Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of three Euphorbia species

Three toxic plants belonging to Euphorbia genus, namely Euphorbia biumbellata, Euphorbia terracina and Euphorbia dendroides were phytochemically screened and their total phenolic compounds (TPC) and total flavonoid compounds (TFC) were measured and antioxidant capacities were evaluated by DPPH test expressed by Vitamin C Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (VCEAC). The VCEAC values for the three medicinal plants ranged from 1.0655 g to 0.7285 g of vitamin C equivalents (VCEAC)/100 g of dry matter. The concentrations of TPC and TFC in three plants were respectively 15.13 g to 7.55g of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g of dry matter and 7.06 g to 5.8 g of quercetin equivalents (QE)/100 g of dry matter. The methanolic extracts of these plants were used to determine their antibacterial activity with the disc diffusion method. The results showed that the three plants were active with the inhibition zones obtained varying from 8 to 22 mm. The highest inhibition zones reached was 22 mm for Euphorbia biumbellata leaves against Staphylococcus aureus. Phytochemical analysis of the total extract showed the presence of biologically active compound groups such as polyphenols, flavonoids, glycosides and tannins.