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Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a formidable bacterial pathogen, wreaks havoc through a spectrum of chronic and acute infections, including, less commonly, vaginal and urinary tract infections. It is not a typical cause of bacterial vaginosis, which is driven mainly by anaerobes, but it can occasionally be involved in vaginal infections.
P. aeruginosa‘s notoriety escalates in individuals grappling with underlying conditions such as severe burns, cancer, cystic fibrosis, and hospital-acquired infections, often culminating in alarmingly high rates of poor outcomes.
Central to P. aeruginosa‘s persistence and virulence are various adhesion factors, including pili, flagella, and biofilms, allowing it to cling tenaciously to medical devices, water systems, and diverse surfaces.
The formation of biofilms by P. aeruginosa ushers in an era of chronic infections, with heightened resistance to conventional treatments like irradiation, disinfectants, immune responses, and antibiotics.
This resilience is largely attributed to the impervious extracellular matrix, or glycocalyx, which impedes antibiotic penetration into the complex polysaccharide network: the biofilm.
Consequently, biofilms have catalysed the proliferation of multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa strains, necessitating novel approaches for effective management.
Worth stressing before the science: the work below is laboratory research on P. aeruginosa grown in cultures and on surfaces, not clinical treatment in people. It does not mean cinnamon treats these infections, and cinnamon oil should never be used in or on the vagina, as it is a strong irritant that can burn delicate tissue.
How Cinnamomum from cinnamon acts against biofilms in P. aeruginosa
Enter Cinnamomum and its derivative compounds, demonstrating remarkable antimicrobial potential via various mechanisms. Cinnamomum and its derivative compounds have also been found to destroy microbial biofilms1.
One active component, cinnamtannin B1 from the cinnamon species Cinnamomum tamala, hinders biofilm formation and swarming motility in P. aeruginosa. It does so by suppressing the expression of fliC and rhlA, key in flagella protein flagellin and rhamnolipid (a bacterial surfactant) synthesis2.
Furthermore, the power of Cinnamomum against P. aeruginosa biofilms lies in its adept inhibition of quorum sensing (QS), a prime modulator of virulence.3–5 Quorum sensing is a way that microbes communicate with one another and seem to direct group actions.
This pathogen boasts four QS systems (PQS, IQS, Las, and Rhl) orchestrating nearly 10% of the P. aeruginosa genome.
Recent studies reveal that Cinnamomum’s sub-inhibitory levels of cinnamaldehyde downregulate both the las and rhl QS systems by repressing transcription factors LasR and RhlR, curbing the production of key virulence factors like pyocyanin, elastase, and protease.4
Cinnamomum’s potential doesn’t stop here. It also curtails the production of Cyclic di‐guanosine monophosphate (c‐di‐GMP), a central cytoplasmic signal governing various bacterial behaviours, including biofilm life cycles.6
By disrupting transmembrane potential and swarming motility, Cinnamomum destabilises biofilms and impairs c‐di‐GMP expression, rendering P. aeruginosa more susceptible to host immune responses and other antibiofilm agents.
C‐di‐GMP is a critical cytoplasmic signal and second messenger that controls virulence, cell cycle propagation, motility, and other behaviours such as biofilm life cycle in several bacteria.
This complex approach positions Cinnamomum as a promising laboratory contender in the fight against P. aeruginosa biofilm infections.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pseudomonas aeruginosa a common cause of BV?
No. Bacterial vaginosis is driven mainly by anaerobic bacteria such as Gardnerella and Prevotella. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not a typical BV organism, though it can occasionally be involved in vaginal or urinary infections, especially in people with other health problems.
Does cinnamon treat Pseudomonas infections?
Not as a proven treatment. In the laboratory, cinnamon compounds can disrupt P. aeruginosa quorum sensing and biofilms, which is promising, but this has not been shown to work as a treatment in people. Serious Pseudomonas infections need proper medical care.
Can I use cinnamon oil for a vaginal infection?
No – never put cinnamon oil or cinnamaldehyde in the vagina. It is a potent irritant and can cause chemical burns. This research is about biology in the lab, not a home remedy. See a doctor for any vaginal or urinary infection.
This article summarises laboratory research, not medical advice. Cinnamon is not a proven treatment for Pseudomonas, vaginal or urinary infections, and cinnamon oil must never be applied to the vagina, where it can cause burns. Please see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and safe, effective treatment of any infection.
- Vasconcelos NG, Croda J, Simionatto S. Antibacterial mechanisms of cinnamon and its constituents: A review. Microbial Pathogenesis. 2018;120:198–203.
- Lakshmanan D, Harikrishnan A, Vishnupriya S, Jeevaratnam K. Swarming Inhibitory Potential of Cinnamtannin B1 from Cinnamomum tamala T. Nees and Eberm on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ACS Omega. Published online October 3, 2019:16994-16998.
- Ahmed SAKS, Rudden M, Smyth TJ, Dooley JSG, Marchant R, Banat IM. Natural quorum sensing inhibitors effectively downregulate gene expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factors. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2019;103(8):3521–3535.
- Kalia M, Yadav VK, Singh PK, et al. Effect of Cinnamon Oil on Quorum Sensing-Controlled Virulence Factors and Biofilm Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PLOS ONE. 2015;10(8):e0135495.
- Alva PP, Suresh S, Nanjappa DP, et al. Isolation and identification of quorum sensing antagonist from Cinnamomum verum leaves against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Life Sciences. 2021;267:118878.
- Topa SH, Subramoni S, Palombo EA, Kingshott P, Rice SA, Blackall LL. Cinnamaldehyde disrupts biofilm formation and swarming motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiology. 2018;164(9):1087–1097.
