Cinnamon could treat bacterial infections, claim scientists

It’s often sprinkled on top of your latte, to give it a sweet little kick.

But cinnamon may hold the answer to much more than just keeping your sweet tooth happy.

For scientists now believe it may play a crucial role in tackling the worrying rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

Trials show the compound that gives cinnamon its irresistible flavour and fragrant odour may also weaken bacteria.

The findings are important, as antibiotics continue to become less potent as time goes on, following decades of over-use. 

Resistance to the drugs is considered one of the biggest threats to humanity, and has been cited as severe as terrorism.

Cinnamon could treat bacterial infections, researchers claim amid the worrying rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs

Scientists are working desperately to uncover new ways of tackling superbugs as fears grow the world is heading for a ‘post-antibiotic era’.

But the new Swinburne University of Technology breakthrough offers hope of a natural method to killing once harmless bugs.

They tested a major component of cinnamon, called cinnamaldehyde, in the lab against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Researchers tested CAD’s ability to break up biofilms – which act as a shield against antibiotics – that form over the bacteria to help it spread.

Three quarters of the biofilms were cleared by the compound, Swinburne University of Technology researchers found.

CAD also affected the formation of biofilms and the ability of the bacteria to spread, according to the paper published in Microbiology.

Resistance to the drugs is considered one of the biggest threats to humanity, and has been cited as severe as terrorism

Resistance to the drugs is considered one of the biggest threats to humanity, and has been cited as severe as terrorism

WHAT IS ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE?

Antibiotics have been doled out unnecessarily by GPs and hospital staff for decades, fueling once harmless bacteria to become superbugs. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously warned if nothing is done the world is heading for a ‘post-antibiotic’ era.

It claimed common infections, such as chlamydia, will become killers without immediate solutions to the growing crisis.

Bacteria can become drug resistant when people take incorrect doses of antibiotics or if they are given out unnecessarily. 

Chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies claimed in 2016 that the threat of antibiotic resistance is as severe as terrorism.

Figures estimate that superbugs will kill 10 million people each year by 2050, with patients succumbing to once harmless bugs.

Around 700,000 people already die yearly due to drug-resistant infections including tuberculosis (TB), HIV and malaria across the world. 

Concerns have repeatedly been raised that medicine will be taken back to the ‘dark ages’ if antibiotics are rendered ineffective in the coming years.

In addition to existing drugs becoming less effective, there have only been one or two new antibiotics developed in the last 30 years.

In September, the WHO warned antibiotics are ‘running out’ as a report found a ‘serious lack’ of new drugs in the development pipeline.

Without antibiotics, C-sections, cancer treatments and hip replacements will become incredibly ‘risky’, it was said at the time.

Dr Sanjida Topa, who led the study, said: ‘These findings definitely contribute to the search for novel antimicrobials.’    

P. aeruginosa is a common cause of infection in immune-compromised patients, including those with cystic fibrosis, diabetes or cancer.

During infection, the bacteria group together and form biofilms, which can make infections very difficult to clear.

If left untreated, P. aeruginosa, often found in soil and ground water, can lead to pneumonia and tissue damage. 

Antibiotics have been doled out unnecessarily by GPs and hospital staff for decades, fueling once harmless bacteria to become superbugs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously warned if nothing is done the world is heading for a ‘post-antibiotic’ era.

It claimed common infections, such as chlamydia, will become killers without immediate solutions to the growing crisis.

Bacteria can become drug resistant when people take incorrect doses of antibiotics or if they are given out unnecessarily.

Chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies claimed in 2016 that the threat of antibiotic resistance is as severe as terrorism.

Figures estimate that superbugs will kill 10 million people each year by 2050, with patients succumbing to once harmless bugs.

Around 700,000 people already die yearly due to drug-resistant infections including tuberculosis (TB), HIV and malaria across the world.

Concerns have repeatedly been raised that medicine will be taken back to the ‘dark ages’ if antibiotics are rendered ineffective in the coming years.

In addition to existing drugs becoming less effective, there have only been one or two new antibiotics developed in the last 30 years.

In September, the WHO warned antibiotics are ‘running out’ as a report found a ‘serious lack’ of new drugs in the development pipeline.

Without antibiotics, C-sections, cancer treatments and hip replacements will become incredibly ‘risky’, it was said at the time. 



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