Abstract
Our research work was designed to investigate the curative and preventive effects of
Carthamus oxycantha
root extract against diarrhea and microorganisms. For the antibacterial experiment, the agar well diffusion method was used against standard bacteria
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Escherichia coli
,
Pseudomonas aeroginosa,
and
Salmonella typhi,
while for the assessment of antidiarrheal activity, castor oil and the magnesium sulfate-induced diarrhea method was used on albino, laboratory-bred (BALB/c) mice at a dose rate of 200 and 400 mg/kg (body weight, b.w) orally. The methanol extract of
C. oxycantha
significantly (
p
< 0.001) decreased the frequency of defecation, and wet stools in a dose depended on the manner of after receiving magnesium sulfate (2 g/kg (b.w)) and castor oil (1.0 mL/mice). Furthermore, the extract of
C. oxycantha
showed concentration-dependent antimicrobial properties against
S. aureus
followed by
S. typhi
,
E. coli,
and
P. aeroginosa
bacterial strains, with inhibitions ranging from 10.5–15 mm. These findings show significant results that
C. oxycantha
is effective as an antidiarrheal and antibacterial agent. However, further works are needed to establish its mode of action.