ABSTRACT:
The chloroform extract of Mimosa pudica Lin., leaves was screened for invitro antioxidant activity against free radical scavenging by DPPH, nitric oxide, super oxide dismutase and reducing power ability. The chloroform extract was also subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis, high performance thin layer chromatographic analysis and fluorescence analysis. Mimosa pudica Lin., is traditionally used for its anti-hyperglycemic, antidiarrhoeal and cytotoxic properties. The results of the present study reveals that the chloroform extract of Mimosa pudica Lin., leaves showed a significant antioxidant activity against free radical scavenging by DPPH, nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase and reducing power ability. The effects were comparable with the standard antioxidant ascorbic acid and these antioxidant properties were concentration dependent. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phytoconstituents such as steroids, flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, which is further confirmed by the thin layer chromatography and high performance thin layer chromatography and the results suggests that the chloroform extract of Mimosa pudica Lin., is a potential source of natural antioxidants and the extract have constituents which were capable of showing antioxidant activity and the said invitro antioxidant activity is due to antioxidant principle phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The significant antioxidant activity of chloroform extract of Mimosa pudica Lin., leaves was encouraging enough to pursue isolation and characterization of the active constituents which is responsible for the observed significant invitro antioxidant activity.