Cinnamon Leaf and Clove Essential Oils Are Potent Inhibitors of Virulence Traits

Overview

Journal Microorganisms

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2022 Oct 27

PMID 36296264

Authors

Zinnat Shahina

Ali Molaeitabari

Taranum Sultana

Tanya Elizabeth Susan Dahms

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Plant-based essential oils are promising anti-virulence agents against the multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogen . Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of (cinnamon) leaf and (clove) flower bud essential oils revealed eugenol (73 and 75%, respectively) as their major component, with β-caryophyllene, eugenyl acetate, and α-humulene as common minor components. Cinnamon leaf and clove essential oils had minimum inhibitory concentrations of 600 and 500 µg/mL, respectively against the RSY150 reference strain and 1000 and 750 µg/mL, respectively for the clinical reference strain ATCC 10231. The combined oils are additive (FICI = 0.72 ± 0.16) and synergistic (0.5 ± 0.0) against RSY150 and the clinical reference strain, respectively. Mycelial growth was inhibited by sublethal concentrations of either essential oil, which abolished colony growth. At half of the lowest combined lethal concentration for the two oils, the yeast-to-hyphal transition and mycelial growth was potently inhibited. Mutant strains Δ/Δ, Δ/Δ, Δ/+, and Δ/Δ were sensitive to either or both oils, especially Δ/Δ. In conclusion, oils of cinnamon leaf and clove and their combination significantly impact virulence by inhibiting hyphal and mycelial growth.

Citing Articles

Anti-biofilm effect of clove oil against : A systematic review.

Sangeeta J, Aishwarya O, Omkar D, Madhura N J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2025; 28(4):665-671.

PMID: 39949693 PMC: 11819647. DOI: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_225_24.

Blocking the shikimate pathway amplifies the impact of carvacrol on biofilm formation in .

Molaeitabari A, Dahms T Microbiol Spectr. 2025; 13(3):e0275424.

PMID: 39918333 PMC: 11878086. DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02754-24.

A Comparative Review of Eugenol and Citral Anticandidal Mechanisms: Partners in Crimes Against Fungi.

Shahina Z, Dahms T Molecules. 2024; 29(23).

PMID: 39683696 PMC: 11643759. DOI: 10.3390/molecules29235536.

Syzygium aromaticum essential oil and its major constituents: Assessment of activity against Candida spp. and toxicity.

Silva Vasconcelos P, Abuna G, Raimundo E Silva J, Tavares J, Costa E, Murata R PLoS One. 2024; 19(6):e0305405.

PMID: 38889118 PMC: 11185461. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305405.

Essential oils as promising treatments for treating infections: research progress, mechanisms, and clinical applications.

Hou G, Huang T Front Pharmacol. 2024; 15:1400105.

PMID: 38831882 PMC: 11145275. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1400105.

References

Budzynska A, Sadowska B, Wieckowska-Szakiel M, Rozalska B . Enzymatic profile, adhesive and invasive properties of Candida albicans under the influence of selected plant essential oils. Acta Biochim Pol. 2014; 61(1):115-21. View

Clatworthy A, Pierson E, Hung D . Targeting virulence: a new paradigm for antimicrobial therapy. Nat Chem Biol. 2007; 3(9):541-8. DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.2007.24. View

Sharkey L, McNemar M, Sypherd P, Fonzi W . HWP1 functions in the morphological development of Candida albicans downstream of EFG1, TUP1, and RBF1. J Bacteriol. 1999; 181(17):5273-9. PMC: 94032. DOI: 10.1128/JB.181.17.5273-5279.1999. View

Kullberg B, Arendrup M . Invasive Candidiasis. N Engl J Med. 2015; 373(15):1445-56. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1315399. View

Bates S, MacCallum D, Bertram G, Munro C, Hughes H, Buurman E . Candida albicans Pmr1p, a secretory pathway P-type Ca2+/Mn2+-ATPase, is required for glycosylation and virulence. J Biol Chem. 2005; 280(24):23408-15. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M502162200. View

Pfaller M . Antifungal drug resistance: mechanisms, epidemiology, and consequences for treatment. Am J Med. 2011; 125(1 Suppl):S3-13. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2011.11.001. View

Hammer K, Carson C, Riley T . Antifungal effects of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and its components on Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2004; 53(6):1081-5. DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkh243. View

Sims C, Ostrosky-Zeichner L, Rex J . Invasive candidiasis in immunocompromised hospitalized patients. Arch Med Res. 2005; 36(6):660-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2005.05.015. View

Ramage G, VandeWalle K, Lopez-Ribot J, Wickes B . The filamentation pathway controlled by the Efg1 regulator protein is required for normal biofilm formation and development in Candida albicans. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2002; 214(1):95-100. DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2002.tb11330.x. View

10.

Ranasinghe L, Jayawardena B, Abeywickrama K . Fungicidal activity of essential oils of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (L.) and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr et L.M. Perry against crown rot and anthracnose pathogens isolated from banana. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2002; 35(3):208-11. DOI: 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2002.01165.x. View

11.

Lone S, Ahmad A . Inhibitory effect of novel Eugenol Tosylate Congeners on pathogenicity of Candida albicans. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020; 20(1):131. PMC: 7191809. DOI: 10.1186/s12906-020-02929-0. View

12.

Pires R, Montanari L, Martins C, Zaia J, Fusco Almeida A, Matsumoto M . Anticandidal efficacy of cinnamon oil against planktonic and biofilm cultures of Candida parapsilosis and Candida orthopsilosis. Mycopathologia. 2011; 172(6):453-64. DOI: 10.1007/s11046-011-9448-0. View

13.

Pei R, Zhou F, Ji B, Xu J . Evaluation of combined antibacterial effects of eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, thymol, and carvacrol against E. coli with an improved method. J Food Sci. 2009; 74(7):M379-83. DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2009.01287.x. View

14.

Darvishi E, Omidi M, Bushehri A, Golshani A, Smith M . The antifungal eugenol perturbs dual aromatic and branched-chain amino acid permeases in the cytoplasmic membrane of yeast. PLoS One. 2013; 8(10):e76028. PMC: 3799837. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076028. View

15.

Vanden Bossche H, Dromer F, Improvisi I, Rex J, Sanglard D . Antifungal drug resistance in pathogenic fungi. Med Mycol. 1999; 36 Suppl 1:119-28. View

16.

Braga P, Dal Sasso M, Culici M, Alfieri M . Eugenol and thymol, alone or in combination, induce morphological alterations in the envelope of Candida albicans. Fitoterapia. 2007; 78(6):396-400. DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2007.02.022. View

17.

Bang K, Lee D, Park H, Rhee Y . Inhibition of fungal cell wall synthesizing enzymes by trans-cinnamaldehyde. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2000; 64(5):1061-3. DOI: 10.1271/bbb.64.1061. View

18.

Price M, Wilkinson I, Gentry L . Plate method for detection of phospholipase activity in Candida albicans. Sabouraudia. 1982; 20(1):7-14. DOI: 10.1080/00362178285380031. View

19.

Hsu C, Lai W, Chuang K, Lee M, Tsai Y . The inhibitory activity of linalool against the filamentous growth and biofilm formation in Candida albicans. Med Mycol. 2012; 51(5):473-82. DOI: 10.3109/13693786.2012.743051. View

20.

Douglas L, Konopka J . Plasma membrane organization promotes virulence of the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. J Microbiol. 2016; 54(3):178-91. PMC: 5650914. DOI: 10.1007/s12275-016-5621-y. View