Phytochemical and Antibacterial Study of Root Extracts of Euphorbia heterophylla on Some Enteric Bacteria

Abstract

Phytochemical components and antibacterial activity of Euphorbia heterophylla crude extracts on four enteric organisms namely; Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, E.coli and Proteus vulgaris were determined. 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, tannins 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. On the other hand, untreated mice (control) died after 48hours of inoculation with Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, E.coli and Proteus vulgaris. Euphorbia heterophylla crude extracts, most especially its methanolic and aqueous fractions could be a potential source for the treatment of diseases associated with enteric organisms such as Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, E.coli and Proteus vulgaris. Further studies should be directed towards isolation and characterization of the active compounds in the crude extracts.