Phylogenetic Analysis and In Vitro Antimicrobial Potential of Some Herbal Extracts Against Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolate Recovered From Hospital Wastes.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa in healthcare settings poses a critical global health challenge, intensified by limited therapeutic options and the environmental spread of pathogens through hospital waste. This study addresses the urgent need for alternative strategies by investigating the phylogenetic profile and antimicrobial resistance of P. aeruginosa isolated from hospital dry waste in Saidu Sharif, Pakistan, while evaluating the antibacterial and antioxidant potential of nine ethnomedicinal herbs. The isolate, identified via 16S rRNA sequencing, exhibited 99% homology to the MDR strain P. aeruginosa 610D6 reported from China, underscoring potential transboundary resistance dissemination. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed resistance to 14 of 21 tested agents, with retained efficacy only for imipenem, cefoperazone/sulbactam (25-mm inhibition zones), and fosfomycin (24 mm). Ethanol extracts of Punica granatum, Myrtus communis, and Olea ferruginea demonstrated remarkable antipseudomonad activity (26-mm, 26-mm, and 25-mm zone of inhibitions, respectively) and potent antioxidant properties (97.57%, 95.55%, and 96.85% DPPH scavenging). Notably, solvent polarity significantly influenced extraction yields and bioactivity, with ethanol. This work highlights the therapeutic promise of plant-derived compounds against MDR pathogens while encouraging for One Health approaches to mitigate antibiotic resistance.