Invitro and Invivo Antibacterial Study of Leaf Extracts of Euphorbia heterophylla on some Enteric Bacteria

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the phytochemical components and antibacterial activity of Euphorbia heterophylla crude extracts on four enteric organisms namely; Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris. The clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, E.coli and Proteus vulgaris were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using agar diffusion technique. Phytochemistry of the Euphorbia heterophylla, crude extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and cardiac glycosides. Methanolic and aqueous crude extract produced clear zones of inhibition at concentration ranging from 50 to 200mg/ml. In vivo antimicrobial assay revealed that the mice treated with the crude methanolic and aqueous extracts after being infected with the various test organisms, survived and showed minute pathological effects. Similarly, untreated mice (control) died after 48hours of inoculation with Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, E.coli and Proteus vulgaris. Euphorbia heterophylla crude extract, most especially its methanolic and aqueous counterpart could be a potential source for the treatment of diseases associated with enteric organisms. Further studies should be directed towards isolation and characterization of the active compound in the crude extracts.