In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of different solvent extracted samples from the stem of Euphorbia heliscopia.

This paper presents the anti-microbial potentials of methanol, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, butanol and water extracted samples from the stem of Euphorbia heliscopia against S. aureus (Gram positive), B. subtilis (Gram positive), P. aeruginosa (Gram negative), K. pneumonia (Gram negative), E. coli (Gram negative), C. albicans (fungal specie) by discs diffusion susceptibility assay using 0.5 and 1mg disc-1 concentrations. Our results showed that all the extracted samples from the stem of E. heliscopia exhibited varying degree of antimicrobial activity. Ethyl acetate extracted samples measured maximum activity against the studies microbial species followed by the n-butanol and crude methanolic extract. n-hexane extracted samples inhibited the growth of all microbial species except P. aeruginosa and E. coli at lower concentration. Aqueous fractions showed inhibitory activity against B. subtilis, K. pneumonia and C. albicans. The most susceptible gram positive bacteria were S. aureus while B. subtilis was the most resistant one. Among Gram negative bacteria, P. aeruginosa showed more susceptibility while K. pneumonia was resistant.