GC-MS Analysis of Volatile Constituents, Antibacterial Activity, and Mechanism of Action of the Essential Oil from Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Against Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci

Abstract

Background & Objectives: An alarming rise in multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogen like Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) has culminated in a global health threat in today’s healthcare environment and has caused significant morbidity and mortality in patients. The field of medicinal herbs has developed at an exponential rate in subsequent decades. Acknowledging the antimicrobial mechanisms of essential oils and their components is vital for developing them as a potential new source of antibiotics that can work as an alternative treatment for multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. Methods: The current study investigates the physiochemical properties and a variety of analytical and biological activities to determine the activity of Cinnamomum cassia essential Oil against drug-resistant microorganisms by utilizing a Time kill curve and evaluating the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of oil. The antimicrobial properties were assessed using a growth curve and the cell membrane’s integrity. The essential oil was retrieved by hydro-distilling Cinnamon bark, and the volatile components of the essential oil were determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Result: GC-MS analysis detected major components such as Cinnamaldehyde-(E) (37.40%); 2-Propenal, 3-phenyl (11.70%) and 1,6-Octadien-3-ol,3,7- dimethyl- (5.97%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and growth curves against VRE were also evaluated. The liberation of cellular contents, as well as changes in cell membrane permeability, have been studied. The MIC value of the essential oil against Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci was 15.625 μg/mL speculating that the essential oil seemed to be effective against the drug-resistant culture. When the essential oil of Cinnamomum cassia was administered to the bacterial culture, the constituents of the bacterial cell were expelled into the medium.