Background: Development of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria motivates the researchers to search for newer antimicrobial agents. Objectives: In the present study, antibacterial effects of Cuminum cyminum Linn. essential oil against multidrug resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli strains isolated from urinary tract infections were studied, using microdilution method. Materials and Methods:: A total of 12 E. coli strains were isolated from urine cultures of hospitalized patients (Zabol, southeastern Iran) suffering from urinary tract infection during 2011-2012. After bacteriological confirmatory tests, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the essential oil of C. cyminum Linn. were determined using microdilution method. Essential oil of C. cyminum Linn. was obtained by hydro-distillation and the MICs were investigated to characterize the oil antimicrobial activities. Results: All of E. coli isolates were resistant to four of the antibiotics including ceftazidime (50%), cefixime (41.6%), tetracycline (75%) and erythromycin (58.3%). The highest MIC value (250 ppm) was observed against two antibiotics and the lowest (10 ppm) against one antibiotic. Conclusions: C. cyminum Linn essential oil has a potent antimicrobial activity against E. coli MDR strains. Our study confirms the use of this essential oil as an antibacterial agent. However, further research will be required before its therapeutic application.

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