Abstract

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF IN VIVO ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF MIMOSA PUDICA L. AQUEOUS AND ALCOHOLIC PLANT EXTRACTS

Nimit Singh*, Dr. Paras Kumar Prajapati, Dr. Pushpendra Kannojia, Ms. Megha Pandey

Abstract

Objective: Mimosa pudica Linn. is a medicinal plant known for several biological activities, including antioxidant effects. The present investigation was designed to compare the in vivo antioxidant potential of aqueous and alcoholic extracts prepared from Mimosa pudica L.in Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: Adult Wistar albino rats were allocated into four experimental groups: normal control, standard treatment with ascorbic acid, aqueous extract (400 mg/kg), and alcoholic extract (400 mg/kg). The respective treatments were administered orally according to the experimental protocol. At the end of the treatment period, brain tissues were collected and processed for biochemical assessment. Antioxidant status was evaluated by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the latter serving as an indicator of lipid peroxidation. Results: Treatment with both Mimosa pudica extracts produced a noticeable improvement in antioxidant status. Increased activities of SOD and CAT, together with higher GSH levels, were observed in extract-treated animals. In contrast, TBARS values declined, indicating reduced lipid peroxidation. The alcoholic extract produced a stronger response than the aqueous preparation and showed antioxidant activity approaching that observed with the standard treatment. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that Mimosa pudica leaves possess appreciable in vivo antioxidant activity. Although beneficial effects were observed with both preparations, the alcoholic extract showed comparatively greater efficacy. This difference may be associated with more efficient extraction of antioxidant phytoconstituents into the alcoholic solvent. Further phytochemical and mechanistic investigations would be useful to identify the constituents responsible for these effects.

Keywords: Mimosa pudica, antioxidant activity, aqueous extract, alcoholic extract, oxidative stress, SOD, CAT, GSH, TBARS.