Essential oil from the wild marigold flower is a powerful treatment for stomach and intestinal diseases

The essential oil of the flower of wild marigold (Tagetes minuta) could be the solution for stomach and intestinal diseases. Researchers at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa assessed the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the essential oil of wild marigold.

• Wild marigold, also known as Mexican marigold, has long been used for the treatment of stomach and intestinal diseases.
• For the study, which was published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the researchers evaluated the plant’s ability to reduce free radicals formation and to treat infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms.
• Thus, they analyzed the chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and antibacterial properties of the essential oil of wild marigold flower and used it against Streptococcus uberis, Enterobacter cloacae, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Listeria ivanovii, Vibrio species, and Escherichia coli bacterial strains.
• Results revealed that the essential oil of the wild marigold flower contains 98 compounds, with beta-Ocimene being the main chemical component.
• The wild marigold flower essential oil has also been found to exhibit radical-scavenging activities on three different radicals, suggesting its usefulness as a good antioxidant agent.
• In addition, it also exhibited antibacterial activities against all the bacterial strains used in the study. However, the bacterial effect was greater against S. uberis, Vibrio spp., and E. coli.

Based on the findings of the study, the researchers concluded that the essential oil of wild marigold flower is a powerful source of antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

To read more stories on the benefits of essential oils, visit EssentialOils.news today.

Journal Reference:

Igwaran A, Iweriebor BC, Okoh SO, Nwodo UU, Obi LC, Okoh AI. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS, ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL FLOWER OF TAGETES MINUTA GROWN IN CALA COMMUNITY EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 26 June 2017; 17(351). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1861-6