Vegetos

Abstract

Methanol, Ethanol and Dimethyl sulfoxide extracts of different aerial parts-leaf, bud and stem of selected plant Euphorbia hirta L. have been evauated for their antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria-Escherichia coli. Escherichia coli is a facultative anaerobic bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warmblooded organisms. The methanolic extract of leaf was more active against test bacteria which offered zone of inhibition of 25 mm and zone of inhibition area of 686.88 mm². A significant inhibition of gram-negative bacteria-E. coli was found in bud extract using methanol or in leaf extract using Dimethyl sulfoxide solvent, with same inhibition zone of 20 mm and zone of inhibition area of 471.00 mm². The antimicrobial activity was also exhibited by other extracts of Euphorbia hirta L. against Escherichia coli