Anti-enzymatic Activity of Alhagi Maurorum Extract  and Copper oxide Nanoparticles against Acinetobacter Baumannii Respiratory Infection

Marwa Amin Al-Rawi; Bareq N Al-Nuaimi; Nada H A Al-Mudallal; Mohammed Ameen Ahmed Al-Rawi

Marwa Amin Al-Rawi Assistant Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Iraqia University, Baghdad, Iraq
Bareq N Al-Nuaimi Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Iraqia University, Baghdad, Iraq
Nada H A Al-Mudallal Professor, Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Iraqia University, Baghdad, Iraq
Mohammed Ameen Ahmed Al-Rawi Neurosurgeon, Neurosurgery Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq

Keywords: Copper Oxide Nanoparticles, Alhagi Maurorum Extract, Anti-Enzymatic, Acinetobacter Baumannii, Respiratory Tract Infections

Abstract

Background: In respiratory care units (RCU), virulent bacteria have been an enormous burden in respiratory tract infection treatments. Many of these bacteria produce enzymes that are usually associated with virulence, resistance, and pathogenicity. Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most abundant infections in RCU.
Aim: The present research was conducted for the green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) via Alhagi maurorum extract to study anti-enzymatic activity against Acinetobacter baumannii isolated
from sputum samples.
Methods: Sputum samples isolated and identified by growing on MacConkey agar, blood agar and chocolate agar, and the VITEK-2 compact system. Bacterial enzymatic activity was determined by the agar-well diffusion method. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) were prepared using Alhagi maurorum plant extract. Characterisation was done by UV-visible spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier
transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential analyses and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Anti-enzymatic activity of Alhagi maurorum extract, CuONPs and Alhagi maurorum CuONPs (AHCuONPs) was determined against Acinetobacter baumannii.
Results: The characterizations confirmed the synthesis of AHCuONPs with high purity and crystalline structure. Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated a strong interaction between Alhagi maurorum phytochemicals
and CuONPs. Zeta potential measurements of +48.15 mV indicated the stability of the nanoparticles. The enzyme inhibition properties of protease-producing Acinetobacter baumannii were highly significant, with
a synergistic effect observed for Alhagi maurorum-CuONPs (AHCuONPs) and with CuONPs alone at 20% concentration.
Conclusion: The anti-enzymatic mechanisms of CuONPs and AHCuONPs represent a promising approach to combat the emergence of Acinetobacter baumannii and limit its virulence by protease-enzyme inhibition.

How to cite this article:
Al-Rawi M A, Al-Nuaimi B N, Al-mudallal NHA, Al-Rawi M A A. Anti-enzymatic Activity of Alhagi Maurorum Extract and Copper oxide Nanoparticles against Acinetobacter Baumannii Respiratory Infection. J Commun Dis. 2025;57(2):19-31.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202533

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