Tanyi samuel Tanyi,
Federal University Dutsinma, Ethiopia
Title: Antribacterial and oral acute toxicity studies of Euphorbia hirta
Biography
Biography: Tanyi samuel Tanyi,
Abstract
Due to high cost, undesirable side effects of conventional antibiotics and emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria, there is a need to search for novel antibacterial agents from medicinal plants. In this study, clinical isolates of Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Escherichia coli were obtained from Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria. The isolates were tested for susceptibility to crude leaf extracts of E. hirta by agar diffusion methods. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract was determined by broth dilution method. The results showed that the most susceptible bacterium to the extract was Shigella with a zone of inhibition of 23.33 mm, while the most resistant bacterium was E. coli with a zone of inhibition of 9.43 mm. MIC and MBC of the extract against Shigella was 21.87 mg/ml respectively. Alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, tannins and polysterols were revealed in the extract by phytochemical analysis. Oral acute toxicity of the extract showed no mortality in Sprague Dawley rats at concentration of 50, 300, 2000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight. Result showed that the LD50 was >5000 mg/kg. The MBC: MIC ration>4, suggesting the crude extract was bactericidal. This study showed that leaves of E. hirta can serve as a potential antibacterial agent.