These compounds based on peppermint and cinnamon kill infection (bacterial biofilm) while helping the wound to heal according to a July 8, 2015 news item on ScienceDaily,
Infectious colonies of bacteria called biofilms that develop on chronic wounds and medical devices can cause serious health problems and are tough to treat. But now scientists have found a way to package antimicrobial compounds from peppermint and cinnamon in tiny capsules that can both kill biofilms and actively promote healing. The researchers say the new material could be used as a topical antibacterial treatment and disinfectant.
A July 8, 2015 American Chemical Society news release on EurekAlert, which originated the news item, provides more detail,
Many bacteria clump together in sticky plaques in a way that makes them difficult to eliminate with traditional antibiotics. Doctors sometimes recommend cutting out infected tissues. This approach is costly, however, and because it’s invasive, many patients opt out of treatment altogether. Essential oils and other natural compounds have emerged recently as alternative substances that can get rid of pathogenic bacteria, but researchers have had a hard time translating their antibacterial activity into treatments. Vincent M. Rotello and colleagues wanted to address this challenge.
The researchers packaged peppermint oil and cinnamaldehyde, the compound in cinnamon responsible for its flavor and aroma, into silica nanoparticles. The microcapsule treatment was effective against four different types of bacteria, including one antibiotic-resistant strain. It also promoted the growth of fibroblasts, a cell type that is important in wound healing.
Here’s a link to and a citation for the paper,
Nanoparticle-Stabilized Capsules for the Treatment of Bacterial Biofilms by Bradley Duncan, Xiaoning Li, Ryan F. Landis, Sung Tae Kim, Akash Gupta, Li-Sheng Wang, Rajesh Ramanathan, Rui Tang, Jeffrey A. Boerth, and Vincent M. Rotello. ACS Nano, Article ASAP
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b01696 Publication Date (Web): June 17, 2015Copyright © 2015 American Chemical Society
This paper is behind a paywall.