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.

No abstract

Tigernut, also known as Cyperus esculentus, is said to be high in nutritional and medicinal value. The purpose of this study was to determine the C. esculentus's antimutagenic activity. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the nut were analyzed for chemical constituents, antioxidants, ultraviolet-visible, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using standard procedures. The extracts contained a total of 17 major compounds that were docked against human RecQ-like protein 5 (RECQL5) helicase protein. The antimutagenic property of the ethanolic extract in vitro was assessed using the Allium cepa chromosome assay. Onion bulbs were pre-treated with 200 mg/kg of ethanolic extract of C. esculentus for 24 h and then, grown in NaN3 (250 g/L) for 24 h; onion bulbs were also first exposed to NaN3 (250 g/L) for 24 h before treatment with 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of the ethanolic extract respectively. Standard methods were used to determine the mitotic index and chromosomal aberrations. Results revealed that C. esculentus ethanolic extract contained flavonoids (22.47 mg/g), tannins (0.08 mg/g), alkaloids (19.71 mg/g), glycosides, phenol, and tannin and showed high scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyland H2O2. Docking with RECQL5 showed good binding energies (∆G>−7) of five compounds in C. esculentus ethanolic extract. The A. cepa assay results revealed a significant (P<0.05) reduction in chromosomal aberrations and a higher mitotic index in groups treated with the C. esculentus ethanolic extract. The antimutagenic activity of C. esculentus ethanolic extract was attributed to its high levels of phytosterols and phenolic compounds.