Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF EUPHORBIA HIRTA LEAVES

Alli Smith, Y. R*

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of the ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Euphorbia hirta. The antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of the ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Euphorbia hirta were determined using the in-vitro methods. Its antioxidant effect was determined by evaluating its ferric reducing ability and its scavenging effects on some free radicals such as; 2,2 diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical, and nitric oxide (NO) radicals. Its total phenol content was also determined at 1, 2, 3mg/ml. The antimicrobial effects was determined by evaluating its inhibitory effects against some microorganisms like Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp, Enterococcus feacalis, Klebsilla pneumonia, Proteus maribalis and Shigella dysenteri. Its inhibitory effect was also compared with some standard antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, streptomycin, gentamicin and amoxicillin. The result shows a concentration dependent increase in the activity of the extract against the radicals. The ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Euphorbia hirta exhibited a reasonable inhibitory effects against all the microorganisms tested with its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 0.8mg/ml. Comparing with the standard antibiotics, It shows a wider zone of inhibition against some microorganisms than the standard antibiotics which was more pronounced against Proteus maribalis, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. This study demonstrated the significant free radical scavenging and antimicrobial potential of the leaves of Euphorbia hirta and could be explored for treatment of various infections caused by these microorganisms and also in the treatment of free radicals mediated aliments.

Keywords: Euphorbia hirta, antioxidants, free radicals, microorganisms, antimicrobials.