Antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts of Euphorbia paralias L. and Melilotus sulcatus Desf. against some pathogenic microorganisms

Abstract

The pathogenic microorganism species have been increased their resistance to many of the chemically synthesized antibiotics that were previously used to resist them. In 2011, the WHO called for increased research on new drugs as antibiotic resistance increases dramatically (Abedini et al., 2013; Abreu et al., 2012). The use of plant extracts and phytochemicals, both with known antimicrobial properties, can be of great significance in therapeutic treatments. In the last few years, a number of studies have been conducted in different countries to prove such efficiency (Izzo et al., 1995; Schapoval et al., 1994; Kubo et al., 1993). Many plants have been used because of their antimicrobial traits, which are due to compounds synthesized in the secondary metabolism of the plant. These products are known by their active substances, for example, the phenolic compounds which are part of the essential oils (Janssen et al., 1987). Euphorbia paralias L. (E. paralias), belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. It is a perennial herb. The stem and leaves produce a white or milky juice when cut. This species distributed in coastal areas of Europe & North Africa. A species, growing in the sand along the coastal area of Libya, easily recognized by its small densely compact appressed leaves (Jafri & El-Gadi, 1982). The Euphorbia includes many species that containing tannins, terpenes, anthocyanins, alkaloids, steroids like ßsito-sterol, ß-amyrin and glycosides (Scalbert, 1991; Gupta & Gupta, 2019), it includes also many species that are used medically in the treatment of many diseases such as pulmonary tuberculosis, ascites, edema, asthma, stomach, liver and uterine cancer, It also treats worm infestations in children and for gonorrhea, jaundice, pimples, digestive problems (Kirtikar & Basu, 1991; Feng et al., 2010).