Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 6(40), pp. 5360-5368, 17 October, 2012 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR DOI: 10.5897/JMPR12.539 ISSN 1996-0875 ©2012 Academic Journals Full Length Research Paper Antibacterial activity of some selected plants of family Zygophyllaceae and Euphorbiaceae Ghulam Dastagir 1*, Farrukh Hussain 1 and Abid Ali Khan 2 1Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Pakistan. 2Centre for Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan. Accepted 4 May, 2012 The antibacterial activity of the methanolic and n-hexane extracts of Fagonia cretica L. , Peganum harmala L. , Tribulus terrestris L. , Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) Raf and Ricinus communis L. , were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoni and Salmonella typhi. Phytochemical screening of the methanolic extract of F. cretica, P. harmala and C. tinctoria revealed the presence of saponins, phlobatannins, anthraquinones and alkaloids. Tannins and flavonoids were found in C. tinctoria and R. communis . Glycosides were found in F. cretica and P. harmala , while terpenoids and phenolics occurred in P. harmala . Group tests revealed that the methanolic and n-hexane extract of F. cretica, P. harmala, T. terrestris, C. tinctoria and R. communis had OH, carboxylic and phenolic groups. The methanolic and n-hexane extracts of F. cretica, P. harmala, T. terrestris, C. tinctoria and R. communis showed the absence of aldehyde and ketone group. The ability of the methanolic and n-hexane extracts of F. cretica , P. harmala, T. terrestris, C. tinctoria and R. communis to inhibit the growth of different bacteria has shown their broad spectrum antibacterial potential, which may be used in the management of microbial infections. Key words: Zygophyllaceae, Euphorbiaceae, antibacterial activity, extract, phytochemical screening. INTRODUCTION In the past, plants provided a source of inspiration for due to the appearance of microbial resistance and novel drug compounds, as plant-derived medicines made occurrence of fatal opportunistic infections. In epidemic large contributions to human health and well being. Their areas, resistance against antimicrobial agents has role is two-fold in the development of new drugs: (1) they emerged due to recurrent infections (Carballo et al., may become the base for the development of a medicine, 2002). Antibacterial activity of plants has been tested by a natural blue print for the development of new drugs or; various researchers (Tauseef et al., 2007; Chaudhry and (2) a phytomedicine to be used for the treatment of Tariq, 2006; Saeed and Tariq, 2007). The antibacterial diseases. Traditional medicine using plant extracts activity of medicinal plants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is continues to provide health coverage for over 80% of the needed to be done for the identification of candidate world’s population, especially in the developing world plants. (Igbinosa et al., 2009). Globalization interferes with Zygophyllaceae is a family of about 25 genera and 240 infectious disease control at the national level while species and widespread in tropical, subtropical and warm microbes move freely around the world. Human response temperate, often in drier areas. In Pakistan, it is to infectious diseases is conditioned by jurisdictional represented by 8 genera and 22 species. Plants are boundaries (Stepanovic et al., 2003). In recent years, annual or perennial herbs. Flowers are perfect and about 43% of the total deaths that occurred in the regular; sepals imbricate or valvate, free, persistent or developing countries are due to infectious diseases. The deciduous; petals usually free and imbricate. Disk or search for new effective antimicrobial agents is necessary nectary glands are either present or absent. The ovary is superior, 2 to 5 or 10-lobed, and fruit capsule is often spiny or tuberculate. The family is important for Lignum vitae wood (Guaiacum officinale), spices, and few *Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]. ornamentals (Perveen and Qaiser, 2006). Examples of Dastagir et al. 5361 this family include the followings: most diverse families, ranging from herbs, shrubs and tall trees (Perveen and Qaiser, 2005). The castor bean plant, Fagonia indica var. schweinfurthii Hadidi in Rech. (F. probably indigenous of Eastern Africa is nowadays arabica L. Edgeworth and Hook. f., F. cretica L. growing on a wide scale on marginal and wastelands of Parker): It is an annual to biennial to glabrous shrublet. It South Asia. It is widely grown as a commercial crop in flowers throughout the year. It is distributed in India, Ethiopia for its oil. It is a non-hardy fast growing perennial Pakistan, Iran, Sudan, Somalia and Kenya. It is shrub and is cultivated in the Indo-Pakistan region as an commonly known as Azghakhi, Damiya and Dhaman in annual crop on marginal lands and coastal sandy belts Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is used in the under warm climates and it can stand moderate treatment of piles, urinary disorders, dysentery, stomach arid/saline environments. Its fruit is produced in typical ache, typhoid, cancer and as a blood purifier (Marwat et clusters; each pod contains well developed seeds al., 2008; Akhtar and Begum, 2009), to relieve bearing sufficient oil (47 to 49%) (Chakrabarti and constipation and as a laxative (Wazir et al., 2007). Ahmed, 2008). Examples include the followings: Peganum harmala L.: It is a perennial with corymbosely branched herb. Locally, it is called Harmal (Saraiki), Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) Raf.: It is an annual prostrate Spalani (Pashto). Vern. Harmal, Ispand, Isband. It flowers herb common in arid soils. It is a common weed of fallow in April to October and is distributed in India, Tibet, fields and dry waste places on sandy clay loam (Nasir Pakistan, westwards to North Africa, Europe and Russia. and Ali, 1973-1995). It flowers in January to September The plant’s seed powder is used for asthma, colic, and and April to September. Plant prefers light (sandy), anthelmintic. Furthermore, the seeds are antiseptic, medium (loamy), heavy (clay), acid, neutral and basic gastrointestinal, urinary, antispasmodic and antiperiodic. (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light The plant is also used for healing wounds, inflamed body woodland) or having no shade. It also requires moist soil parts, diarrhea and in indigestion (Shah et al., 2006; (Chopra et al., 1956). It is known as 'dyer's-croton', Marwat, et al., 2008; Wazir et al., 2004). Plant is used in 'giradol' or 'turnsole' and is native to Africa, (Algeria, lumbago and the plants alkaloids are protozoacidal Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen) temperate agents, coronary dilators, embolic as well as for the and tropical Asia (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, nervous diseases. It is known to contain harmine, which Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Kazakhstan, induces a fall in blood pressure, and harmaline, which Turkmenistan, India and Pakistan) and Europe (Ukraine, possess abortificant, narcotic, aphrodisiac, stimulant, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Malta, France, former sedative, emmanagogue, vermifuge and soporific Yugoslavia, Portugal and Spain). It is found at 900 - properties (Bukhari et al., 2008). Javale and Sabnis 7500'/275 - 2300 m. In Iran, the plant is used to treat warts, emetic, cathartic and fever (Delazar et al., 2006). (2010) have also reported its antibacterial activity. Root ashes are given to children for cough. The seeds Tribulus terrestris : It is an annual or biennial, prostrate are purgative or cathartic, while Its bark is used for herb. Locally, it is known as Gokhru, Khar-e-khashak, tanning and dyeing (Mathew, 1991). Bhakra. It flowers throughout the year and is distributed in tropical and subtropical countries in Asia, Africa, S. Ricinus communis : It is an erect, single-stemmed or Europe and North Australia. It is common throughout much-branched shrubby or tree like somewhat glaucous Pakistan from sea level to 3500 m, in sandy soils of herb. Locally, it is known as Arand, Erand (Hindko, Gujri), barren lands and cultivated fields as a weed. It has highly Arand (Punjabi, Urdu). Sindhi name: Haran; Urdu name: variable species in leaf and flower size and fruit Arand, Arandae, Murpad, Harnoli, Murghpad, Bed Anjeer. characters. The fruits are used in urinary bladder, while It flowers throughout the year. It is native to Africa, and leaves are used in colic and chronic cough (Marwat et al., has been introduced and is cultivated in many tropical 2008; Khan, 2009). In Sindh: nutlets are used against and subtropical areas of the world. It is found throughout retention and itching in urine and improving male sexual India, and is being cultivated and found wild up to 2400 m strength. It has hypoglycaemic activity and has been (Verma et al., 2011). It is widely found at 4000'/1220 in used in the traditional medicine of China and India for the Sub-Himalayan tract and in the plains, and centuries. Moreover, the plant has antimicrobial, naturalized near villages. The plant is used in polyherbal antihypertensive, diuretic properties, and stimulates formulation in Ayurveda and homeopathy (Verma et al., spermatogenesis and libido. Presently, preparations and 2011). Leaves are used as pain killers and in bronchial the dietary supplements containing extracts of T. pneumonia (Attaur Rehman, 1983). It is also used as terrestris are used for sexual impotence, edema, skin expectorant,