Abstract

The phytochemical analysis of leaf extracts (chloroform, ethanol, ethyl acetate, butanol and aqueous) of a medicinal plant, Euphorbia neiirifolia and their antibacterial activities against bacterial isolates, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsilla pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgarius, Pseudomonas fluroscens were investigated. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, phlobatannins, saponin, tannins, cardenoloids, phenol, terpenoids. The maximum activity was observed in chloroform extract against P. vulgariuswith zone of inhibition (8 mm), followed by ethanol extract against K. pneumonia (5 mm). The water and ethyl acetate extract exhibited very less activity. This research supports the local use of the leaf of the plant, E. neiirifolia for wound healing property and other forms of bacterial infections.

Key words: Euphorbia neriifolia, phytochemical analysis, antimiobial activity, medicinal plant.