In Vitro Antimycotic and Antigastroenteritidic Activity of Some Phytochemical Fractions of Euphorbia pulcherima L
MUDI, S. Y.Mustapha
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, and 2Department of Biological sciences, Bayero University, PMB 3011 Kano, Nigeria
Abstract:
In an effort to substantiate the ethno medicinal use of Euphorbia pulcherima L the Christ flower, as anti-typhoid, as remedy for systemic/ dermatomycoses (tineasis) and purulent otitis media, antimicrobial activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of, leaf, stem,inflorescence and whole plant were evaluated against implicated bacteria and fungi by agar disc diffusion and macro broth dilution techniques. The bacterial isolates showed sensitivity at discs concentrations of 1000μg/disc. High sensitivity was shown by S. typhi and E. coli 0157:H7 on aqueous and ethanolic extracts as well as whole plant, but least on inflorescence extract. The fungal isolates showed sensitivity at disc potencies of 2000μg to 10,000μg. High sensitivity was shown by Aspergillus niger to aqueous extract of leaves. Low sensitivity was shown by C. albicans. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for ethanol extract of leaves and the whole plant was 0.10mg/ml, 100mg/ml and 10, mg/ml on Salmonella typhi, S. paratyphi and E. coli 0157:H7 respectively. The values for inflorescence ethanolic and aqueous extracts where 100mg/ml and > 1000mg/ml respectively. Leaves and stem extracts contain active compounds against the test organisms. But the ethanolic extracts of inflorescence were specifically antifungal on Aspergillus niger and Trichophyton tonsurans. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) test showed that the active fractions probably acted by bacteriostatic mechanism. The chemotherapeutic potential of the plant may be due to the presence of tannins, resins, steroids, glycoside, alkaloids, reducing sugars and saponins. Further biotechnological study on the pharmacological values of the plant is thus recommended.
Keywords: Euphorbia pulcherima, Phytochemicals, Antiaspergillosis, Antitrichophyton, Antigastroenteritis, mycoses
