Water spinach, Ipomoea aquatica, is a common semi‐aquatic weed that is used as an ingredient in fish feed to support its growth and defence system. The present study aimed to identify and quantify bioactive polyphenols through HPLC‐DAD (High Performance Liquid Chromatograpgy ‐ Diode Array Detector) analysis and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the aquatic weed I. aquatica available in Bangladesh. Different bioactive phytochemical groups were qualitatively appraised in crude ethanol extract, aqueous and n‐hexane fractions of water spinach. The total polyphenol and flavonoids content were spectrophotometrically discerned using Folin–Chiocalteu and aluminium chloride, respectively. Bioactive compounds of the extracts were identified by the HPLC‐DAD method. Furthermore, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryldydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl‐radical scavenging and reducing power assays were followed to assess antioxidant activity. The experimental extracts confirmed the presence of different bioactive phytochemical groups. The crude extract contained the highest content of both polyphenol (94.93 mg gallic acid (GA) equivalent per gram dry extract) and flavonoids (373.30 mg quercetin equivalent per gram dry extract). Besides, in HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatogrphy) analysis, ellagic acid was present at the highest concentration both in crude (337.26 mg/100 g dry extract) and aqueous (280.06 mg/100 g dry extract) extracts. However, the n‐hexane fraction only contained GA (13.91 mg/100 g dry extract). Also, some other bioactive polyphenols were identified in crude and aqueous fraction extracts. The crude extract revealed superior antioxidant activity in DPPH (Half maximal inhibitory Concentration (IC50) = 149.30 ± 1.43 μg/ml) and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays (IC50 = 327.257 ± 1.36 μg/ml) in comparison to the rest of the extracts. Furthermore, all of the extracts showed dose‐dependent reducing power activity. HPLC‐identified bioactive compounds may be responsible for antioxidant activity. Because of these identified compounds, I. aquatica holds the potential feed ingredient in aquaculture.

The methanol extract of Mimosa pudica was studied for its antibacterial activity against twelve pathogenic bacteria. The extract was also studied for its effect on acetic acid induced writhing model in mice. The extract showed good activity against two gram-positive and six gram-negative bacteria but failed to show any activity against Staphylococcus pyogenes, Salmonella typhi, Shigella boydii and Vibrio cholera. The extract exhibited no antinociceptive activity in acetic acid induced writhing test; rather it increased the abdominal constriction or writhing as compared to the control group which is a sign of pain sensation.

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