Topical Wound Healing, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Potential of Mimosa pudica Linn root Extracted using n-Hexane Followed by Methanol, Fortified in Ointment Base

Abstract

Mimosa pudica Linn is an ornamental perennial herb belonging to the taxonomic group of Magnoliopsida and family Leguminaceae. Besides its ornamental use, Mimosa pudica is also a popular plant among folk healers to treat several diseases including bleeding disorders such as menorrhagia, dysentry with blood, mucus and piles, and wound healing. In this study, roots of Mimosa pudica was successively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol to evaluate the folkloric assert of plant in view of antioxidant, antibacterial, and wound healing potential. Methanolic extract showed concentration dependent elevation in inhibition for radical scavenging assay following dpph with maximum effect of 73.43% against standard ascorbic acid equivalent to 250 µg/ml, however IC50 of extract with n-hexane and ethyl acetate exhibited relatively poor antioxidant efficacy. Minimum inhibitory concentration demonstrated higher inhibitory action in range of 1.25-0.625 mg/ml against tested gram positive Staphylococcus aureus -MTCC737, and Bacillus subtilis-MTCC110 and 2.5 mg/ml for gram negative Salmonella typhi-MTCC15442, Escherichia coli-MTCC118 micro-organism for methanolic extract compared to ethyl acetate extract, however hexane extract showed MIC > 2.5 mg/ml. Among the tested solvent system for column chromatography, fractionation with diethyl ether: methanol (1:4) demonstrated single clear spot with Rf value 0.72 for methanolic extract indicated presence of flavonoid as major phytoconstituents. The results of spectral analysis following fourier transform spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectroscopy for purified isolated compound confirmed identity of isolated flavonoid from methanolic fraction with chemical name 7,8,3’,4’-tetrahydroxy-6-methoxy-flavone. Thus, overall results demonstrated that Mimosa pudica root extract have potential antioxidant and antimicrobial efficacy. Furthermore, the Mimosa pudica root extracted with n-hexane followed by methanol fortified in a pharmaceutical formulation ointment base demonstrated excellent wound healing efficacy compared to marketed povidone-iodine ointment. Therefore, traditional claim for the use of Mimosa pudica root as potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound healer in topical drug delivery have been proven by the present study.