Objective: Crude extracts were prepared from aerial parts of Euphorbia hirta Linn. in four solvents i.e. water, acetone, ethanol and petroleum ether. Extracts were investigated for their phytochemical, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Methods: Plant extracts were prepared by using Soxhlet apparatus. Antibacterial potential was assessed by disc diffusion method against six bacterial strains viz. Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC NO 109), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC NO 96), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC NO 2453), Mycobacterium smegmatis (MTCC NO 992), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC NO 2057) and Chromobacterium violaceum (MTCC NO 2656). Minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by microbroth dilution method, only to those bacterial strains which showed a significant zone of inhibition by disc diffusion method. The extracts were also examined for the presence of various phytoconstituents, total phenolic and flavonoid content using standard methods. Free radical scavenging activity was assessed by DPPH method. Results: The plant extracts showed a wide spectrum of inhibition against the test pathogens thus justifying the use of plant in traditional medicine. Acetone, aqueous and ethanol extracts exhibited stronger antibacterial activity as compared to the petroleum ether extract. The maximum activity recorded was 17.6±0.57 mm with 200 mg/ml concentration of ethanol extract against
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.