Mimosa pudica L., a member of the Fabaceae family, has been traditionally employed in Cuban culture through inhalation of smoke produced from burning its aerial parts or by smoking it in cigarette form, for both recreational purposes and therapeutic uses. This research sought to investigate the toxic effects and potential for physical dependence associated with M. pudica via acute inhalation toxicity testing and a spontaneous withdrawal experiment in rats subjected to the plant's smoke. Mimosine levels were quantified using a colorimetric assay. Acute inhalation toxicity was assessed in accordance with OECD Guideline 433. The potential for dependence from the burned dried aerial parts was examined using a non-precipitated withdrawal protocol in female Sprague-Dawley rats, with a dose of 1000 mg/kg applied in both experiments. Analysis revealed mimosine concentrations in the smoke of 0.62 ± 0.05 µg/mg dry weight. Toxicity evaluation indicated nasal cavity congestion, focal brain gliosis, and peribronchial pneumonitis. Exposure led to physical dependence indicators, including hyperactivity (manifested as excitability and aggression), piloerection, loose stools, reduced body weight, and elevated rectal temperature during withdrawal. Rats inhaling M. pudica smoke exhibited acute toxicity patterns resembling those seen with smoked substances like tobacco or cannabis, alongside physical dependence signs similar to those of chlordiazepoxide. These observations emphasize the health hazards potentially linked to the customary smoking of M. pudica.
