Abstract
Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) are a major concern for clinicians due to its multidrug resistance profile. This has led them to revert to traditional treatment methods. This study is aimed at assessing the antibacterial and antioxidant effects of the aqueous extract of Rhus coriaria. Whole-genome sequencing of CRAB isolates was carried out. The extract was screened for its antioxidant activity. Antibacterial activities were detected by determining the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC), and the time-dependent growth inhibition assay for the assessment of the extract's time and dose dependency. The antibiofilm inhibition and destruction activities were also tested using the crystal violet assay, and the ability of the extract to induce hemolysis of erythrocytes through the hemolytic assay. This study proved that R. coriaria aqueous extract has antioxidant activity reaching 90.69% at a concentration of 3 mg/mL. Moreover, this extract has no toxicity effect on human red blood cells, with a hemolytic activity of 1.3% at this concentration. Additionally, good antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of R. coriaria were also detected against all CRAB isolates, with MIC and MBC values of 0.75 mg/mL, and biofilm inhibition reaching 95.22% at 2× MIC. A time- and concentration-dependent effect of the extract was also determined, with a significant rapid decline in growth observed at 6 h of treatment at 2× MIC, then 1× MIC. This study suggests R. coriaria extract as an effective adjuvant to antimicrobials for treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.