Abstract
Group B streptococci are the cause of dangerous infections both of neonatal and obstetrical sepsis; they also affect pregnant women and elderly patients with chronic underlying medical conditions. The aim of this work was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of cinnamon bark oil obtained from Cinnamomum zeylanicum Ness against clinical strains of group B streptococci. Materials and methods: The antibacterial activity of oil was tested against standard and clinical bacterial strains of Streptococcus agalactiae. The agar dilution method was used to check the inhibition of microbial growth at various concentrations of the cinnamon bark oil. Susceptibility testing to antibiotics was carried out with the use of a disc-diffusion method. The cinnamon bark oil exhibits anti-GBS activity at the very low concentrations. It is also efficacious against MLSb-positive S. agalactiae strains isolated from the anus and vagina of women at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy. Cinnamon bark oil demonstrated a very good antibacterial activity against clinical S. agalactiae strains. It can be used as the alternative to the chemicals administered against GBS isolates.