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 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2014  |  Volume : 12  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 317-319

Antibacterial efficacy of Mimosa Pudica (Lajavanti) against streptococcus mutans


1 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sri Aurobindo College of Medical Sciences, College of Dentistry, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
2 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Kalinga Institue of Dental Sciences, Bhubneshwar, Odisha, India

Date of Web Publication24-Dec-2014

Correspondence Address:
Swati V Balsaraf
B 204, Akanksha Apartments, Behind Aurobindo Hospital, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences Campus, MR 10, Indore 453 555, Madhya Pradesh
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2319-5932.147677

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  Abstract 

Introduction: The Mimosa pudica plant also known as "touch me not" plant, "shame" plant or laajvanti is a widely grown perennial herb as a show plant because of the mysterious action of its leaves which closes when touched. Mimosa pudica is also known for various medicinal purposes such as treatment of depression, piles, insomnia and many more. It has also been used for dental purposes. Literature shows evidence of its use for dental decay, bleeding gums throughout India and worldwide. Materials and Methods: Mimosa pudica plant whole aqueous extract in 10%, 20% and 5% concentration, chlorhexidine mouth wash as control, Streptococcus mutans (Microbial Type Culture Collection). Using agar well method the efficacy of Mimosa pudica extract was tested. Results: The plant extract couldn't show efficacy as the microorganisms didn't show any growth. Conclusion: The potential of this drug needs further investigation.

Keywords: Antibacterial agent, bleeding gums, dental caries, Laajvanti, Mimosa pudica, Streptococcus mutans


How to cite this article:
Balsaraf SV, Chole RH. Antibacterial efficacy of Mimosa Pudica (Lajavanti) against streptococcus mutans. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2014;12:317-9

How to cite this URL:
Balsaraf SV, Chole RH. Antibacterial efficacy of Mimosa Pudica (Lajavanti) against streptococcus mutans. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent [serial online] 2014 [cited 2024 Mar 29];12:317-9. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/aphd/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2014/12/4/317/147677


  Introduction Top


With the global urbanization vast changes are occurring in health sector. Allopathic medicine is considered the mainstream of treatment modality. Ayurveda originated in India and the ayurvedic treatments were compiled as Charaka Samhita and Susruta Samhita. Uses of plants and traditional practices will continue to play a significant role in the socio-cultural life of village communities. [1] The herbal drugs have more precise action and have no side effects and are economic.

Since the Declaration of the Alma-Ata in 1978, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed the need to appreciate the use of medicinal plants in public health systems, as some studies have indicated that almost 80% of world population uses these plants in primary care. [1] The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined traditional medicine as "the sum total of all the knowledge and practices, whether explicable or not, used in diagnosis, prevention and elimination of physical, mental or social imbalance and relying exclusively on practical experience and observation handed down from generation to generation, whether verbally or in writing" (WHO, 1978). [2] M. pudica has been used traditionally in the treatment of various ailments including alopecia, diarrhea, dysentery, insomnia, tumors and various urogenital infections. It has also wound healing, antibacterial and antioxidant activity. [3]

Despite the advances in various field of medicine, oral infections and dental caries are still considered as serious public health problems and inflict a major burden to health care services around the world and especially in developing countries. Traditional medicines if used judiciously can save a lot of time spent in treatment and thus reducing global burden. Phytochemical analysis of these plants revealed presence of tannins, alkaloids, flavanoids, terpenoids and glycosides. [4] Mimosa pudica has been reported to contain mimosine (an alkaloid), free amino acids, sitosterol, linoleic acid and oleic acid. [5] The literature was searched through Google, Pubmed and Medline. Very few studies have been done on Mimosa pudica and its effect on oral microorganisms, hence there was a need to do this study with the aim to find antimicrobial efficacy of Mimosa pudica against Streptococcus mutans.


  Materials And Methods Top
[Figures 1 and 2]

Materials used

  1. Bacterial strain: Streptococcus mutans strain (MTCC 890)
  2. Whole plant extract of Mimosa pudica in 10%, 20% and 5% concentration
  3. BHI enriched with blood Agar
  4. Nutrient broth.


Whole plant of Mimosa pudica was obtained from a local plant nursery. It was sundried in shade. It was then powdered with the help of mortar and pestle. 10 grams, 20 grams and 5 grams of the plant powder each was dissolved in 100 ml of distilled water to get a concentration of 10%, 20% and 5%. It was allowed to stand for 2 days and shaken in between so that all its constituents get dissolved. The extract was then filtered through Whatmann filter paper no. 01 and preserved at a temperature of 20 o C. Identification and confirmation of strain was done.

Culture revival

Ampoules of freeze dried form of Streptococcus mutans (890) were obtained from MTCC (Microbial Type Culture Collection), Chandigarh. The culture was revived by adding the ampoule contents into nutrient broth and incubated for 24 hours at 37 o C. Confirmation of growth was done by McFarland's turbidity standards.

The efficacy testing by agar well method

The culture media used was BHI agar enriched with blood which was prepared according to manufacturer's instructions. The growth obtained was transferred to BHI agar plates to test the efficacy of mimosa extract by streaking method. Four wells were made on the10 agar plates and 10 μl of each concentration of extract was transferred to each 3 wells with the help of micropipette and chlorhexidine mouth wash in one well which was used as control [Figure 1] and [Figure 2].
Figure 1: Mimosa Pudica plant

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Figure 2: Agar well cut into the media (MSB); with streaking before incubation

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  Results Top


We found in our study almost no growth of micro-organisms on the whole plate [Figure 3].
Figure 3: No microbial growth after incubation

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  Discussion Top


In our study 10%, 20% and 5% concentration of aqueous solution was used which was prepared manually by shaking the contents and filtering through Whatman filter paper. There was no effect of aqueous solution in our study as the contents may not have dissolved completely. Hence the decoction method should be tried in future. In a study done by Salve AP, it was found that the leaves of Mimosa pudica plant is widely used in Ahemednagar District. [6] Aproximately 2-3 gm of leaf powder is mixed in equal amount of Gondhan (Cordia ghraf) stem bark powder with a pinch of common salt is boiled in a glass of water and the decoction is gargled for relieving pain in gum and teeth. [6] In another study done by Joshi K and Joshi AR [7] decoction of root of Mimosa pudica is used with water to gargle to reduce toothache among the local people of the Kali Gandaki and Bagmati watersheds of Nepal. [7]

Our study did not show any growth of microorganisms. This could have happened due to improper growth of micro organisms (less turbidity than required). Secondly, while transferring the micro organisms from the broth to agar media, the inoculation loop being too hot could have killed the micro-organisms taken for streaking. In a study done by Gandhiraja N et al., the antimicrobial activity of Mimosa pudica was screened against selected the maximum zone of inhibition was obtained for Aspergillus fumigatus and Klebsiella pneumonia at a concentration of 01μg/200μl. While Klebsiella pneumonia exhibited good sensitivity against both the concentrations, Citrobacter divergens showed resistance against Mimosa pudica extract at all concentrations.[8] Paula JSD et al., found that Mimosa pudica was one of the common herb which was used for pain and inflammation. [1] In a study done by Bora A it was reported that the paste of rhizome part of Mimosa pudica (Nilagibon) is applied locally to treat toothache. [2] In another study done by Akhtar A in ethanol extract of M. pudica, the highest and lowest zone of inhibition was 13.40 mm (MIC, 312.5 μg/ml) and 9.35 mm (MIC, 625 μg/ml) against P. aeruginosa and B. cereus, respectively. On the other hand, for petroleum ether and chloroform extract the corresponding highest zone of inhibition was observed 15.30 and 12.40 mm in B. subtilis with MIC value 156.25 μg/ml.[3]

The aqueous solution in our study at concentrations 10%, 20% and 5% did not show any zone of inhibition. As the whole procedure is done under the UV radiations overexposure of open  Petri dish More Detailses to the light after streaking must have killed the micro organisms thus giving no chance for growth. While preparing agar the pH required for growth must not have met the standards thus, there could have been flaws in measuring materials while preparing the agar. As compared to other microorganisms it is difficult to revive Streptococcus mutans as it is very selective in nature. In a study done by Shrivastava et al., it was described that decoction of root is used with water to gargle to reduce toothache. [9] The antimicrobial activity of Mimosa was studied using well diffusion method. Aqueous extract of stem bark, methanolic extract of leaves, and seed have antimicrobial activity. The activity was tested against Aspergillus fumigatus, Citrobacter divergens and Klebsiella pneumonia at different concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 μg/disc. Also the leaf extract show strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. [9] Successive extracts of the whole plant are reported to have antibacterial activity. [9] Leaf powder extract showed inhibition of bacterial growth against E. coli at different concentrations maximum at 1mg/ml 15 ± 3 mm, 7 ± 3 mm at 0.5 mg/ml, 4 ± 3 at 0.1 mg/ml. Pseudomonas 13 ± 2 at 1 mg/ml, 6 ± 2 at 0.5 mg/ml, 3 ± 2 at 0.1 mg/ml. Candida 12 ± mm at 1.0 mg/ml, 6 ± 2 mm at 0.5 mg/ml, 3 ± 1 at 0.1 mg/ml. [10] Mimosa pudica and Artemisia nilagirica showed good antibacterial effects. [4]


  Conclusion Top


The present study exhibited no microbial growth and not effective against Streptococcus mutans. Although Mimosa pudica has shown dental therapeutic effects in various studies it's efficacy and potential as anticaries and use for other dental uses should be explored. Use of other methods of extract should be considered such as ethanolic extract, application of heat to the aqueous solution for better results.

 
  References Top

1.
Paula JS, Resende AM, Mialhe FL. Factors associated with the use of herbal medicines for oral problems by patients attending the clinics of the School of Dentistry, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil. Braz J Oral Sci 2012;11.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Bora A, Devi P, Borthakur SK. Traditional practice for dental hygiene and hazard by common people: A case study in Majuli, Assam. J Nat Prod Plant Resour 2012;2:221-5.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Akter A, Neela FA, Khan MS, Islam MS, Alam MF. Screening of ethanol, petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of medicinal plants, Lawsonia inermis L. and Mimosa pudica L. for antibacterial activity. Indian J Pharm Sci 2010;72:388-92.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Arokiyaraj S, Sripriya N, Bhagya R, Radhika B, Prameela L, Udayaprakash NK. Phytochemical screening, antibacterial and free radical scavenging effects of Artemisia nilagirica, Mimosa pudica and Clerodendrum siphonanthus - An in-vitro study. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2012;2:S601-4.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Kumarasamyraja D, Jeganathan NS, Manavalan RA. Review on medicinal plants with potential wound healing activity. Int J Pharm Sci 2012;2:105-11.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Salve AP. Traditional oral healthcare practices in pathardi areas of Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra, India. Bull Environ Pharm Life Sci 2012;7:84-8.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Joshi K, Joshi AR. Ethnobotanical plants used for dental and oral healthcare in the kali gandaki and bagmati watersheds, Nepal. Ethnobot Leaflets 2006;10:174-8.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Gandhiraja N, Sriram S, Meenaa V, Srilakshmi JK, Sasikumar C, Rajeswari R, et al. Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts of Mimosa pudica L. against selected microbes. Ethnobot Leaflets 2009;13:618-24.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Srivastava V, Sharma A, Alam I. A review on ethnomedical and traditional uses of mimosa pudica (Chui-Mui). Int Res J Pharm 2012;3.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Muthukumaran P, Padmapriya P, Salomi S, Umamaheshwari R, Kalaiarasan P, Malarvizhi C. In vitro antimicrobial activity of leaf powder. Asian J Pharm Res 2011;1:108-10.  Back to cited text no. 10
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]


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