Effect of Cinnamon Oil on Quorum Sensing-Controlled Virulence Factors and Biofilm Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Quorum sensing (QS) is a system of stimuli and responses in bacterial cells governed by their population density, through which they regulate genes that control virulence factors and biofilm formation. Despite considerable research on QS and the discovery of new antibiotics, QS-controlled biofilm formation by microorganisms in clinical settings has remained a problem because of nascent drug resistance, which requires screening of diverse compounds for anti-QS activities. Cinnamon is a dietary phytochemical that is traditionally used to remedy digestive problems and assorted contagions, which suggests that cinnamon might contain chemicals that can hinder the QS process. To test this hypothesis, the anti-QS activity of cinnamon oil against P. aeruginosa was tested, measured by the inhibition of biofilm formation and other QS-associated phenomena, including virulence factors such as pyocyanin, rhamnolipid, protease, alginate production, and swarming activity. To this end, multiple microscopy analyses, including light, scanning electron and confocal microscopy, revealed the ability of cinnamon oil to inhibit P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms and their accompanying extracellular polymeric substances. This work is the first to demonstrate that cinnamon oil can influence various QS-based phenomena in P. aeruginosa PAO1, including biofilm formation.

Evaluation of phytochemicals from medicinal plants of Myrtaceae family on virulence factor production byPseudomonas aeruginosa

“…The most prominent activity was observed with S. jambos and S. antisepticum extracts. In the earlier study, a similar effect in the pigment production by C. violaceum was observed when treated with cinnamon oil , the extracts of Cuminum cyminum and Kigelia africana fruit .…”

Essential oil nanoemulsions: antibacterial activity in contaminated fruit juices

“…Cinnamon oil has various antibacterial properties. It has potent activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli O157:H7 biofilms (Kalia et al ., ; Kim et al ., ). The active component cinnamaldehyde inhibits multi drug resistant strains of P. aeruginosa (Utchariyakiat et al ., ).…”

Monitoring of Resistance to New Chemistry Insecticides in Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Pakistan

“…This result was similar to that of Tong and Bloomquist (2013), who found that several plant essential oils show significant synergistic effects with carbaryl. Cinnamon oil has been used in several toothpastes as an antimicrobial substitute (Kalia et al 2015). Thus, this oil is relatively safe for human consumption.…”