LAJALOO MOOL (Mimosa pudica)

Lajaloo Mool (Mimosa pudica), also known as the “Touch-Me-Not” plant, is a creeping, herbaceous plant known for its sensitive leaflets that fold when touched. Belonging to the Fabaceae family, it grows widely across tropical regions and is revered in traditional medicine, especially Ayurveda, for its astringent, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and anti-diarrheal properties. Its root, known as Lajaloo Mool, is particularly used for treating piles, uterine disorders, diarrhea, and wounds.

Mimosa pudica Scientific Name

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Mimosa
Species: Mimosa pudica

Mimosa pudica Common Name

English: Sensitive Plant, Touch-Me-Not
Sanskrit: Lajjalu, Namaskari
Hindi: Lajwanti
Tamil: Thotta-sinni
Telugu: Attapatti
Marathi: Lajalu
Malayalam: Thottavadi
Kannada: Muttidare Muni

Mimosa pudica Uses

Piles and Hemorrhoids - The root decoction or paste is applied or consumed for its astringent action to shrink piles and stop bleeding.

Diarrhea and Dysentery - Traditionally used as an antidiarrheal agent due to its tannin-rich content which helps reduce intestinal inflammation.

Wound Healing - Fresh paste or extract is applied topically to accelerate wound healing, reduce infection, and control bleeding.

Gynecological Uses - Employed in managing excessive menstrual bleeding, leucorrhea, and other uterine disorders.

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-arthritic - The plant possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties helpful in managing joint pain and arthritis.

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant - Exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial action and neutralizes oxidative stress through its phytochemical profile.

Phytochemical Constituents

Mimosa pudica contains various phytochemicals responsible for its healing potenti

Alkaloids: Mimosine
Flavonoids: Quercetin, Kaempferol
Tannins: Catechin, Gallic acid
Steroids: β-sitosterol
Saponins: Present in roots and leaves
Terpenoids: Limonene, Linalool
Phenolic Compounds: Caffeic acid, Ferulic acid

References

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Govt. of India, Vol. I, Part I.

Sharma, P.V. (1998). Dravyaguna Vijnana, Vol. II, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi.

The Wealth of India: A Dictionary of Indian Raw Materials and Industrial Products. (2001). Raw Materials, Vol. 6, CSIR, New Delhi.

Rajalakshmi, D. et al. (2012). "Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Mimosa pudica: A review." International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, 15(2), 41-44.

Chatterjee, A. & Pakrashi, S.C. (1997). The Treatise on Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol. 4, NISCAIR-CSIR, New Delhi.

Mishra, S. et al. (2011). “Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Mimosa pudica Linn.” Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 1(6), 426–429.

European Pharmacopoeia (10th Edition), Council of Europe