Extraction, fractionation and in vitro phytochemical investigation of crude leaf extract of ethyl acetate and fractions of Euphorbia heterophylla

Abstract

Euphorbia heterophylla’s leaf is widely used in indigenous medicinal practices in Kano State, Nigeria and other parts of the world,  because of its tremendous medicinal properties which include purgative, treatment of gonorrheal, respiratory tract infection, malaria,  Eczema, Asthma and wart cure. The present study was designed to use standard procedures to extract, fractionate and investigate (in  vitro) the phytochemical ingredients of ethyl acetate extract and fractions of Euphorbia heterophylla’s leaf. Extraction of the plant‟s leaf  was done using ethyl acetate as a solvent to obtain the crude ethyl acetate extract (CEE), while fractionation of the crude was done using petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate to afford petroleum ether fraction (Eh1), chloroform fraction (Eh2) and ethyl acetate  fraction (Eh3). The in vitro phytochemical test to investigate the phytochemical content of the crude extract and fractions was carried out  via standard protocols, which revealed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and tanins. These phytochemical  ingredients justifies some aspects of indigenous mental acceptance on the Euphorbia heterophylla’s leaf and validate its popular usage  in traditional medicinal practices in Kano State, Nigeria and other part of the world for the treatment of infectious diseases that need  clinical attention.