Increasing bacterial resistance is prompting resurgence in research of the antimicrobial role of herbs against resistant strains. A vast number of plants have been recognized as valuable resources of nature antimicrobial compounds. In the present study antibacterial properties of leaf extracts of four wild herbaceous species of family Euphorbiaceae i.e. Euphorbia hirta, Euphorbia microphylla, Croton bonplandianum and Phyllanthus niruri were evaluated in vitro against two pathogenic bacteria E. coli - ATCC10536 and Staphylococcus aureus - ATCC 25923. Leaf extracts were prepared in three solvents i.e. Ethanol, Methanol and Hot water, which toxicity in graded concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% crude extracts have been assessed in-vitro by measuring zone of inhibition for both pathogen applying well diffusion method, comparing with the toxicity of standard antibiotics. Extracts of Phyllanthus niruri and Croton bonplandianum showed more significant result rather than Euphorbia microphylla, and Euphorbia hirta against both pathogens, while better in E. coli than S. aureus. Ethanol extracts was found most effective for inhibiting bacterial growth, whereas the ZOI in case of 100% methanol extracts of Phyllanthus niruri, showed superior phytotoxic activity; however, based on the size of ZOI antibacterial properties was found in corresponding manner – Antibiotics > Phyllanthus niruri > Croton bonplandianum > Euphorbia hirta > Euphorbia microphylla. Wild as well as herbaceous plant extracts offer considerable potential for the development of new agents effective against infections currently difficult to treat.
