PHYTOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL SCREENING OF EUPHORBIA hirta LINN.
PHYTOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL SCREENING OF EUPHORBIA hirta LINN.
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Date
1999-06
Authors
M1KA, AMINA
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Abstract
The dried leaves, stems and roots of Euphorbia hirta Linn were powdered and
extracted successively with petroleum ether (60-80°C), ethyl acetate, chloroform, ethanol
and distilled water, in that order. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed that
ethano, and water extracts contained virtually the same classes of compounds; the same
was true of the petroleum ether and chloroform extracts. Consequently, only three of the
solvents (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and water) were used for subsequent successive
extraction.
Phytochemical screening showed that the plant generally contained saponins, tannins,
alkaloics and cardiac glycosides. These classes of compounds are found to be generally
present ;n the different parts of the plant, when extracted with a particular solvent.
Subsequent extraction, therefore, was done with the whole plant (except the tloral parts.)
•*r Thin layer chromatography (T. L.C.) was performed on the crude extracts of
petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and water. These fractions, as well as the crude extracts,
were :ested on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aerttginosae, Klebsiella
pneunu viae, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. The results for the crude extracts
showed that water extract had an appreciable effect on S. aureus and Ps. aerttginosae, but
only minimal inhibition on E. coli, and no activity on S. typhi and Kleb.. Pneumoniae. The
ethyl acetate extract was active on E. coli, S. aureus and Ps. Aerttginosae; showed
minimal inhibition on S. typhi and not active on Kleb. Pneumoniae. The petroleum ether
crude extract showed appreciable activity on S. aureus, Ps. aerttginosae, and Kleb.
pneumoniae, but minimal activity on E. coli and no activity on S. typhi. This is the first
reported detailed microbial screening of the plant. Euphorbia hirta Linn.
Description
A TMESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POST-GRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO
UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF REQUIREMENT FOR THE
AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA
JUNE, 1999
Keywords
PHYTOCHEMICAL,, MICROBIAL,, SCREENING,, EUPHORBIA hirta LINN