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.