Analysis of Leaf Extract of E. hirta for Antibacterial Sensitivity

Abstract

Euphorbia hirta L. (Asthma Lata), a pantropic herbaceous wild plant which has been widely used as
a medicinal plant throughout Bangladesh. The present study was designed to evaluate the
antimicrobial activity of ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts of E. hirta against six pathogenic
bacteria viz. Bacillus subtilis, Sarcina lutea, Xanthomonas campestris, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella
pneumonia and Pseudomonas sp. by disc diffusion method. Both crude extracts of E. hirta exerted the
highest efficiency against S. lutea. The MIC value was lowest 128 μg/ml from ethanolic extract
against S. lutea and K. pneumonia that produced 3±0.14 and 3±0.09 mm zone of inhibition
respectively. The highest MIC value was 512 μg/ml from methanolic extract against S. lutea that
produced 5±0.35 mm zone. The activity of ethanolic and methanolic extracts were compared with
commercial antibiotic Cloxacillin.

Keywords: euphorbia hirta, antimicrobial activity, evaluation, disc diffusion, zone of inhibition.