Libyan Medical Journal

Investigation of the Effect of Two Different Solvents (Aqueous and Alcoholic) on Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activities for the Globularia Repens Plant

Shanzaq Mohammed — 2025-10-09

This study aimed to investigate and evaluate the antimicrobial potential of leaves and stems of the Globularia repens plant growing in the Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar region, Libya. Plant parts were extracted using two solvents (aqueous and methanol). Phytochemical screening and paper chromatography were conducted to identify major classes of secondary metabolites. The antimicrobial activity was tested against six bacterial species (including Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two fungal species (Alternaria alternata and Penicillium sp.) using the agar well diffusion method. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, sterols, and saponins. The antimicrobial assays demonstrated that the methanol extracts exhibited significant inhibitory activity against some tested pathogens, while the aqueous extracts were less effective. The potency of the extracts also varied between the leaves and stems

Detection of Radioactive Element Contents and their Hazard indices in Composite Soil and Rock Samples from the Southern Al Jabal al Akhdar Region (Between Aslunta and Al Makhili), Libya

Hamad Hasan — 2025-10-11

The current study aims to reveal the contents of radioactive elements in soil and rock samples collected from the southern area of the Green Mountain, extending between Al-Salanta and Al-Makhili. Soil samples were taken from 20 areas, and the experimental design was a completely randomized block design with three replications. The most important results obtained are as follows: The results of this study showed the presence of several natural radioactive elements with various uses, which can be considered important natural resources. The presence of radioactive potassium (40K), uranium (238U), thorium (232Th), and radium (226Ra) were recorded, and these are natural radioactive elements that can be found in many soils. The results of this study recorded radioactive potassium concentrations ranging between (63.65– 403.56 Bq/kg), with the highest concentration found at site number 11, known as the (Al-Qarrah Al-Hamra area near the Tanmalo region), while the lowest concentration was at site 13, known as the (Tanmalo area). Regarding the results related to radioactive uranium 238, this study recorded concentrations ranging between (38.34–82.66 Bq/kg), with the highest concentrations found at site number (2), in the area of Wadi A'teer near the Aslanta area, while the lowest concentrations were at site number (9), in the area of Qlay'at near the Crushers area. Generally, the study results recorded highly significant changes at the level of 0.0001. The results related to radioactive radium showed that its concentrations ranged between (32.005–96.48 Bq/kg), with the highest concentrations found at site number (2), in the area of Wadi A'teer near the Aslinta area, while the lowest concentrations were at site number (9), in the area of Qlay'at near the quarries. Generally, the study results recorded highly significant changes at the level of 0.0001. Regarding the results related to radioactive thorium-232, this study recorded concentrations ranging between (31.15-63.18 Bq/kg), with the highest concentrations found at site number (6), in the area of (Mas'ada near Jirdas), while the lowest concentrations were at site number (20), in the area of (North Gate 1 near Al-Mukhayli). In general, the study results showed highly significant changes at the level of 0.0001. The study results recorded a clear variation in the concentrations of natural radioactive elements in the study areas. The results showed the presence of natural radioactive elements in all soils of the study sites. The following figures illustrate the distribution of radioactive elements in the study areas. When comparing the recorded results of the current study with others in different parts of the world, we find that the potassium concentration rate recorded an increase compared to the other radioactive elements in the study area, but was lower than the global average value. Additionally, the activity concentration rates of radium and thorium were lower than the global average value.

Bacterial Etiology and Antimicrobial Resistance in Ear Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study from Tripoli, Libya

Abdulkhaleg Elhedmi — 2025-10-19

This cross-sectional study included 100 patients aged 18 to 60 from a teaching hospital in Tripoli, Libya, with an ear infection. Following normal bacteriological procedures, sterile ear swabs were used to collect middle ear secretions from study participants for culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A total of eight bacterial species and one fungal species were recovered. The microbiological analysis of the clinical isolates demonstrated a predominance of Gram-negative bacteria (48.0%), followed by Gram-positive bacteria (34.0%) and fungal isolates (14.0%), while 4.0% of samples showed no microbial growth. Among Gram-negative organisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently recovered pathogen, accounting for 28.0% of all isolates. Gram-positive bacteria were primarily represented by Staphylococcus epidermidis (16.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus (11.0%). Candida albicans was the only fungal pathogen identified in this cohort. Cefotaxime showed 100% resistance in Pseudomonas and Klebsiella spp., while gentamicin (100% efficacy in Gram-positive cocci; 85.7% in Pseudomonas) and amikacin (100% in Klebsiella; 92.9% in Pseudomonas) were the most effective agents, underscoring the urgent need for targeted antibiotic selection. Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi in samples were the leading cause of ear infections, and they were generally susceptible to most of the antibiotics tested. Amikacin, cefepime, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and meropenem could be valuable in the empirical management of ear infections

Assessment of Natural Radioactive Elements and Health Risk Values in Imported Cocoa Samples at Some Libyan Markets

Hamad Hasan — 2025-10-20

This study investigated the presence of natural radioactive isotopes in imported cocoa samples collected from Derna, Libya, using gamma-ray spectrometry with a Sodium Iodide (NaI) detector. The analysis focused on the activity concentrations of radionuclides such as ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K. The average activity concentrations were 46.96 Bq/kg (²²⁶Ra), 49.77 Bq/kg (²³⁸U), 53.57 Bq/kg (²³²Th), and 123.75 Bq/kg (⁴⁰K). Values for ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁸U, and ²³²Th exceeded the global recommended limits, while ⁴⁰K remained below the permissible limit. The absorbed dose rate (DR) ranged from 42.42 to 80.50 nGy/h, with an average of 58.27 nGy/h, lower than the global reference of 84 nGy/h. Internal and External annual effective doses were 0.29 mSv/y and 0.07 mSv/y, respectively, both within safe limits. The Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) averaged 0.26 × 10⁻³, slightly higher than the global recommended threshold (0.29 × 10⁻³). The Annual Gonadal Equivalent Dose (AGED) averaged 0.41 mSv/y, which is above the safety limit of 0.3 mSv/y. Hazard indices (Radium Equivalent, Gamma Index, Alpha Index, Hin, Hex) were all below international safety limits, indicating no immediate health risk

Assessment of Serum Triglyceride and Cholesterol level among Sudanese Epileptic Patients using Antiepileptic Drugs in Khartoum State - Sudan

Siddig Bushra Mohamed — 2025-10-23

Antiepileptic drugs such as Phenytoin (PHE), Valproic acid (VPA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) is disrupting Triglyceride and Cholesterol level. Our study aimed to assess the level of serum Triglyceride and Cholesterol among Sudanese patients using antiepileptic drugs more than one year at Khartoum State - Sudan. This analytical case control study was conducted from November, 2019 to May, 2020 in National Center for Neurological Diseases and Sciences- Omdurman Teaching Hospital, Bahri Teaching Hospital and Academic Educational Hospital at Khartoum State, Sudan. A total of 64 patients enrolled in this study, 32 out of them were diagnosed as epileptic patients on antiepileptic drugs for more than one year (case group), and the other 32 patients (control group) diagnosed with epilepsy but not used antiepileptic drugs. Analysis of serum Triglyceride and Cholesterol were done by fully automated machine (Mindray BS 240 clinical chemistry analyzer). The study showed that, the patients used Carbamazepine, Valproate and Phenytoin drugs, were significant decrease in mean serum concentration of Triglyceride (86.1±38.8) when compare of main of control group (127.6±60.2) with p- value (0.002), and were significant increase in mean serum concentrations of Cholesterol (158.5±54.7) when compared of main of control group (150.5±75.2) with p- value (0.044) from data suggest that antiepileptic drugs have effect on serum Triglycerides and Cholesterol level. There were increased in mean of Triglyceride among patients used Carbamazepine when compared to Valproic Acid and Phenytoin and there was decreased in mean of Cholesterol among patients used Phenytoin when compared to Valproic Acid and Carbamazepine therapy. From the present study we concluded that serum Triglycerides and Total Cholesterol level should be regularly monitored in patients using antiepileptic drugs for more than one year.

Determining The Residual Aluminum and Zinc in Food Wrapped by Aluminum Foil (Sandwich Samples) Collected from Some Restaurants in El Bayda City, Libya

Hamad Hasan — 2025-11-03

The wrapping of foods with aluminum foil may cause the transfer of some elements presence in the foil as Aluminum (Al), Zinc (Zn), which are found in high concentrations in this foil. At high concentrations, these elements may be toxic to human health. The main problem of these elements is, they are not. This study aims to estimate Aluminum and Zinc in some sandwich samples collected from Libyan restaurants in El-Bayda city. Ten samples of different types of wrapped sandwiches by aluminum foil were studied in this investigation, the selected metal contents were measured by the atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) method. The samples were designed by nitric acid. The results of this study recorded that the concentrations of aluminum and zinc ranged between (0.012 – 0.079 ppm) and (4.35 -10.93 ppm), respectively. The study did not record high variations between the studied samples in their contents of heavy metals. Some of the samples contained higher levels of Aluminum compared to the levels recommended by WHO

Evaluation of Vitamin D Levels in A Sample of Healthy Children and Adolescents in the City of Zawia, Western Libya

Al Basher Ashour — 2025-11-04

In this study, vitamin D levels were evaluated in a sample of children and adolescents in the city of Zawia, Libya, during the years 2021 and 2024. 500 children and adolescents participated in the study, at a rate of 250 participants per year. Laboratory examinations were conducted in some medical clinics in the city, and vitamin D levels were classified as follows: Vitamin D deficiency: ≥20 ng/ml; inadequacy: 21-29 ng/ml. adequacy: ≤30 ng/ml. Overall, 39.2% of participants had vitamin D insufficiency in 2021, with a mean value of 9.77±4.50 ng/ml, according to the data. In 2024, 52% of participants had vitamin D deficiency, with a mean value of 18.03±1.14 ng/ml. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was higher in both years among females than males (P<0.001), and it rose in both sexes in 2024 compared to 2021. Additionally, adolescents in the 13–18 age group had a significantly higher rate of vitamin D deficiency than those in the 1–6 age group (P<0.001), and the rate of deficiency increased in 2024 compared to 2021 across all age groups. The study concluded that vitamin D deficiency is common in the sample and became more prevalent in 2024 than in 2021, especially among adolescents and females. In light of this increase, awareness programmes highlighting the importance of adequate sun exposure, food fortification, and vitamin D supplements are required, especially for categories that are more vulnerable to deficiencies