Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Latex and Extracts of Euphorbia monostyla

Objective: Euphorbia is a plant from the Euphorbiaceae family, and it has traditionally been used to treat gonorrheal, respiratory tract infections, skin infections and malaria. The aim of the present study was to evaluate antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities of latex and extracts of Euphorbia monostyla. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial activity was studied by Disc-well diffusion and MIC-MBC methods.Also, its antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP methods. Total phenolic content was evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Results: It is displayed as a result of the work that solvent polarity will play a key role in increasing phenolic solubility. Methanol extract gave the highest percentage yield, and ethyl acetate resulted in the lowest percentage yield. The antimicrobial test showed that whole extracts had no beneficial uses on microorganisms in comparison to antibiotics types. Analysis of antioxidant assays revealed that aqueous and methanol extracts had the highest antioxidant properties. Conclusion: Whole extracts had no beneficial uses on microorganisms compared to antibiotics types, but the aqueous extract of E. monostyla had moderate antioxidant activity and may contain valuable active compounds. This work is the first study that discusses E. monostyla, and further study is suggested to isolate its active compounds.