Pathology

Receptor

Minimum inhibitory concentration

Cassia

Antibiotics

Bacteria

Biology

Microbiology

Agar diffusion test

Chemistry

Traditional Chinese medicine

Alternative medicine

Essential oil

Streptomycin

Chloramphenicol

Antagonism

Antibacterial activity

Food science

Genetics

Biochemistry

Traditional medicine

Medicine

Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology amp Research

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) essential oil (EO) alone and in combination with some classical antibiotics against three multidrug-resistant bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to search a possible synergy. The antibacterial activity of all tested compounds was determined by agar disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration assays. The checkerboard method was used to quantify the efficacy of cinnamon EO in combination with these antibiotics. Fractional inhibitory concentrations were calculated and interpreted as synergy, addition, indifferent, or antagonism. A synergistic interaction was shown against S. aureus with the combination cinnamon EO and ampicillin or chloramphenicol and against E. coli when cinnamon EO was combined with chloramphenicol. However, the combination of cinnamon oil and streptomycin displayed additive effects against all bacteria stains. The combinations of cinnamon EO and antibiotics can be used as an alternative therapeutic application, which can decrease the minimum effective dose of the drugs, thus reducing their possible adverse effects and the costs of treatment.

Antibacterial activity of cinnamon essential oils and their synergistic potential with antibiotics