PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF THE LEAF EXTRACT OF EUPHORBIA HIRTA (ASITHMA AND SNAKE WEED) OBTAIN IN ADAMAWA STATE UNVERSITY, MUBI, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT This study investigated the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the leaf extract of Euphorbia hirta (commonly known as Asthma and Snake Weed) obtained from Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria. Qualitative screening revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and steroids in both aqueous and methanol extracts, confirming that both solvents effectively extracted diverse bioactive compounds. Quantitative analysis indicated higher concentrations of all phytochemicals in the methanol extract, with saponins (26.21 ± 0.02 mg) and flavonoids (9.99 ± 0.30 mg) being particularly abundant, suggesting methanol’s superior efficiency as an extraction solvent.Antimicrobial assays demonstrated significant activity of both extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Aspergillus flavus, with methanol extracts consistently exhibiting larger zones of inhibition and lower Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values than aqueous extracts. Against S. aureus and E. coli, methanol extracts showed stronger inhibitory effects, approaching the efficacy of the standard antibiotic Streptomycin. For antifungal activity, methanol extract displayed notable inhibition of A. flavus, though Ketoconazole remained more potent. Statistical analysis (p < 0.05) confirmed that solvent type significantly influenced phytochemical yield and antimicrobial activity.Overall, these findings establish Euphorbia hirta as a rich source of pharmacologically active compounds with promising antimicrobial potential. The higher efficacy of the methanol extract highlights its suitability for developing plant-based therapeutic agents, particularly in resource-limited regions where synthetic drugs are less accessible.