Cinnamomum bark essential oils antibacterial efficacy against enteric pathogens: Implications for human health

We evaluated the anti-enterobacterial activity of C. zeylanicum bark essential oil against

4-pathogenic enteric bacterial strains [(Salmonella sp. (non-typhoidal), Shigella dysenteriae,

Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700603)]. The essential oil

antibacterial activity was determined by the agar well-diffusion method. The inhibition zones were

measured to determine the extent of antibacterial efficacy. C. zeylanicum bark oil exhibited

significant inhibitory effects on all tested bacterial strains, suggesting its potential as a natural

therapeutic agent to treat gastrointestinal infections. Thus cinnamon bark oil may be used to develop

alternate treatment strategies, against drug-resistant enteric pathogens. Further investigations on the

chemical composition of oil and the mechanisms underlying its antibacterial action are essential to

support its potential applications in clinical therapeutics.