Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of cinnamon essential oil nanoemulsion against multi-species oral biofilms

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 15;11(1):5911. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-85375-3.

Abstract

Cinnamon essential oil (CEO) has antibacterial properties, but its ability to suppress the formation of multi-species oral biofilms has not been fully elucidated. This study evaluated the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of cinnamon essential oil nanoemulsion (CEON) against oral biofilms formed using a microcosm biofilm model. The biofilms were formed on bovine enamel specimens over a 7-day period, during which all specimens were treated with one of three solutions: 5% CEON (n = 35), 0.5% cocamidopropyl betaine (n = 35), or 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX; n = 35). Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities were determined by the red/green ratios (R/G values) of 7-day-old mature biofilms photographed with quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital, the number of aciduric bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs) within each biofilm, and the absorbance of bacterial suspensions. One-way and repeated-measures analysis of variance were performed to compare differences among the three solutions. R/G values were lowest in the 0.12% CHX group, but not significantly differ from the 5% CEON group. The number of CFUs and absorbance were lowest in the 5% CEON group. This study showed that nanoemulsified CEO inhibited the maturation of multi-species oral biofilms and the growth of oral microorganisms in biofilms, including aciduric bacteria that cause dental caries.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Cinnamomum zeylanicum / chemistry*
  • Emulsions
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mouth / drug effects
  • Mouth / microbiology
  • Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry*
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Emulsions
  • Oils, Volatile