The fractions of phenolic and flavonoid compounds of the leaves of north Sulawesi’s bashful plant (mimosa pudica linn)

Abstract

The bashful plant or the mimosa plant has a history of use for treatments in various ailments. Various parts of this plant maybe used, but most commonly the leaves, stems, roots and flowers. This research was aimed to investigate the existence of phenolic and flavonoids in the Mimosa pudica Linn leaf extracts in solvents of different polarities. During this research dried leaves and wet leaves were respectively macerated in 70% ethanol and then reduced by rotary evaporators. Fractions were obtained by means of HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) with 3 different solvents at different polarities (hexane, n-butanol and ethyl-acetate). The results indicated that flavonoid was found mostly in the ethyl-acetate fraction from dry leaves (1.08% w/w). Phenolic was mostly detected in extracts of the dry leaves in the n-butanol (7.27% w/w) and the wet leaf residues (8.68% w/w). Results indicates that with the majority of the detection of phenolics and flavonoids in the mildly polar to strong polar solvents, thus oral intake by means of leaf infusions (such as tea/brew) would be quite effective. Complete extraction process of these compounds and encapsulating them would always be the most effective method of intake while economically the method would raise questions.