Antibacterial Activities of Daucus Carota Against Urinary Tract Pathogen Escherichia Coli Isolated from Urine Specimen Collected from The Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

Abstract: The rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance has prompted an increased interest in natural remedies such as plant-based antimicrobials. Among these, Daucus carota (carrot) is recognized for its potential antibacterial and antifungal properties. This study investigated the antibacterial activity of Daucus carota extracts against Escherichia coli isolated from urine specimens. Furthermore, the study evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility of these pathogens using carrot extracts that quantifies the major phytochemical constituents of the carrot rhizome. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using the in-vitro method, wherein varying concentrations of carrot extracts (aqueous extracts of carrot) were applied to the test pathogen. Zones of inhibition were measured to assess the sensitivity of the pathogen Escherichia coli. The results revealed that carrot extracts exhibited significant antibacterial activity as (7mm, 5mm, 10mm, 1mm, 8mm) against tested pathogen. The phytochemical analysis revealed that carrot contains high levels of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, resins, steroids, glycosides and phenolic compounds through phytochemical analysis. These compounds maybe responsible for the observed antimicrobial properties. The findings suggest that carrot extracts possess notable antimicrobial properties, particularly against bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections. This suggests that Daucus carota can be used as a natural alternative to ineffective synthetic antibiotics for treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens.