Effect of Zataria multiflora and Cinnamomum Verum essential oils on biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogenic bacterium and one of the pathogens that commonly causes biofilm infections in the clinic. Antibiotic resistance has spread worldwide in Staphylococcus aureus and is a serious problem for the treatment of patients. In this study, the effect of thyme essential oil of Shirazi and cinnamon on the formation of biofilm in Staphylococcus aureus strains has been investigated.

In this study, 20 clinical samples of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from the urine of patients admitted to the intensive care unit of Taleghani Hospital in Tehran. The microdilution test was performed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Zataria multiflora and cinnamon essential oils on strains. The ability of biofilm formation in the collected strains was assessed by microtiterplate and the effects of Zataria multiflora and cinnamon essential oils were evaluated on biofilm formation.

In this study, 75% of Staphylococcus aureus strains formed strong biofilm and 25% moderate biofilm. Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus strains with Zataria multiflora essential oils in MIC concentration revealed that biofilm formation were 40% weak and 60% strains did not form biofilm. Treatment of strains with cinnamon essential oil at MIC concentration was observed to be 25% strong biofilm and 75% moderate biofilm. The present study shows the effect of essential oils of Zataria multiflora and cinnamon in reducing the biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus strains.