Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial studies on the aqueous ethanol extract of the leaves of Walteria indica. Linn (Sterculiaceae) and aerial parts of Euphorbia hirta Linn (Euphorbiaceae)
محورهای موضوعی : مجله گیاهان داروییUmar Faruk Shehu 1 , Given Vihityo Toma 2 , Abdulrahman Adamu 3 , Ibrahim Muazzam Aliyu 4
1 - Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria;
2 - Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria;
3 - Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria;
4 - Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
کلید واژه: Antimicrobial, Euphorbia hirta, Flavonoids, Phytochemicals, Waltheria indica,
چکیده مقاله :
Background & Aim: Waltheria indica and Euphorbia hirta are traditionally employed in African ethnomedicine to manage microbial infections. This study aims to scientifically validate these uses through phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial evaluation of their aqueous ethanol extracts. Experimental: The aerial parts of E. hirta and leaves of W. indica were extracted using 75% ethanol. Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard qualitative methods. Antimicrobial activities were assessed via agar well diffusion against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aspergillus niger. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined using serial dilution and sub-culturing methods based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds in both extracts. Antimicrobial tests indicated that both plant extracts had notable inhibitory effects on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, but not on A. niger. Notably, W. indica exhibited a lower MIC (12.5 mg/mL) and MBC (50 mg/mL) against S. aureus compared to E. hirta. The combination of both extracts showed enhanced zones of inhibition, especially against E. coli (22 mm), S. aureus (20 mm), and B. subtilis (22 mm), suggesting potential synergistic interactions. However, antifungal activity was absent across all samples. Recommended applications/industries: These findings support the development of plant-based antimicrobial agents from W. indica and E. hirta for the treatment of bacterial infections. Further studies should isolate and characterize the active constituents, explore mechanisms of action, and assess toxicity and efficacy in vivo to support pharmaceutical applications.
Background & Aim: Waltheria indica and Euphorbia hirta are traditionally employed in African ethnomedicine to manage microbial infections. This study aims to scientifically validate these uses through phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial evaluation of their aqueous ethanol extracts. Experimental: The aerial parts of E. hirta and leaves of W. indica were extracted using 75% ethanol. Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard qualitative methods. Antimicrobial activities were assessed via agar well diffusion against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aspergillus niger. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined using serial dilution and sub-culturing methods based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds in both extracts. Antimicrobial tests indicated that both plant extracts had notable inhibitory effects on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, but not on A. niger. Notably, W. indica exhibited a lower MIC (12.5 mg/mL) and MBC (50 mg/mL) against S. aureus compared to E. hirta. The combination of both extracts showed enhanced zones of inhibition, especially against E. coli (22 mm), S. aureus (20 mm), and B. subtilis (22 mm), suggesting potential synergistic interactions. However, antifungal activity was absent across all samples. Recommended applications/industries: These findings support the development of plant-based antimicrobial agents from W. indica and E. hirta for the treatment of bacterial infections. Further studies should isolate and characterize the active constituents, explore mechanisms of action, and assess toxicity and efficacy in vivo to support pharmaceutical applications.
Ahmad, A., Khan, A., Akhtar, F., Yousuf, S., Xess, I., Khan, L.A. and Manzoor, N. 2019. Fungicidal activity of thymol and carvacrol by disrupting ergosterol biosynthesis and membrane integrity against Candida. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 38(3): 531–539.
Al-Snafi, A.E. 2020. Pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Waltheria indica: A review. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 11(5): 2008–2015.
Atanasov, A.G., Zotchev, S.B., Dirsch, V.M. and Supuran, C.T. 2021. Natural products in drug discovery: Advances and opportunities. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 20(3): 200–216.
Chaudhary, G., Goyal, S. and Poonia, P. 2020. Waltheria indica Linn.: A comprehensive review on its ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 253: 112610.
CLSI. 2014. Analysis and presentation of Cumulative Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Data, Approved Guideline, 4th Ed. CLSI document, M39-A4, Wayne, PA: Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute.
CLSI. 2023. Performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (33rd ed.). Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.
Dzotam, J.K., Kuete, V. and Touani, F.K. 2018. Antibacterial and antibiotic-modifying activity of methanol extracts from six Cameroonian food plants against multidrug-resistant enteric bacteria. BioMed Research International, 2018: 1–12.
Ekiert, H., Pajor, J., Klin, P., Rzepiela, A., Ślesak, H. and Szopa, A. 2020. Significance of Euphorbia hirta in traditional medicine and modern research: A review. Plants, 9(8): 948.
Evans, W.C. 2009. Trease and Evans' pharmacognosy (16th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences.
Guittat, L., Alberti, P., Rosu, F., Van Miert, S., Thetiot, E., Pieters, L. and Mergny, J.L. 2003. Interactions of cryptolepine and neocryptolepine with unusual DNA structures. Biochimie, 85(5): 535-547.
Koné, M., Ouattara, K., Ghahoue, A. and Coulibaly, A. 2013. Ethnopharmacological study and phytochemical screening of some plants involved in the treatment of abdominal infections in the department of Kouto. Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences, 1(2): 56-61.
Kuete, V. 2017. Medicinal plant research in Africa: Pharmacology and chemistry. 1 st Ed. Elsevier.
Kuete, V., Sandjo, L.P., Mbaveng, A.T. and Seukep, J.A. 2019. Antibacterial activities of plant extracts and phytochemicals against antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10: 2843.
Mukherjee, P.K., Harwansh, R.K., Bahadur, S., Banerjee, S., Kar, A. and Chanda, J. 2017. Evidence-based validation of Indian traditional medicine: Way forward. World Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 3(1): 12–20.
Ntie-Kang, F., Onguéné, P.A., Lifongo, L.L., Ndom, J. C., Sippl, W. and Mbaze, L. M. 2020. The chemistry and biological activities of natural products from Cameroonian medicinal plants. RSC Advances, 10(2): 631–656.
Pandey, A. and Singh, S. 2022. Antimicrobial potential of Euphorbia hirta: A review of phytochemistry and pharmacological effects. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 31, 100527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2021.100527
Rather, R. A., Bhagat, M., and Pandit, R.S. 2021. Waltheria indica L.: An overview of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 267: 113511.
Sharma, A. and Kumar, V. 2021. Ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of Euphorbia hirta Linn. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 12(1): 179–186.
Sharma, A., Flores-Vallejo, R.C., Cardoso-Taketa, A. and Villarreal, M. L. 2022. Antibacterial activities of medicinal plants used in Mexican traditional medicine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 285: 114862.
Sofowora, A. 2008. Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine in Africa. Spectrum Limited, Ibadan, pp. 101-108.
Sofowora, A., Ogunbodede, E. and Onayade, A. 2013. The role and place of medicinal plants in the strategies for disease prevention. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 10(5): 210–229.
Tona, L., Kambu, K., Ngimbi, N., Cimanga, K. and Vlietinck, A. J. 2001. Antiamoebic and phytochemical screening of some Congolese medicinal plants. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 61(1): 57–65.
Toukam, P.D., Fankam, A.G. Kuete, V. 2021. Antifungal and antibiotic-modifying potential of extracts from Piper capense and Piper guineense against multidrug-resistant bacteria. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 21(1): 1–12.
Ventola, C.L. 2015. The antibiotic resistance crisis: Part 1: Causes and threats. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 40(4): 277–283.
World Health Organization (WHO). 2019. WHO global report on traditional and complementary medicine 2019. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/978924151536
World Health Organization (WHO). 2023. Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/978924150976
Yuan, H., Ma, Q., Ye, L. and Piao, G. 2016. The traditional medicine and modern medicine from natural products. Molecules, 21(5): 559-564.
