Common Food Compound Shows Surprising Power Against Superbugs

Researchers found that cinnamic acid, a food-related plant compound, can inhibit bacterial plasmid conjugation and slow resistance-gene transfer.

The effect was seen in lab tests, ex vivo gut models, and mice against plasmids carrying genes such as mcr-1, blaNDM-1, and tet(X4).

The compound showed no obvious toxicity and did not clearly disrupt the gut microbiota, suggesting a potentially safer anti-resistance strategy.

By limiting plasmid exchange, cinnamic acid could help slow the spread of antibiotic resistance in superbugs.