Antibacterial Activity of Aqueous Extract of Mimosa Pudica L. against Selected Wound Infecting Bacteria

Abstract

Aqueous extract of Mimosa pudica is utilized by certain Sri Lankans as a wound cleaning agent. The present investigation was conducted to detect the invitro antibacterial activity of an aqueous extract of Mimosa pudica qualitatively against selected four wound infecting bacteria with agar dilution method at Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda University, Sri Lanka. Washed and Shade dried whole plant of Mimosa pudica was boiled with distilled water for 15 minutes and the cold extract was filtered with gauze to prepare the aqueous extract (neat solution). The neat solution as well as a serial dilution of it up to a quarter were used with Mueller-Hinton agar separately to prepare a series of culture plates. Wounds infecting pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were inoculated separately into the culture plates. Plates were incubated overnight at 37 °C. For the negative control, plates were prepared with distilled water and Mueller-Hinton agar in place of plant extract. For the positive control, extract was replaced with ampicillin. Except Escherichia coli, all the other bacteria were sensitive to the extract. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was sensitive only to the neat solution. The other two strains were sensitive even in the half neat solution. Thus, the aqueous extract of Mimosa pudica has an antibacterial effect on tested bacteria including MRSA. On outcome, scientists may launch further investigations on the plant for harnessing the natural resources effectively for universal health.