Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Lajjalu

Mimosa pudica

Lajjalu (Mimosa pudica) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Mimosine undergoes partial hepatic first-pass metabolism. Co-administration with piperine or lipid-based carriers can improve absorption of flavonoid glycosides by 25-40%.

Key facts
Botanical nameMimosa pudica
FamilyFabaceae · other entries in this family
OrderFabales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2969284 · Wikidata Q148532 · NCBI Taxonomy 76306

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishLajjalu

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)TiktaPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)LaghuPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)SheetaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)KatuPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kwatha (decoction), Svarasa (fresh juice), Capsules, Tablets, Topical paste, Ointment

Standard Dosage: 3-6 g powder per day in divided doses; 50-100 mL decoction twice daily; 10-20 mL fresh juice

Bioavailability: Moderate oral bioavailability; tannins and flavonoids are absorbed in the upper GI tract. Mimosine undergoes partial hepatic first-pass metabolism. Co-administration with piperine or lipid-based carriers can improve absorption of flavonoid glycosides by 25-40%.

Optimal Timing: Before meals for GI indications; with meals for systemic anti-inflammatory effects; topical application 2-3 times daily on affected area

Standardized Extract: Standardized aqueous-ethanolic extract (10:1 concentration ratio), minimum 2% total flavonoids, 1.5% tannins (as gallic acid equivalents). Mimosine content controlled below 0.5% in oral formulations for safety.

Shelf Life: 24 months for powder in airtight containers; 36 months for tablets/capsules; 18 months for liquid extracts

Storage: Store below 25 deg C in airtight, light-resistant containers. Protect from moisture (relative humidity below 60%). Liquid extracts require refrigeration at 2-8 deg C after opening.

Marker Compounds: Mimosine, Gallic acid, Quercetin, Stigmasterol, Beta-sitosterol, Apigenin, D-pinitol

Extraction Methods

  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (50-70% ethanol)
  • Aqueous decoction
  • Cold maceration
  • Supercritical CO2 extraction for sensitive bioactives
  • Soxhlet extraction with methanol

Synergistic Combinations

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews6

  1. Noor M, Muhammad G, Hanif H and others. 2024. Structure, chemical modification, and functional applications of mucilage from Mimosa pudica seeds - A reviewInternational journal of biological macromolecules. PMID 38754657 · doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132390
  2. Zeng F, Ma Z, Feng Y and others. 2024. Mechanism of the Pulvinus-Driven Leaf Movement: An OverviewInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 38731801 · doi:10.3390/ijms25094582
  3. Khan A, Akram M, Thiruvengadam M and others. 2022. Anti-anxiety Properties of Selected Medicinal PlantsCurrent pharmaceutical biotechnology. PMID 33480339 · doi:10.2174/1389201022666210122125131
  4. Hagihara T, Toyota M. 2020. Mechanical Signaling in the Sensitive Plant Mimosa pudica LPlants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 32375332 · doi:10.3390/plants9050587
  5. Adelman BE. 2018. On the Conditioning of Plants: A Review of Experimental EvidencePerspectives on behavior science. PMID 31976404 · doi:10.1007/s40614-018-0173-6
  6. Uehlein N, Kaldenhoff R. 2008. Aquaporins and plant leaf movementsAnnals of botany. PMID 18024416 · doi:10.1093/aob/mcm278

Laboratory and animal studies6

  1. de Andrade TG, Beale AD. 2024. Darwin and the biological rhythmsPNAS nexus. PMID 39192844 · doi:10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae318
  2. Harshini S, Shanmugam R, Govindharaj S. 2024. Green Synthesis of Mimosa pudica-Mediated Strontium Nanoparticles and its Anti-Inflammatory ActivityJournal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences. PMID 38882793 · doi:10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_586_23
  3. Ghumman SA, Mahmood A, Noreen S and others. 2023. Mimosa pudica mucilage nanoparticles of losartan potassium: Characterization and pharmacodynamics evaluationSaudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society. PMID 37520120 · doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101695
  4. Oogai S, Fukuta M, Watanabe K and others. 2019. Molecular characterization of mimosinase and cystathionine β-lyase in the Mimosoideae subfamily member Mimosa pudicaJournal of plant research. PMID 31368041 · doi:10.1007/s10265-019-01128-4
  5. Patro G, Kumar Bhattamisra S, Kumar Mohanty B. 2016. Effects of Mimosa pudica L. leaves extract on anxiety, depression and memoryAvicenna journal of phytomedicine. PMID 28078250
  6. Volkov AG, Tucket C, Reedus J and others. 2014. Memristors in plantsPlant signaling & behavior. PMID 24556876 · doi:10.4161/psb.28152

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.