IDENTIFICATION OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS IN EUPHORBIA HIRTA USING AN IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF THEIR ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES

Medicinal plants remain a cornerstone of primary healthcare across the globe, particularly in regions where access to modern pharmaceuticals is limited. Euphorbia hirta commonly known as the asthma plant, is widely employed in ethnomedicine for the treatment of respiratory ailments, gastrointestinal disturbances, skin conditions, and parasitic infections. This study investigated the phytochemical constituents, essential oil composition, and antioxidant potential of Euphorbia hirta in order to scientifically validate its traditional applications and assess its pharmaceutical potential. The plant leaves were collected, authenticated, and subjected to hydro distillation using Clevenger apparatus for essential oil extraction. Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed a complex chemical profile comprising pharmacologically significant compounds such as Eucalyptol (1.81%), Limonene (2.75%), Ar-turmerone (3.56%), Gluconic acid (1.07%), Hexacosane (2.68%), Henicosane (0.98%), long-chain hydrocarbons, fatty acid esters, and phenolic derivatives, many of hich are known for their bronchodilatory, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through ABTS, DPPH and FRAP assays. Results demonstrated moderated average antioxidant activity, with ABTS and DPPH assays indicating variable scavenging potentials while FRAP assay revealed an average inhibition of 7.71%. Although the antioxidant activity was not strongly concentration-dependent, the presence of bioactive phytochemicals suggests therapeutic relevance. The findings of this study provide scientific support for the traditional use of Euphorbia hirta in management of respiratory and inflammatory disorders, highlight its potential role in drug development, and recommend further in-vivo and clinical investigations to establish its efficacy, safety, and applicability in modern.