Botany
Explore –Journal of Research
Peer Reviewed Journal
ISSN 2278–0297 (Print)
ISSN 2278–6414 (Online)
© Patna Women’s College, Patna, India
Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial study of Euphorbia hirta Linn extracts
• Muskan Sinha • Sujata Kumari • Jagriti Priya • Shilpi Kiran
Received : December 2021
Accepted : January 2022
Corresponding Author : Shilpi Kiran
Abstract : In India, folklore medicinal herbs possess long-established applications that can be utilized for the treatment of various bacterial infections. Medicinal plants possess therapeutic properties due to the presence of many chemical substances, which are present as secondary plant metabolites in various parts of these plants. Owing to the availability of these secondary constituents, medicinal plants exhibit antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study was aimed to analyse the phytochemical screening and investigate antimicrobial activities of methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous extract of leaf, stem and whole plant of Euphorbia hirta. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides in the extracts of different
parts (stem, leaves, and whole plant) of Euphorbia hirta. Antimicrobial study of various extracts was done by disc diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coll. The anti-microbial study revealed that methanolic extract of E. hirta showed highest anti- bacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli, while ethanolic extract against P. vulgaris. This reveals the importance of choice of solvent for proper extract preparation. The present work suggests promoting utilization of weeds like E. hirta for the benefit of mankind so as to prevent the over-exploitation of endangered medicinal plants.
Keywords: Euphorbia hirta, phytochemicals, antibacterial activity, S. aureus, E. coli, P vulgaris.
Muskan Sinha
B.Sc. III year, Botany (Hons.), Session: 2019-2022, Patna Women’s College (Autonomous),
Patna University, Patna, Bihar, India
Sujata Kumari
B.Sc. III year, Botany (Hons.), Session: 2019-2022, Patna Women’s College (Autonomous),
Patna University, Patna, Bihar, India
Jagriti Priya
B.Sc. III year, Botany (Hons.), Session: 2019-2022, Patna Women’s College (Autonomous),
Patna University, Patna, Bihar, India
Shilpi Kiran
Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Patna Women’s College (Autonomous), Bailey Road, Patna-800 001, Bihar, India E-mail : shilpikpwc@ gmail.com
