ABSTRACT:
Plants and plant based drugs are the basis for the modern pharmaceuticals used today. The aim of this present study is to find out the bioactive compounds in Mimosa pudica and to evaluate its antioxidant potential by DPPH assay and reducing power determination. A qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed for the detection of Saponins, phenols, glycosides, resins, tannins, steroids, flavonoids and carbohydrates in ethanol extract of Mimosa pudica. Results of the phytochemical screening indicate that ethanolic extract of this plant contain considerable amount of phenolic compounds. Measurement of total phenolic compounds by Folin- Ciocalteu’s reagent indicated that 1 ml of the extract contains 7.24 _g equivalent of Gallic Acid. The ethanolic extract of the plant exhibited a significant dose dependent inhibition of DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) radical scavenging activity. The IC50 value of plant ethanolic extract and standard Ascorbic Acid was found to be 46_g/ml and 64_g/ml respectively. The reducing power of Mimosa pudica ethanolic extract was very potent and the power of the extract was increased with quantity of sample. The ethanolic extract was also evaluated for HPTLC finger print. In HPTLC chromatogram blue and yellow coloured fluorescent zones observed at UV 366 nm in the tracks, were found to be flavonoids. The developed HPTLC chromatogram will be useful for drug formulations. However, further studies are required to isolate the compound responsible for its medicinal properties