Mimosa pudica, Dionaea muscipula and anesthetics

Abstract

Some studies showed that anesthetics reduce the response of physical stimuli in Mimosa Pudica and in Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), peculiar plants that have the ability to respond to touch stimuli. In this research we tested the effects of ketamine, lidocaine, diethyl ether, and amlodipine on the movements of Mimosa Pudica and Venus Flytrap. With a literature review, we tried to bring elements to theorize about the interaction of these substances with these plants. The angular displacement in Mimosa's petiole and in Dionaea leaves is what was measured to compare the drugs group with control groups. © 2012 Landes Bioscience.