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Volume 7, Issue 12

Carbapenem resistance and antibacterial potential of the Libyan endemic plant against metallo-β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacteria Open Access

Graphical Abstract

Graphical Abstract

A. pavarii extracts against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas with >60% resistance. Ethanolic extracts containing catechin and quercetin show higher antibacterial activity than aqueous extracts in Libya.

Abstract

Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB), particularly metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) producers, are WHO critical-priority pathogens. In Libya, laboratory-based data are scarce, and no study has assessed endemic medicinal plants as adjunctive options.

To generate baseline data on carbapenem resistance and MBL production among clinical Gram-negative pathogens in Misurata, Libya, and to preliminarily evaluate the antibacterial activity and phytochemical composition of extracts.

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 244 non-duplicate clinical isolates. Carbapenem susceptibility was determined by Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion; MBL production was confirmed by double-disc synergy and combined-disc tests. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts from leaves, stems and fruits were tested against resistant isolates by disc diffusion. Phytochemicals were profiled by HPLC.

The predominant carbapenem-resistant species were (29.5%), (26.2%) and (19.7%). Resistance to both imipenem and meropenem exceeded 60% across these isolates, and MBL activity was detected in 54.5% of carbapenem-resistant . Among plant extracts, the aqueous leaf extract showed the highest antibacterial activity against MBL-producing isolates (mean inhibition zone 9.46±7.61 mm at 100%), slightly exceeding the corresponding ethanolic extract (9.31±7.30 mm). Both extracts demonstrated concentration-dependent effects (<0.05; ANOVA/Kruskal–Wallis). HPLC analysis identified catechin and quercetin as major components, which may underlie the observed activity.

This first laboratory-based report from Libya documents high rates of CR-GNB and MBL production and introduces as a promising endemic plant with adjunctive antibacterial potential. Findings support enhanced AMR surveillance and the exploration of resource-sensitive alternatives in African healthcare settings.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
  • Published Online:
Keyword(s): antimicrobial resistance , Arbutus pavarii , carbapenem resistance , Libya and metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)
© 2025 The Authors
  • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
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2025-12-16
2026-02-14

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/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.001116.v3
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Carbapenem resistance and antibacterial potential of the Libyan endemic plant Arbutus pavarii against metallo-β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacteria
Access Microbiology 7, 001116.v3 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.001116.v3
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.001116.v3
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.001116.v3
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