Rapid bactericidal effect of cinnamon bark essential oil against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Elcocks, Ellena; Spencer‐Phillips, Peter; Adukwu, Emmanuel

doi:10.1111/jam.14538

Rapid bactericidal effect of cinnamon bark essential oil against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Elcocks, Ellena; Spencer‐Phillips, Peter; Adukwu, Emmanuel

Authors

Ellena Elcocks

Peter Spencer-Phillips Peter.Spencer-Phillips@uwe.ac.uk
Academic Director (International & Res)

Professor Emmanuel Adukwu Emmanuel.Adukwu@uwe.ac.uk
Deputy Head of School and Professor in Applied Microbiology

Abstract

AIMS:
This study aimed to identify the most effective antimicrobial from a selection of essential oils and investigate its bactericidal properties against Ps. aeruginosa.

METHODS AND RESULTS:
The disc diffusion assay and minimal inhibitory/bactericidal concentration tests were used to identify antimicrobial potential. Several oils exhibited antimicrobial effects at concentrations as low as 0·03% (v/v). Significantly, cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark oil exhibited broad spectrum activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and showed bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects against Ps. aeruginosa PAO1 at 0·125% (v/v) and all other tested organisms, including known multidrug resistant species. Time-kill assays and metabolic activity tests showed cinnamon oil to exhibit rapid killing, with bactericidal activity observed in ≤ 6 min at ≥ 0·5% (v/v). Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy and a membrane permeability assay indicated damage to membrane integrity, loss of turgor and cell collapse.

CONCLUSION:
Cinnamon bark essential oil is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial capable of rapid killing at low concentrations.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY:
This study provides a sound basis for further investigation of the potential of cinnamon bark essential oil as an alternative to conventional antimicrobial products due to its fast acting bactericidal properties at low concentrations.

Citation

Elcocks, E., Spencer‐Phillips, P., & Adukwu, E. (2020). Rapid bactericidal effect of cinnamon bark essential oil against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 128(4), 1025-1037. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14538

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Nov 28, 2019
Online Publication Date	Dec 17, 2019
Publication Date	Apr 1, 2020
Deposit Date	Dec 17, 2019
Publicly Available Date	Dec 18, 2020
Journal	Journal of Applied Microbiology
Print ISSN	1364-5072
Electronic ISSN	1365-2672
Publisher	Wiley
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	128
Issue	4
Pages	1025-1037
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14538
Keywords	Biotechnology; Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology; General Medicine
Public URL	https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/4773669

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This is the peer reviewed version of the article, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14538. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.