Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of crude methanolic extract of Euphorbia prostrata collected from District Bannu (Pakistan)

Abstract

Medicinal plants help in improving the human health that is primarily due to bioactive constituents such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides and tannins. These compounds play important role in minimizing oxidative stress, cancer, impotency, cardiac dysfunction and microbial inhibition. Euphorbia prostrata (L) is a small prostrate, annual herb found all over the world including Pakistan. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of E. prostrata against oxidative stress and antibacterial potential. Methanolic extract of E. prostrata were used in three different concentrations of 1, 3 and 5 mg/ml. The maximum inhibition was shown at highest concentration of 5 and at 3 mg/ml the moderate inhibition while at 1 mg/ml the minimum inhibition was shown. Similarly concentration of methnolic extract of E. prostrata exhibited excellent scavenging activity. The % scavenging of E. prostrata is directly proportional to the concentration. The order of % scavenging activity is 50 < 100 < 150 < 200 < 250 μg/ml. Ascorbic acid is used as negative control Key words: Antioxidant, antibacterial, Euphorbia prostrata, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ascorbic acid.