Phytochemical Screening and Antibacteria/ Antifungi Activities of Root and Shoot Extracts of Euphorbia hirta (Asthma Weed)

Abstract

Medicinal plants, also called herbal medicine, have been used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. The phytochemical screening of root and shoot extracts of Euphorbia hirta plant commonly known as asthma weed was evaluated using soxhlet and aqueous extract as a solvent to determine the active components. Maceration method was used in extracting the active properties/component. Phytochemical screening of root and shoot extracts revealed presences of saponins, anthranoid anthroqunione, phenol, alkaloid, tannins, phylobatannins and cardiac glycoside. Antibacterial screening of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pyogenes, using disk diffusion method, showed that in both the aqueous root and shoot extract Streptococcus pyogenes has the highest zone of inhibition of 120 mg with 12mm while least is Escherichia coli that had no inhibition at all. The aqueous extract the root and shoot were more active than the soxhlet solution. Using the aqueous shoot extracts, Streptococcus at 120 mg with 12mm zone of inhibition of Staphylococcus at 90 mg with 9mm. While in the aqueous root extract, Staphylococcus aureus at 100 mg with 10mm, Streptococcus pyogenes at 90 mg with 9m and Salmonella typhi at 80mm with 8mm. Antifungal screening with clinical isolate of candida albicans had highest zone of inhibition 130 mg with 13mm at root aqueous extract while penicillium spp, Aspergillus, spp and Microsporium spp showed no zones of inhibition at both root and shoot extracts. The results obtained suggested that Euphorbia hirta plant can be used in the treatment of ailments caused by the test microorganisms, with particular attention being paid to its aqueous extract.