in the closing of the leaflets and the collapse of the leaf petiole .
7. This movement of folding inwards is energetically costly for the plant and also interferes with the process of photosynthesis. This characteristic is quite common within the Mimosoideae subfamily of the legume family, Fabaceae .
8. The stimulus can also be transmitted to neighboring leaves. It is not known exactly why Mimosa pudica evolved this trait, but many scientists think that the plant uses its ability to shrink as a defense from herbivores.
9. Animals may be afraid of a fast moving plant and would rather eat a less active one. Another possible explanation is that the sudden movement dislodges harmful insects. as a defense from herbivores. Animals may be afraid of a fast moving plant and would rather eat a less active one. Another possible explanation is that the sudden movement dislodges harmful insects.

Agriculture Impact-:

The species can be a troublesome weed in tropical crops, particularly when fields are hand cultivated. Crops it tends to affect are corn, coconuts, tomatoes, cotton, coffee, bananas, soybeans, papaya, and sugar cane. Dry thickets may become a fire hazard. In some cases it has become a forage plant although the variety in Hawaii is reported to be toxic to livestock.

In addition, Mimosa pudica can change the physico-chemical properties of the soil it invades. For example, the total N and K increased in significantly invaded areas.

Nitrogen Fixation-:

1. Mimosa pudica can form root nodules that are habitable by nitrogen-fixing bacteria . The bacteria are able to convert atmospheric nitrogen, which plants cannot use, into a form that plants can use. This trait is common among plants in the Fabaceae family.
2. Nitrogen is a vital element for both plant growth and reproduction. Nitrogen is also essential for plant photosynthesis because it is a component of chlorophyll . Nitrogen fixation contributes nitrogen to the plant and to the soil surrounding the plant's roots.
3. Mimosa pudica’s ability to fix nitrogen may have arisen in conjunction with the evolution of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nitrogen fixation is an adaptive trait that has transformed the parasitic relationship between the bacteria and plants into a mutualistic relationship.
4. The shifting dynamics of this relationship are demonstrated by the corresponding improvement of various symbiotic characteristics in both Mimosa pudica and bacteria. These traits include enhanced “competitive nodulation, nodule development, intracellular infection, and bacteroid persistence”. As much as 60% of the nitrogen found in Mimosa pudica can be attributed to the fixation of N₂ by bacteria.
5. Burkholderia phymatum STM815^T and Cupriavidus taiwanensis LMG19424^T are beta-rhizobial strains of diazotrophs that are highly effective at fixing nitrogen when coupled with M. pudica. Burkholderia is also shown to be a strong symbiont of Mimosa pudica in nitrogen-poor soils in regions like Cerrado and Caatinga.

Cultivation-:

1. In cultivation, this plant is most often grown as an indoor annual , but is also grown for groundcover. Propagation is generally by seed.
2. Mimosa pudica grows most effectively in nutrient poor soil that allows for substantial water drainage. However, this plant is also shown to grow in scalped and eroded subsoils. Typically, disrupted soil is necessary in order for M pudica. to become established in an area.
3. Additionally, the plant is shade intolerant and frost-sensitive, meaning that it does not tolerate low levels of light or cold temperatures. Mimosa pudica does not compete for resources with larger foliage or forest canopy undergrowth.

Chemical Constituant-:

1. Mimosa pudica contains the toxic alkaloid mimosine , which has been found to also have antiproliferative and apoptotic effects. The extracts of Mimosa pudica immobilize the filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis in less than one hour.
2. Aqueous extracts of the roots of the plant have shown significant neutralizing effects in the lethality of the venom of the monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia). It appears to inhibit the myotoxicity and enzyme activity of cobra venom.
3. Mimosa pudica demonstrates both antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This plant has also been demonstrated to be non-toxic in brine shrimp lethality tests, which suggests that M. pudica has low levels of toxicity. Chemical analysis has shown that Mimosa pudica contains various compounds, including “alkaloids, flavonoid C-glycosides, sterols, terenoids, tannins, and fatty acids”.
4. The roots of the plant have been shown to contain up to 10% tannin. A substance similar to adrenaline has been found within the plant's leaves. Mimosa pudica's seeds produce mucilage made up of D-glucuronic acid and D-xylose .
5. Additionally, extracts of M. pudica have been shown to contain crocetin-dimethylester, tubulin, and green-yellow fatty oils. A new class of phytohormone turgorines, which are derivatives of gallic acid 4-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl-6'-sulfate), have been discovered within the plant.
6. The nitrogen-fixing properties of Mimosa pudica contribute to a high nitrogen content within the plant’s leaves. The leaves of M. pudica also contain a wide range of carbon to mineral content, as well as, a large variation in C values.
7. The correlation between these two numbers suggests that significant ecological adaptation has occurred among the varieties of M. pudica in Brazil.
8. The roots contain sac-like structures that release organic and organosulfur compounds including SO₂, methylsulfinic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, ethanesulfinic acid, propane sulfinic acid, 2-mercaptoaniline , S-propyl propane 1-thiosulfinate, and thioformaldehyde, an elusive and highly unstable compound never before reported to be emitted by a plant.

Reserch with Mimosa Pudica -:

Due to Mimosa's unique response to touch, it became an ideal plant for many experiments regarding plant habituation and memory. Wilhelm Pfeffer , a German botanist during the 17th century, used Mimosa in one of the first experiments testing plant habituation. Further experimentation was done in 1965, when Holmes and Gruenberg discovered that Mimosa could distinguish between two stimuli, a water drop and a finger touch. Their findings also demonstrated that the habituated behavior was not due to fatigue since the leaf-folding response returned when another stimuli was presented.

More recently, Mimosa pudica was used in a 2014 study by Monica Gagliano from the University of Western Australia . She wanted to determine how environmental conditions impacted the rate of habituation to a specific stimuli, and how long this habituated behavior could last. To invoke habituation, Mimosa plants were continuously dropped from the same height until they no longer demonstrated their "shy" reflex. After an extended period of time, researchers dropped them again. Experimental results show that after a month had passed, Mimosa pudica plants were still habituated to dropping.

Health Benefits & Medicinal Uses Of Mimosa Pudica-:

1.Mimosa Pudica Wound Healing Activity: Traditionally the leaf extract made by grinding the leaves with little water and extracting the juice is used for treating wounds. This remedy has been proven scientifically now! For the study, both the methanolic and water extract was used in 3 different concentrations (0.5 %, 1 % and 2 %) in a basic ointment base. The ointment containing 2 % of both methanolic and water extract showed significant wound healing activity.

2. Mimosa Pudica Anti Venom Activity: An interesting study was done on the anti venomous activity of mimosa pudica and that too cobra venom! The study which was done on the water extract of the mimosa pudica dried root (made by boiling the dried root in water) proved that it is very good at inhibiting the activity of the snake venom. But this remedy has to done under the observation of an experienced healer or herbalist.

3. Mimosa Pudica For Piles: Mimosa Pudica is very good for treating bleeding piles and has been used as a remedy for it for many many years. For the remedy, crush the leaves into a fine paste and apply as a poultice, it will greatly ease the burning and bleeding. This is due to it's amazing wound healing properties.

4. Mimosa Pudica For Ulcers: Another very important study on mimosa pudica was its effect on ulcers. The study done on rats with artificially induced ulcers proved that 100 mg of ethanolic extract very effectively reduced the ulcers.

5. Mimosa Pudica For Diarrhea: Mimosa pudica is very good in treating diarrhea. A study done on albino rats by inducing them to diarrhea using castor oil and treating them with ethanolic extract proved to be very effective in controlling the diarrhea.

6. Mimosa Pudica Anti inflammatory Properties: Another study proved its anti inflammatory properties. The study done on rats with artificially induced paw odema proved its anti inflammatory properties. The results were very effective and significant. In village sides, we do boil the leaves of mimosa pudica and use the warm liquid as a compress, happy to know that it has been proven scientifically.

7. Mimosa Pudica Anti Diabetic Activity: Mimosa pudica's anti diabetic activity has been proven through research. The research was done using the ethanolic extract but usually the leaf powder or the root powder is taken daily for bringing down the blood sugar levels.

8. Liver Protecting Activity of Mimosa Pudica: Another important medicinal use it's protection of liver against toxins . When rats were given toxic ethanol along with mimosa pudica extract, it proved to be very effective in protecting the liver from toxicity.

9. Anti microbial, Anti Fungal & Anti Viral Properties Of Mimosa Pudica: Mimosa pudica has been proven for its anti microbial, anti fungal and anti viral properties. The research was done using different concentrations of the mimosa pudica ethanol extract on various fungus and bacteria and it proved to be very effective in controlling them.

10. Anti fertility Activity of Mimosa Pudica: Mimosa pudica has proven to have anti fertility properties. so if you are trying for pregnancy, never consume mimosa pudica in any form.



About Author / Additional Info:
I am currently working as Asssistant professor at KKwagh college of agril biotech sarswatinagar nashik