Phytopharmacological aspects of Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) poir.: a systematic review of preclinical data

Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. is a native species of tropical regions with a diverse therapeutic potential due to the presence of various metabolites in its botanical composition. This review provides updated information on the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of M. tenuiflora. The studies used in this review were obtained from specialized databases (PubMed, Scielo, Science Direct, Web of Science, Springer, and Scopus) using the keywords: Mimosa tenuiflora, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activity. The selected articles were analyzed by year of publication, country where the research was conducted, isolated chemical compounds reported, and biological activities evaluated. The selected articles were peer-reviewed in the following order: title, abstract, and full text. While the majority of studies involving M. tenuiflora are still situated in Brazil and Mexico, some research is being conducted outside of Latin America. In vitro and in vivo studies report various pharmacological activities for M. tenuiflora, such as antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antidepressant effects. These diverse activities are attributed to the presence of flavonoids and alkaloids, identified as the main classes of secondary metabolites in M. tenuiflora. The effective doses for biological activities vary according to the plant part used and the type of extracting solvent. Additionally, the isolation and concentration of the bioactive compound optimizes and reduces the potential effective therapeutic dose. The arsenal of bioactive compounds provides versatility for potential therapeutic uses of M. tenuiflora. Despite its therapeutic potential, clinical trials are still lacking, and preclinical studies remain limited and heterogeneous, representing an opportunity for further pharmacological investigation.