Antibacterial activity of Cinnamaldehyde against multidrug resistant enterobacterial strains

In modern medical practice, the development of antimicrobial resistance by Enterobacteriaceae is inevitable and is considered as a major problem in the treatment of bacterial infections both in human and veterinary medicine. Extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) are enzymes produced by a variety of Gram-negative bacteria which confer an increased resistance to commonly used antibiotics. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity of multi drug-resistant enterobacterial strains to cinnamaldehyde. In the current study, the effect of cinnamaldehyde was used on eight multi drug resistant enterobacterial strains (four E. coli clinical isolates, one E. coli ATCC 25922, one Klebsiella pneumoniae, one Enterobacter cloacae and one Salmonella spp.) including some ESBL producers, which were previously characterized. Antibacterial activity of cinnamaldehyde against the enterobacterial strains was investigated by disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Cinnamaldehyde showed a significant antibacterial activity against all the studied multidrug resistant enterobacterial strains with MIC values in the range of 0.015 and 0.031%. Cinnamaldehyde was very effective against all the selected multi drug resistant enterobacterial isolates, including ESBL producers. Therefore, it could be suggested as an antibacterial agent in the future.