Phytochemical screening and in vitro bioactivity of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

Eight principal bioactive compounds were investigated in the dry leaf water and ethanolic extracts of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius. In all, three active components were positive for both extracts. These include phenols, saponins and cardiac glycosides. Phlobatannin was detected in the water extract while alkaloids occurred in the ethanolic extract. Flavonoids, anthraquinones and combined anthraquinones were absent in both extracts. The antimicrobial activity of the plant was carried out on Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus using ethanolic. S. typhi showed some sensitivity to the ethanolic extract (1.5 ± 0.5 mm) unlike the dry and fresh water extracts but much more sensitive (P<0.05) to chloramphenicol (17 ± 0.1 mm). However, fresh leaf water extract, dry leaf ethanolic extract and chloramphenicol showed 2.0 ± 0.5, 3.0 ± 0.1 and 11.5 ± 0.1 mm bioactivity respectively against S. aureus. There was no indication of antimicrobial activity in the dry leaf water extract for both bacteria strains.