Abstract

INVESTIGATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS AND IDENTIFICATION OF ACTIVE ANTIFUNGAL CONSTITUENT IN MIMOSA PUDICA LINN

Gauri Sanjay Raut^*, Dr. Sachin K. Chandavarkar, Dr. Mahesh J. Patil, Ajit R. Patil, Sonal Nalkar

Abstract

Mimosa pudica Linn., commonly known as the “sensitive plant,” is a well-known medicinal herb in traditional medicine, reputed for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical constituents of various extracts of Mimosa pudica Linn and to identify its active antifungal compounds through a systematic in vitro analysis. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the plant’s leaves were prepared and subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening, which revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols. The antifungal activity of methanol extract was evaluated against clinically relevant fungal strains such as , Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus species. using the Disc diffusion method. The methanolic extract exhibited the most potent antifungal activity, especially against Aspergillus flavus. Further fractionation and chromatographic analysis and spectroscopic analysis by using TLC, Column chromatography, FTIR, NMR, led to the isolation of bioactive compound quercetin being identified as major antifungal assays, confirming their role in the plant’s bioactivity. The findings support the ethnomedicinal use of Mimosa pudica suggest that its bioactive compounds could serve as potential leads in the development of novel antifungal agents.

Keywords: Mimosa pudica L., Fungal Infection, Phytochemical screening, TLC, Column chromatography, FTIR, NMR, Antifungal activity.