Cytotoxicity, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Studies of the Different Plant Parts of Mimosa Pudica

Rebeka Sultana and Most Nazma Parvin - were added as authors on 13th September 2010.The petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol crude extracts of the two different plant parts (aerial part and root) of Mimosa pudica (Mimosaceae) were screened in vitro for cytotoxicity studies by brine shrimp lethality bioassay and antimicrobial screening by disc diffusion method. The methanol crude extract of the aerial part was screened in vitro for antioxidant activity using the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The petroleum ether and methanol crude extracts of the root showed potential cytotoxic activities (LC50 0.05 μg/ml and 0.035 μg/ml respectively) whereas the other extractives showed poor cytotoxicity. All the crude extracts showed poor activity or inactivity against the test microorganisms. On the other hand, the methanol crude extract of the aerial part showed moderate antioxidant activity (IC50 296.92 μg/ml) compared to ascorbic acid (IC50 131.29 μg/ml). The overall experimental results suggest the biologically active constituents present in the methanolic extract of Mimosa pudica and justify its use in folkloric remedies. Key Words: Mimosa pudica, Mimosaceae, Cytotoxicity, Antimicrobial, DPPH, Antioxidant. doi:10.3329/sjps.v1i1.1813 S. J. Pharm. Sci. 1(1&2): 80-84