Evaluation of antibacterial activities of euphorbia heterophylla

Abstract

Preparations of the extract of Euphorbia heterophylla are used for the treatment of different infections by Nigerian traditional medicine practitioners. This work evaluated the antibacterial actions of aqueous leaf extract of Euphorbia heterophylla.Materials and methods: Clinical isolates of Klebsiellapneumonia, Staphyllococcusaureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were incubated in agar plates after serial dilutions (100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, and 3.16 mg/ml) of the extract were added in wells made in the agar and incubated at 37°C. After 24 hours, zones of inhibition (in mm) around the wells were measured. The same organisms were tested for sensitivity against standard antibiotics (ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, lincocin, and ofloxacin) using disk diffusion method. Microsoft Excel 2010 and Graph Pad Prism 6.0 were used for statistical analysis.Results: Phytochemical test showed that the extract contained saponins, tannins, alkaloids, resins, sterols and terpenoids.The extract demonstrated dose dependent antibacterial activity which was, however, apparently lower than that of the standard antibiotics.Conclusion: It was concluded that the extracthad significant antibacterial activity against test organisms with minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of 6.25mg/ml. Its use for treatment of infections by traditional healers is justified.