Antimicrobial potency of Euphorbia heterophylla against selected clinical isolates

Abstract

Reports on the antimicrobial potentials of Euphorbia heterophylla are scanty globally. This study investigated the antimicrobial effects of E. heterophylla against microorganisms of clinical importance. Cold water, hot water, chloroform and methanol extracts of the leaf, stem and fruit of E. heterophylla were obtained. The phytochemical properties of the plant parts were determined, and antimicrobial analyses of extracts investigated against sixteen clinical isolates, in accordance with standard procedures. The microorganisms tested were nine clinical bacterial strains which included Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIB 950, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli NCIB 86, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus NCIB 8588, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens, and seven fungal strains which were Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Trichoderma viride, Trichophyton rubrum, and Malassezia furfur. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses of extracts revealed the presence of steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and carbohydrates at varying concentrations. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIB 950 and Candida albicans were sensitive to the cold water and hot water extracts of the plant’s parts while chloroform and methanol extracts did not show antimicrobial activities against any of the organisms. The MIC of the extracts ranged from 6.25 – 25 mg/mL. This study revealed that E. heterophylla is a promising plant species that could be employed in the treatment of infections caused by P. aeruginosa and C. albicans.