PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIBACTERIA/ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF EUPHOBIA HIRTA

Abstract

The phytochemical Screening, Antibacterial and Antifungal activities of the leaf extracts of Euphorbia  hirta , was evaluated, using ethanol and hot water as a solvent to determine the active components. Maceration method was adopted in extracting the active components. This revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenol, tannins, and steroids. Antibacterial screening of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli, using disk diffusion method, indicated a high sensitivity for S. aureus and a low sensitivity for E. coli. Ethanol extracts were more active than hot water extracts. Inhibition zones for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli at 100mg/ml and 50mg/ml was 10mm, 7mm, 7mm, and 5mm respectively.  For hot water extracts. No inhibition zone was observed at 50mm/ml for both microorganisms. Both had 5mm at 100mm/ml. Screening of clinical isolates of Mucor species, Candida albican,and Aspergillus species using agar well diffusion method showed high sensitivity for Mucor species, and Candida albican. Aspergillus species had low sensitivity. Inhibition at 100mg/ml, 50mg/ml/25mg/m was15mm,12mm,10mm,/12mm,5mm,10mm,/11mm,6mm.-ethanol extract. For hot water at 100mg/ml, 50mg/ml, inhibition zone was 13mm, 10mm, 5mm,/11mm,5mm 6mm.Aspergillus sp.and Candida aureus, had  no inhibition at 25mm/ml/50mm/ml. This result suggests that Euphorbia hirta can be used in traditional medicine as remedy for infections caused by the test microorganisms as well as in the treatment of such ailments.

Key words: Phytochemical, sensitivity, inhibition zone, antibacterial, antifungal, extraction.