Antimicrobial Sensitivity Profile of Mimosa pudica Leaf Extract and its Combination Treatment with Potassium Aluminum Sulphate on Some Bacteria

Mimosa pudica is a famous ornamental plant commonly known as sleeping grass, sensitive plant, humble plant, shy plant and touch-me not, among other names. The study was aimed at determining the antibacterial activity of Mimosa pudica extract in combination with alum. The plant was obtained, identified, prepared and extracted using both aqueous and methanolic medium. The extracts were reconstituted to final concentration of 250g/ml, 125g/ml, 62.5g/ml (w/v). The bacterial isolates identified were; Pseudomonas aeruginosa NC002516, Staphylococcus aureus FR821779 and Escherichia coli CP031892.1 obtained from wound source at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and maintained in stock culture and were further confirmed using biochemical and molecular methods. In-vitro bioactivity of various concentrations of the extracts and in combination with alum were evaluated by measuring diameter of inhibition zones. From the bioassay, the combinations of the aqueous extract and alum demonstrated the highest inhibitory potential; (26.00±0.00mm) at 250g/ml for Staphylococcus aureus FR821779 and the least antibacterial effect was recorded in the consortium extract for Staphylococcus aureus FR821779; (13.00±0.00mm) at same concentration compared with other bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa). The result obtained showed that all the treatments and combination treatments recorded MIC at 0.50g/ml for all the bacteria studied.  The composition in percentage of the various phytochemicals were as follows: Flavanoid, 7.96±1.17%, Alkaloid, 9.85±0.21%, Saponin, 7.34±0.35% and Total-phenol, 1.63±0.00%. Alkaloids (9.85±0.21%) had the highest concentrations in the extracts while Total-phenol (1.63±0.00%) was the least in concentration.  This study has been able to ascertain the sensitivity profiles of Mimosa pudica leaf extracts and its combination treatment with potassium aluminium sulphate (Alum) on some microbes specifically S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa.