ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF CRUDE EXTRACTS AND ISOLATES OF ROOTS OF MIMOSA PUDICA LINN. COLLECTED FROM THE LOCALITY OF MOHUDA ENVIRON, GANJAM, ODISHA

A complete documentation of the ethno-biological information presently existing among the diverse communities is needed at an earliest so as to restore the traditional medicinal knowledge. Research to find out scientific evidence for claims by tribal healers on Indian herbs has been intensified as being evidenced from many cited literatures. Once these local ethno medical

preparations are scientifically evaluated and disseminated properly, people will be better informed regarding efficacious drug treatment and improved health status. Hence, the plant, Mimosa pudica Linn. was selected for the present study based on its medicinal use in the locality. Successive solvent extraction of the root powder of M. pudica was carried out as per the standard procedure using various solvents like, petroleum ether (40^o-60^oC), ethyl acetate and methanol. Preliminary phytochemical analysis, isolation of metabolites and antimicrobial activities of the extracts as well as the first time reported isolates were carried out. Preliminary phytochemical studies of vaious solvent extracts revealed presence of many biologically important secondary metabolites, such as, alkaloids, steroids, phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, triterpenoids, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides and amino acids. Twelve numbers of bacteria and fungi were used in the present study to identify the antimicrobial potency of the isolates as well as the root extracts of M. pudica in comparison to the control standards. The ethyl acetate root extract (EAE) exhibited better inhibition of bacteria and fungi in comparison to other two extract (petroleum ether and methanol). The isolated compound, MPR-03 showed better inhibitions against selective microbes and fungi.