IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT)

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Phytochemical Analysis and Uses of Mimosa pudica Linn. in

Chhattisgarh
Sandhya Madan Mohan1, Bhawana Pandey2,Sunita G. Rao3
1,3(
Department of Home Science,Bhilai Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Hospital Sector, Bhilai, Distt. Durg,
Chhattisgarh)
2(
Department of Microbiology & Biotechnology,Bhilai Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Hospital Sector, Bhilai, Distt.
Durg, Chhattisgarh.)

Abstract: Ethanolic extracts of Mimosa pudica leaves were screened for phytochemical constituents.
Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed that the antimicrobial activity of the plant materials is due to the
presence of active constituents like alkaloids or tannins.Mimosa pudica is used in disease related to blood and
bile, bilious fever, piles, jaundice, leprosy, ulcer and smallpox. In the present study ethanolic extracts of
Mimosa pudica leaves and roots sample were obtained using soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical studies for the
presence of revealed that tannin and proteins are present in both the samples.

Key words: Antimicrobial activity, Mimosa pudica , phytochemical.

I. Introduction
Mimosa pudica Family Mimosae known as sensitive plant in English and lajvanti or chuimui in Hindi
language. The plant is distributed through out in India in moist locality. A diffuse prickly under shrub, is about
45-90 cm in height. Leaves bipinnately compound, pinnate 2-4 delicately arranged with 10-20 pairs of leaflets,
rachis clothed with ascending bristles. Flowers pink, in globose heads, penduncles prickly, usually in auxiliary
pairs all along the branches. Fruits bristly pods, flat, straw colored consisting of 3-5 one seeded segments. The
roots and leaves are commonly used in treatment as bitter, astringent, acrid, cooling vulnerary, alexipharmic,
diuretic antispasmodic, emetic, constipating and febrifuge (Vaidyaratanm, 2001).The present study intends to
study about the phyto constituents of the plant extracts of Mimosa pudica against pathogenic microbes in
Chhattisgarh.

Fig 1: Mimosa pudica Plant Fig 2: Powdered Mimosa pudica leaves

Many plants species used traditionally have potential antimicrobial and antiviral properties (Shelef et
al. 1983) and this has raised the optimistic thinking of scientists about the future of phyto-antimicrobial agents.
(Das et al., 1999). Mimosa plant has a history of use for the treatment of various ailments and the most
commonly used plant part for this purpose is the root, but flowers bark and fruit can also be utilized. Several
research works have been carried out to study about the phytochemical components of Mimosa pudica (Ahmad
et al. 2001; Arthur, 1954.) and also about the antimicrobial activity of the plant (Palacios et al., 1991). The
major chemical substances of interest in these surveys were the alkaloids and steroidal saponins, however also
been reported (Lozoya & Lozaya, 1989). The methanolic extract of leaves of M. pudica showed the presence of
bioactive components like terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, quinines, phenols, tannins, saponins
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and coumarin (Gandhiraja et al., 2009). In Manipur, a state in India, it is reported that the consumption of the
decoction of leaves boiled in water causes diuresis, and is used in urinary tract infection. This plant has
hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antifertility, antihapatotoxic, anti convulsant, anti depressant and wound
healing properties. The seeds of the plant was also said to have diuretic property (Krishnaraju et al., 2006).
Roots of mimosa contain tannin, ash, calcium oxalate crystals and alkaloid mimosine (Oudhia et al., 2006).
This plant has a history of use for the treatment of various ailments and the most commonly used plant
part for this purpose is the root, but flowers, bark and fruit can also be utilized. Several research works have
been carried out to study about the Phytochemical components of Mimosa pudica (Ahmad and Beg, 2001;
Arthur, 1954; Deininger, 1984) and also about the antimicrobial activity of the plant (Palacios et
al., 1991; Ojalaa et al., 1999). The present study intends to study about the phytochemicals in plant extracts
of Mimosa pudica.

II. Collection Of Plant Materials

Fresh leaves and root of Mimosa pudica were collected from Durg- Bhilai Region.

2.1 Sample Preparation

The sample leaf and root were washed with sterile water, shade dried, powdered and kept in an air tight
container for further use.
About 20g of the powdered leaves were soaked in 100ml of methanol. It was left for 24 hours so that
alkaloids, terpenoids and other constituents if present get dissolved. The methanolic extract was filtered
using Whatmann 41 filter paper. It was again filtered through Sodium sulphate in order to remove the traces of
moisture.

III. Plant Extraction Method Extraction:

20 gms of each sample were taken and extracted separately with 250 ml ethanol using soxhlet
apparatus. The extract were collected and dried. The condensed extract was then dissolved in ethanol to the
concentration of 100mg/ml. After that allow for 5 cycles and switch of the apparatus and then take the sample
solution and extracted solution in a beaker and cover it with a paper and make holes on the paper for the
evaporation of the solvent .Allow it for drying and then collect the residue from the beaker.

IV. Phytochemical Screening (Dey And Raman, 1957)

Phytochemical screening of the plant extract was carried out as per the methods and tests given
by Dey and Raman (1957) to decipher the presence or absence of various phytocompounds. The stock
concentration of plant extract 10 mg/ml was used.

4.1 Test for Tannins

4.1.1 Preparation of 0.1% ferric chloride:
To 99.9 ml of distilled water 0.1ml of ferric chloride reagent was added.

4.1.2 Ferric chloride Test

1 ml of the sample taken and a few drops of 0.1% ferric chloride was added and observed for brownish
green or blue, black colouration.

4.2 Test for Saponins

To 1 ml of extract 5 ml of distilled water was added and shaken vigorously. Observed for soaking
appearance indicates the presence of saponins.

4.3 Test for Flavonoids

To 1 ml of extract 5 ml of dilute ammonia solution was added, followed by addition of concentrated
sulphuric acid along the sides of the tube. Appearance of yellow colouration.

4.4 Test for Alkaloids

1 ml of sample was taken to that few drops of Dragandoff reagent was added and observed for orange
red colour.

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4.5 Test for Protein

1 ml of sample was taken to that few drops of Bradford reagent was added. The blue colour was
observed.

4.6 Test for Steroids

1 ml of the filtrate was taken to that 10% concentration H 2SO4 was added and observed for green
colour.

4.7 Test for Anthroquinones

1 ml of sample was taken to that aqueous ammonia (shaking) was added and observed for change in
colour of aqueous layer (Pink, Red or Violet).

V. Result And Discussion

5.1 Phytochemical analysis
The crude extract of both samples were studied and the result were tabulated (Table-1) Phytochemical,
which process many Ecological and physiological roles as widely distributed as plant constituents.
Phytochemical exhibit wide range of biological effects as constituents at their antioxidant properties. The
phytochemical analysis of the crude extract indicated the presence of tannins, proteins and steroids.
These compounds are known to be biological active and therefore aid the antimicrobial activity.
Tannins have been found to form irreversible complexes with highly rich protein resulting in the inhibition of
cell protein synthesis.
Tannins are known to react with protein to provide difficult tanning effect which is important for the
treatment of influenced or ulcerated tissues. Herbs that that have tannins have the main component astringen are
used for treating intestinal disorder such as diarrhea and dysentery. The presence of tannin in Mimosa pudica is
the traditional treatment for ailments.
Steroidal compounds present in Mimosa pudica extracts are important due to their relationship with
various anabolic hormones including sex hormones. Mimosa pudica extracts which exhibited antibacterial
activity and antiviral activity. It is concluded that both extract could be potential source of active antimicrobial
agent.

Table 1. Phytochemical Screening of Metanolic Extract of Mimosa pudica.

S.No Tests Leaves of Mimosa pudica
1 Terpenoids +
2 Flavonoids +
3 Steroids -
4 Anthroquinone -
5 Glycosides +
6 Sugars -
7 Alkaloids +
8 Quinines +
9 Phenols +
10 Tannins +
11 Saponins +
12 Coumarin +

VI. Conclusion
From above studies, it is concluded that the susceptibility of various microbial agents to different
concentrations of Mimosa pudica indicates that plant is the potential source for antimicrobial compound. So
further work on the profile in order to determine the nature of bioactive principles present in the plant and
their mode of action.
In the present era, plant resources are abundant, but these resources are dwindling fast due to the
onward march of civilization (Vogel, 1991). Although a significant number of studies have been used to obtain
purified plant chemical, very few screening programmes have been initiated on crude plant materials. It has also
been widely observed and accepted that the medicinal value of plants lies in the
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bioactive phytocomponents present in the plants (Veeramuthu et al., 2008).

From the above studies, it is concluded that the traditional plants may represent new sources of anti-
microbials with stable, biologically active components that can establish a scientific base for the use of plants in
modern medicine. These local ethnomedical preparations and prescriptions of plant sources should be
scientifically evaluated and then disseminated properly and the knowledge about the botanical
preparation of traditional sources of medicinal plants can be extended for future investigation into the field of
pharmacology, phytochemistry, ethnobotany and other biological actions for drug discovery.

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