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Health benefits of Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a summary of the current evidence

DOI:10.4038/cmj.v61i1.8251
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Priyanga Ranasinghe at University of Colombo
Priyanga Ranasinghe
Priyadarshani Galappaththy at University of Colombo
Priyadarshani Galappaththy
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1
Vol. 61, No. 1, March 2016
Leading article
THE CEYLON
MEDICAL JOURNAL
Established 1887
The Official Publication of the
Sri Lanka Medical Association
Volume 61, No.1, March 2016
Quarterly ISSN 0009–0875
Editors Emeritus
Chris G Uragoda MD, FRCP
Colvin Goonaratna FRCP, PhD
Janaka de Silva DPhil, FRCP
Editors
Anuruddha Abeygunasekera MS, FRCS
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Section Editors
A Pathmeswaran MBBS, MD
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Assistant Editors
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Samath Dharmaratne MSc, MD
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Prasad Katulanda MD, Dphil
Sarath Lekamwasam MD, PhD
Senaka Rajapakse MD, FRCP
Udaya K Ranawaka MD, FRCP
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Sisira Siribaddana MD, FRCP
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Health benefits of Ceylon cinnamon
(Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a summary
of the current evidence
Introduction
Cinnamon is obtained from the inner bark of trees from the genus
Cinnamomum. There are two main varieties of cinnamon; Cinnamomum
zeylanicum (CZ) and Cinnamon cassia (CC). CC is also known as Cinnamomum
aromaticum/Chinese cinnamon. In addition to its culinary uses, in Ayurvedic
medicine cinnamon is considered a remedy for respiratory, digestive and
gynaecological ailments. Different parts of the plant (bark, leaves and root)
possess the same array of hydrocarbons in varying proportions. The primary
constituents being cinnamaldehyde (bark), eugenol (leaf) and camphor
(root) [1].
CZ, also known as Ceylon cinnamon or ‘true cinnamon’ is indigenous to
Sri Lanka and southern parts of India [2]. One important difference between
CC and CZ is their coumarin content [3]. Coumarins are plant compounds that
possess strong anticoagulant, carcinogenic and hepato-toxic properties. The
levels of coumarins in CC appear to be very high and could pose health risks
if consumed regularly in higher quantities, whereas CZ contains hardly any
coumarin [4]. Hence, although CC has also demonstrated health benefits,
numerous health agencies have advocated against the regular use of CC.
However, regular use of CZ has not shown to carry such risks.
In vitro and in vivo studies in animals and humans from different parts of
the world have demonstrated numerous beneficial health effects of CZ, such
as anti-inflammatory properties, anti-microbial activity, reducing cardiovascular
disease, boosting cognitive function and reducing risk of colonic cancer [5].
The current level of evidence is summarised in Table 1 and described further
in the following sections.
In vitro and in vivo effects on blood pressure, glycaemic control and lipids
Two systematic reviews in the effects of CZ extracts on diabetes
demonstrate numerous beneficial effects in animal models [6, 7]. In vitro CZ
has demonstrated potential for; reducing post-prandial intestinal glucose
absorption by inhibiting the activity of pancreatic α-amylase and α-
glucosidase, stimulating cellular glucose uptake by membrane translocation
of GLUT-4, stimulating glucose metabolism and glycogen synthesis,
inhibiting gluconeogenesis by effects on key regulatory enzymes and
stimulating insulin release and potentiating insulin receptor activity [6].
Cinnamtannin B1 has been identified as the potential active compound
DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cmj.v61i1.8251
2
Ceylon Medical Journal
Leading article
Table 1. Summary of current evidence
Effects on blood glucose In vitro Reducing intestinal glucose absorption and stimulating cellular glucose uptake
Stimulating glycolysis and glycogensis, and inhibiting gluconeogenesis
Stimulating insulin release and potentiating insulin receptor activity
In vivo (animals) Reducing FBG and HbA1c, and increasing insulin levels
Effects on cholesterol In vivo (animals) Reducing LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol
Effects on blood pressure In vivo (animals) Reduction in blood pressure
Anti-oxidant properties In vitro Reduced oxidative stress and free radical scavenging activity
In vivo (humans) Reduced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation
Activity against micro- In vitro Bactericidal and fungicidal
organisms Anti-bacterial activity (Salmonella enteritidis, oral cavity anaerobic bacteria)
In vivo Anti-fungal activity (Candida)
Anti-parasitic activity (Cryptosporidium parvum)
Others In vitro Inhibiting tau aggregation and filament formation (Alzheimer’s disease)
Stimulation of collagen synthesis in dermal fibroblasts (anti-ageing skin
treatment)
Inhibition of osteoclastogenesis (osteoporosis)
In vivo (animals) Reducing nephropathy and neuropathy (diabetes)
Reduced acid secretion and increased mucus secretion of stomach
(peptic ulcer disease)
Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and wound healing activity
Hepato-protective activity
responsible for these effects [6]. The beneficial effects
of CZ observed with in vivo animal models include;
attenuation of weight loss associated with diabetes,
reduction of fasting blood glucose (FBG), reducing LDL
and increasing HDL cholesterol, reducing HbA1c and
increasing circulating insulin levels [6]. In addition CZ
also showed beneficial effects against diabetic neuropathy
and nephropathy in animal models [6].
Effects of CZ extracts (CZA) on mean arterial blood
pressure (BP) of normotensive rats (NR), salt-loaded
hypertensive rats (SLHR), L-NAME hypertensive rats
(LNHR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
have been studied [8]. Immediately after intravenous
administration, a significant drop in BP was shown in NTR,
SLHR and LNHR in a dose dependent manner and the
drop in BP was not dose dependent in SHR [8]. These
observations indicate that CZ could have potential health
benefits in diseases such as diabetes mellitus and
hypertension.
In-vitro and in-vivo anti-oxidant properties
The volatile oils of CZ have 55.9% and 66.9%
antioxidant activity at 100 and 200 ppm concentration,
respectively [9]. The dried fruit extracts of CZ with ethyl
acetate, acetone, methanol and water exhibited
antioxidant activity in the order of water > methanol
> acetone > ethyl acetate [10]. The etheric (0.69 mg),
methanolic (0.88 mg) and aqueous (0.44 mg) cinnamon
extracts, inhibited the oxidative process in 68%, 95.5%
and 87.5% respectively [11]. CZ bark extracts were found
to be potent in free radical scavenging activity especially
against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals and
ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic
acid) radical cations, while the hydroxyl and superoxide
radicals were also scavenged by the tested compounds
[12]. Similarly CZ has 65.3% of anti-oxidant activity and
strong free radical scavenging activity [13].
Operating room personnel who consumed tea with
CZ (100 mg/ 300 ml) daily for 10 days had their blood
samples analysed for biomarkers of oxidative stress
including lipid peroxidation level (LPO), total antioxidant
power (TAP) and total thiol molecules (TTM).
Consumption of cinnamon induced a significant reduction
in plasma LPO [14]. Treatment of 54 healthy volunteers
with CZ 100 mg/ 30ml of tea daily was significantly effective
in the reduction of lipid peroxidation and increasing TAP
and TTM in comparison with controls [15]. The extent of
increase in plasma TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive
substances) and TAP in the CZ group was significantly
higher than in those given only regular tea [15]. Hence,
CZ has the potential of reducing the oxidative stress
associated with diseases such as diabetes, and the
potential to reduce oxidative stress associated
complications of these diseases.
3
Vol. 61, No. 1, March 2016
Leading article
In vitro and in vivo anti-microbial properties
CZ has shown potential for in-vitro anti-microbial
action against a wide variety of gram positive
(Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and
Streptococcus pyogenes), gram negative (Escherichia
coli, Haemophilus Influenzae, Helicobacter pylori,
Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
Salmonella typhi) and anaerobic bacteria (Clostridium
difficile and Clostridium perfringens) [6]. It has also
demonstrated in-vitro anti-microbial activity against
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition there seems to
be activity against numerous fungi of Aspergillus spp.
and Candida spp. CZ has demonstrated activity against
the human rotavirus too [6].
Administration of CZ oil is beneficial in protecting
susceptible hosts against opportunistic zoonotic parasites
such as Cryptosporidium parvum [16]. Two infants who
were chronic carriers of Salmonella enteritidis and received
short term (10 days) administration of grounded CZ bark
had consistently negative stool cultures with neither
clinical nor microbiological relapses [17,18]. Activity of
CZ against fluconazole resistant and susceptible Candida
were studied in HIV infected patients having pseudo-
membranous candidiasis, where three patients out of five
showed improvements in oral candidiasis [19]. The effects
of sugared chewing gum containing cinnamic aldehyde
and natural flavours from CZ on the short-term germ-killing
effect on total and hydrogen sulphide (H
2
S)-producing
salivary anaerobes has been investigated [20]. Significant
reductions in total salivary anaerobes and H
2
S-producing
salivary anaerobes were observed 20 minutes after
participants chewed the gum.
Other in vitro effects
An aqueous extract of CZ is known to inhibit tau
aggregation and filament formation in the brain, which are
hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease [21]. The extract also
promotes complete disassembly of recombinant tau
filaments and cause substantial alteration of the
morphology of paired-helical filaments isolated from brains
of those with Alzheimer’s disease, although it was not
deleterious to the normal cellular function of tau. An A-
linked proanthocyanidin trimer molecule isolated from the
CZ extract has shown to contain a significant proportion
of this inhibitory activity [21]. CZ extracts facilitate
collagen biosynthesis in human dermal fibroblasts [22].
CZ extract up-regulated both mRNA and protein ex-
pression levels of type I collagen without cytotoxicity,
cinnamaldehyde was the major active component
promoting the expression of collagen by HPLC and NMR
analysis. This suggests that CZ extracts might be useful
in anti-aging treatment of skin [22]. CZ extracts have also
exhibited strong inhibitory effects on osteoclastogenesis
[23]. CZ dose-dependently inhibited osteoclast-like cell
formation at concentrations of 12.5-50 μg/ ml without
affecting cell viability. This finding raises prospects for
the development of a novel approach in the treatment of
osteopenic diseases [23].
Other in vivo effects in animals
CZ is known to have anti-secretagogue and anti-
gastric ulcer effects [24]. CZ suspension pre-treatment
decreased the basal gastric acid secretion in pylorus
ligated rats and effectively inhibited gastric haemorrhagic
lesions induced by 80% ethanol, 0.2M NaOH, and 25%
NaCl. It also showed anti-ulcer activity against
indomethacin. CZ treatment replenished the gastric wall
mucus secretion reduced by ethanol [24]. CZ extracts at
100 and 200 mg/ kg doses significantly reduced the extent
of the diarrhoea (71.7% and 80.4%) in test animals [25].
In a study using two animal models for the
investigation of the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory
effects of CZ and selected plants, CZ induced a dose-
dependent analgesic protective effect against both thermal
stimuli. Furthermore, CZ showed an anti-inflammatory
effect against chronic inflammation of cotton pellet
granulomata [26]. These effects have been confirmed by
other authors [27]. CZ has wound healing properties.
Topical CZ containing ointments accelerated the wound
healing process and specifically increased epithelialisation
[28]. Oral CZ increased the wound breaking strength,
granulation tissue breaking strength and hydroxyproline
content in wister rates [29].
CZ has hepato-protective effects in a study where
liver injury was induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride
(CCl
4
) [30]. Administration of CZ extracts (0.01, 0.05 and
0.1 g/kg) for 28 days significantly reduced the serum levels
of liver enzymes. In addition, treatment with CZ increased
the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes
in rats [30]. Water-based extract from CZ was a potent
inhibitor of VEGFR2 kinase (vascular endothelial growth
factor receptor) activity which is involved in angiogenesis
[31]. As a result, CZ inhibited VEGF-induced endothelial
cell proliferation, migration and tube formation in vitro,
sprout formation from aortic ring ex vivo and tumour-
induced blood vessel formation in vivo [31].
In conclusion, the available in-vitro and in-vivo
evidence suggests that CZ has anti-microbial, anti-
parasitic, anti-oxidant, free radical scavenging and wound
healing properties. In addition, CZ may lower blood
glucose, serum cholesterol and blood pressure, suggesting
beneficial cardiovascular and metabolic effects. However,
most studies have been conducted using animal models.
Future studies are necessary to determine whether these
effects are reproducible in humans, their public health
implications and their safety.
Conflicts of interests
There are no conflicts of interest.
4
Ceylon Medical Journal
Leading article
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Vol. 61, No. 1, March 2016
Leading article
P Ranasinghe and P Galappaththy, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo,
Sri Lanka.
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... Additionally, according to toponymical and historical evidence, C. zeylanicum has been used for medicinal purposes since the establishment of Aryan settlements in the Anuradhapura kingdom [3]. Moreover, the indigenous species of Ceylon cinnamon has been used in the Ayurveda system of Sri Lanka [3,4]. Ethnopharmacological studies show that ...
... Cinnamomum zeylanicum Greenish In panicles [10,13] Cinnamomum cassia White In panicles [13] Cinnamomum burmannii Whitish Yellow In panicles [14] Cinnamomum tamala Yellow In panicles [13] leaves from red to deep green and a larger size help to distinguish the C. zeylanicum from C. cassia, C. burmannii and C. tamala. The Cinnamon bark of C. zeylanicum is where most of the bioactive compounds exist, and, there are certain traits which help identify the plant, based on bark characteristics which are shown in Table 2 [4,12]. However, it is also shown that the bark of C. zeylanicum in powder form is practically impossible to distinguish from other wild species of cinnamon due to its identical appearance -a character which is often misused by Cinnamon producers for adulteration. ...
... The balance of free radicals and antioxidant defense mechanisms is critically important in health aspects from the perspective of mitigating oxidative stress [17][18][19][20]. Oxidative stress, which is induced by free radicals, is associated with many chronic diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes and coronary heart disease [2,4,16,21]. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce oxidative stress and are responsible for the cumulative damage imparted on DNA, lipids, proteins and other molecules, subsequently resulting in even permanent damage [17][18][19]22]. ...
Cinnamomum zeylanicum: Morphology, Antioxidant Properties and Bioactive Compounds
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Cinnamomum zeylanicum is one of the oldest spices used for culinary purposes in Asian countries. Its extracts have demonstrated a positive impact on controlling the progression of disease pathologies due to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimi-crobial, anticancer, anti-mutagenic, anti-tyrosinase and antidiabetic characteristics. C. zeylanicum also has its unique variations which makes it necessary to distinguish it from other species of cinnamon. Phenolic compounds such as cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, carvacrol, cinnamic acetate and thymol are the main compounds that can be found in essential oils of C. zeylanicum. However, cinnamaldehyde and eugenol act as the main bioactive antioxidant compounds found in C. zeylanicum because of their active functional groups in the structures. There are many examples of the use of C. zeylanicum extracts for medicinal purposes, specifically cinnamon metabolite proan-thocyanidins which suppress inflammatory compounds and help pathways such as insulin signaling. Moreover, the bioactive compounds in essential oils of this plant are used against many pathogenic (including food-borne) and spoilage bacteria.
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... Besides their flavor profiles, C. verum and C. cassia are more diverse when used in traditional medicinal remedies [3]. For example, Cinnamomum verum has been used in traditional medical treatment of respiratory system, digestive system, and gynecological diseases [4,5]. Cinnamomum cassia bark demonstrates anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering effects [6]. ...
... The differences in their health benefits indicate that the chemical components in C. verum, C. cassia, and Cassia twig are far more different beyond their typical household uses [4][5][6]8]. The chemistry of herbal medicine is complicated, and it is easily affected by weather, producing area, harvesting season, processing technology, and other conditions, so the quality control method has limitations [9]. ...
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Cinnamomum verum and Cinnamomum cassia are widely used as spice and herbal medicine around the world. However, it is challenging to differentiate and make a quality evaluation for both Cinnamomum types due to their similarities in morphological features and general chemical composition using traditional analytical methods. In this study, a simple and efficient method was developed for the comprehensive evaluation of the two Cinnamomum, together with Cassia twig, by combining UPLC fingerprint analysis combined with quantitative analysis using two internal standards for the determination of multiple components (TSDMC). The content of 9 components (procyanidin B2, cinnamtannin B1, coumarin, 2-hydroxycinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde, 2'-methoxycinnamaldehyde, and eugenol) in samples was determined using reliable relative conversion factor factors that were obtained using procyanidin B2 and cinnamic acid as two internal reference standards. The quantitative results combined with chemometrics analysis were employed to identify these samples. This simple and reproducible method revealed great differences among the three Cinnamomum in their chemical composition and provides a promising method for accurate differentiation and quality evaluation for the three Cinnamomum.
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... Cinnamon also known as Dalchini (DLC) in India, has recently been the subject of intense research due to its numerous pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and cardioprotective Al-Shawabkeh & Al Jamal, 2019;Dugoua et al., 2007;Goswami & Rahman, 2010;Husain et al., 2018;Ranasinghe & Galappaththy, 2016). Cinnamon is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in the amount normally found in food by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ...
Structural interactions of phytoconstituent(s) from cinnamon, bay leaf, oregano, and parsley with SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid protein: A comparative assessment for development of potential antiviral nutraceuticals
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SARS‐CoV‐2 has been responsible for causing 6,218,308 deaths globally till date and has garnered worldwide attention. The lack of effective preventive and therapeutic drugs against SARS‐CoV‐2 has further worsened the scenario and has bolstered research in the area. The N‐terminal and C‐terminal RNA binding domains (NTD and CTD) of SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid protein represent attractive therapeutic drug targets. Naturally occurring compounds are an excellent source of novel drug candidates due to their structural diversity and safety. Ten major bioactive compounds were identified in ethanolic extract (s) of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Origanum vulgare, and Petroselinum crispum using HPLC and their cytotoxic potential was determined against cancer and normal cell lines by MTT assay to ascertain their biological activity in vitro. To evaluate their antiviral potential, the binding efficacy to NTD and CTD of SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid protein was determined using in silico biology tools. In silico assessment of the phytocomponents revealed that most of the phytoconstituents displayed a druglike character with no predicted toxicity. Binding affinities were in the order apigenin > catechin > apiin toward SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid NTD. Toward nucleocapsid CTD, the affinity decreased as apigenin > cinnamic acid > catechin. Remdesivir displayed lesser affinity with NTD and CTD of SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid proteins than any of the studied phytoconstituents. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation results revealed that throughout the 100 ns simulation, SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid protein NTD‐apigenin complex displayed greater stability than SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid protein NTD‐cinnamic acid complex. Hence, apigenin, catechin, apiin and cinnamic acid might prove as effective prophylactic and therapeutic candidates against SARS‐CoV‐2, if examined further in vitro and in vivo. Practical applications Ten major bioactive compounds were identified in the extract(s) of four medicinally important plants viz. Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Origanum vulgare and Petroselinum crispum using HPLC and their biological activity was also evaluated against cancer and normal cell lines. Interestingly, while all extract(s) wielded significant cytotoxicity against cancer cells, no significant toxicity was found against normal cells. The outcome of the results prompted evaluation of the antiviral potential of the ten bioactive compounds using in silico biology tools. The present study emphasizes on the application of computational approaches to understand the binding interaction and efficacy of the ten bioactive compounds from the above plants with SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid protein N‐terminal and C‐terminal RNA binding domains in preventing and/or treating COVID‐19 using in silico tools. Druglikeness and toxicity profiles of the compounds were carried out to check the therapeutic application of the components. Additionally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was performed to check the stability of ligand‐protein complexes. The results provided useful insights into the structural binding interaction(s) that can be exploited for the further development of potential antiviral agents targeting SARS‐CoV‐2 especially since no specific therapy is still available to combat the rapidly evolving virus and the existing treatment is more or less symptomatic which makes search for novel antiviral agents all the more necessary and crucial.
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... Besides being an excellent taste enhancer, cinnamon has been used for its medical significance, which can be traced to prehistoric times [96]. The herb has been reported to regulate blood glucose levels, curb cholesterol levels, regulate blood pressure, exhibit antioxidant properties and even helps treat neuropathic conditions [97]. ...
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Full-text available
  • Dec 2021
Novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 was discovered in 2019 in patients with severe pneumonia in Wuhan, China. This virus infects the respiratory tract of humans, showing symptoms nil or mild to lethal. It spreads via human-to-human contact or via air droplets. Finding a cure to combat this global pandemic is a need of the hour, and unfortunately, no single drug has been approved against COVID-19. Thus, researchers worldwide are screening natural compounds having potent antiviral effects against COVID-19. As nature has been a significant source of drugs for human beings since ancient times, pharmacists have been investigating several therapeutic herbs, their extracts and the secondary metabolites like flavonoids, stilbenoids, fatty acids, ta nnins, terpenes and alkaloids against COVID-19, virtually via in-silico methods as well as, via in vitro techniques. Several molecules extracted from natural sources like stilbene, isoflavones, quercetin, terpenoids etc., have been found to have potential antiviral efficacy against COVID-19. This chapter intends to discuss the structure, virology, various target sites of the SARS-COV-2 and review several potent antiviral herbs, their extracts and molecules extracted from them that are effective against COVID-19. The efficacy, required concentrations, side effects and challenges associated with their future developments are also discussed. This study will help provide new ideas for a therapeutic intervention that can selectively target the novel SARS-COV-2.
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... It was previously reported that the bark extract of Ceylon cinnamon has numerous antioxidant compounds, which can effectively counteract with reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anions as well as other free radicals. Many in vitro studies reported the antioxidant effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume in the recent past (Rao and Gan, 2014;Ghosh et al., 2015;Ranasinghe and Galappaththy, 2016;Premakumara and Abeysekera, 2020). The essential oils obtained from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume and eugenol have shown very powerful antioxidant activities (Chericoni et al., 2005) and in vitro studies revealed that Cinnamomum bark extracts effectively scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and 2,2 0 -azino-bis(3-et hylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cations (Ranasinghe et al., 2013). ...
Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (Ceylon cinnamon) bark extract attenuates doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats
Preprint
Full-text available
  • Jun 2021
Anti-tumour efficacy of doxorubicin is hindered by the cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity induced by reactive oxygen species during its metabolism. As Cinnamomum zeylanicum has proven antioxidant potential, objective of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective activity of Cinnamomum bark extract against doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats. Physicochemical and phytochemical analysis was carried out and dose response effect and the cardioprotective activity of Cinnamomum were determined in vivo. 180 mg/kg dexrazoxane was used as the positive control. Plant extracts were free of heavy metals and toxic phytoconstituents. In vivo study carried out in Wistar rats revealed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in cardiac troponin I, NT-pro brain natriuretic peptide, AST and LDH concentrations in the doxorubicin control group (18 mg/kg) compared to the normal control. Rats pre-treated with the optimum dosage of Cinnmamomum (2.0 g/kg) showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in all above parameters compared to the doxorubicin control. A significant reduction was observed in the total antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity while the lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase activity were significantly increased in the doxorubicin control group compared to the normal control (p < 0.05). Pre-treatment with Cinnamomum bark showed a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation, myeloperoxidase activity and significant increase in rest of the parameters compared to the doxorubicin control (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis revealed a preserved appearance of the myocardium and lesser degree of cellular changes of necrosis in rats pre-treated with Cinnamomum extract. In conclusion, Cinnamomum bark extract has the potential to significantly reduce doxorubicin induced oxidative stress and inflammation in Wistar rats.
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... It was previously reported that the bark extract of Ceylon cinnamon has numerous antioxidant compounds, which can effectively counteract with reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anions as well as other free radicals. Many in vitro studies reported the antioxidant effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume in the recent past (Rao and Gan, 2014;Ghosh et al., 2015;Ranasinghe and Galappaththy, 2016;Premakumara and Abeysekera, 2020). The essential oils obtained from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume and eugenol have shown very powerful antioxidant activities (Chericoni et al., 2005) and in vitro studies revealed that Cinnamomum bark extracts effectively scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and 2,2 0 -azino-bis(3-et hylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cations (Ranasinghe et al., 2013). ...
Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (Ceylon cinnamon) bark extract attenuates doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 2021
Anti-tumour efficacy of doxorubicin is hindered by the cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity induced by reactive oxygen species during its metabolism. As Cinnamomum zeylanicum has proven antioxidant potential, objective of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective activity of Cinnamomum bark extract against doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats. Physicochemical and phytochemical analysis was carried out and dose response effect and the cardioprotective activity of Cinnamomum were determined in vivo. 180mg/kg dexrazoxane was used as the positive control. Plant extracts were free of heavy metals and toxic phytoconstituents. In vivo study carried out in Wistar rats revealed a significant increase (p<0.05) in cardiac troponin I, NT-pro brain natriuretic peptide, AST and LDH concentrations in the doxorubicin control group (18mg/kg) compared to the normal control. Rats pre-treated with the optimum dosage of Cinnmamomum (2.0g/kg) showed a significant reduction (p<0.05) in all above parameters compared to the doxorubicin control. A significant reduction was observed in the total antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity while the lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase activity were significantly increased in the doxorubicin control group compared to the normal control (p<0.05). Pre-treatment with Cinnamomum bark showed a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation, myeloperoxidase activity and significant increase in rest of the parameters compared to the doxorubicin control (p<0.05). Histopathological analysis revealed a preserved appearance of the myocardium and lesser degree of cellular changes of necrosis in rats pre-treated with Cinnamomum extract. In conclusion, Cinnamomum bark extract has the potential to significantly reduce doxorubicin induced oxidative stress and inflammation in Wistar rats.
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Evaluation of the binding and disintegrating properties of gum obtained from the stem bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Article
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Excipients are the various ingredients, apart from the active pharmaceutical ingredients, which are added to pharmaceutical formulations. Excipients obtained from natural sources are preferred over those from synthetic sources because they are cheap, biocompatible and readily available. Gums are made up of carbohydrate units which are linked by glycosidic bonds. This study was aimed at evaluating the potential binding and disintegrating properties of gum obtained from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, which was obtained from Effiduase in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The gum was extracted using 96% ethanol and the moisture content, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra, water holding capacity, swelling index and flow properties of the gum were determined. The gum was used to formulate tablets at different concentrations (10% w/v, 15% w/v and 20% w/v) as binder with acacia as the standard. The gum was also used to formulate tablets at different concentrations (5% w/v, 7.5% w/v and 10% w/v) as disintegrant with starch as the standard. Quality control tests were then conducted on all formulated tablets. The gum exhibited good flow and physicochemical properties. All formulated tablets passed the uniformity of weight test, friability test, disintegration test, hardness test, uniformity of dimensions test and drug content. All batches of tablets, except Batch 7, passed the dissolution test. Based on the study carried out, C. zeylanicum gum can be used as an alternative excipient to acacia and starch as a binder and a disintegrant, respectively. Significance: • A natural polysaccharide (gum) from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree can be harnessed and commodified as a pharmaceutical excipient (binder and disintegrant) in the production of immediate release tablets.
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In-vitro Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity of Cinnamomum verum Leaf Oil against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae
Article
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Phytomedicines are becoming more popular in treatment of infectious diseases worldwide. Cinnamomum verum essential oil (EO) has been used as a therapeutic alternative for various diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of the C. verum leaf EO against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Effect of EO vapor on planktonic cells was determined using microatmosphere technique. CLSI M7-A10 method was employed in Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) experiments. Effect of EO on established biofilms was quantified and visualized using XTT and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). In-vitro toxicity was evaluated using Human Keratinocytes (HaCaT). Chemical analysis of EO was done using Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). All tested strains were sensitive to cinnamon oil vapor. EO exhibited 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL MIC and MBC against all test strains. Minimum Biofilm Inhibitory and Biofilm Eradication Concentrations (MBIC50 and MBEC) were 1.0 and 4.0 mg/mL. SEM indicated cellular shrinkages, cell wall damages, and decreased biofilm densities. Cinnamon oil didn’t show any toxicity on HaCaT cell at any concentration tested. Eugenol was the most abundant compound in C. verum oil. C. verum EO shows an antibacterial and antibiofilm activity with minimal toxicity on host.
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Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of cinnamomum zeylanicum on mood in mice
Article
Full-text available
  • Nov 2020
Background and Aim: Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression are among the most common psychiatric disorders worldwide. Existing drug therapies have various side effects on the central nervous system. Cinnamomum zeylanicum is a dietary additive and studies have shown that it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and neuroprotective effects. Also, in traditional medicine, the sedative properties of cinnamon against anxiety and obsession have been mentioned. Therefore in this study, we investigated the effect of cinnamomum zeylanicum on the mood in mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 144 mice weighing 32±4g were divided into anxiety and depression protocols. Anxiety protocol consisted of five groups (control, diazepam 2 mg/kg, and three groups of cinnamomum hydroalcoholic extract 100,200,400 mg/kg, in each test of the elevated plus-maze and Vogel's conflict tests) and depression protocol included four groups (control group and three groups of cinnamon hydroalcoholic extract 100,200,400 mg/kg, in each test of forced swimming and tail suspension). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: In the anxiety protocol, the results of the elevated plus-maze test showed that the cinnamomum hydroalcoholic extract at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly (P<0.01, P<0.001) reduced anxiety. In the depression protocol, the results of the forced swimming test and tail suspension test showed significant increased swimming time and mobility in the group that had received 400 mg/kg cinnamon hydroalcoholic extract (P <0.05) compared to those in the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed use of cinnamon hydroalcoholic extract led to reduced anxiety, increased mobility, and elevated mood in the mice.
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Anti-Diarrhoeal Activity of the Aqueous Extract of the Bark of Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Linn in Mice
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2012
Purpose: The plant, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Laureceae), is a small, ever green plant which is native to southern India and it has been reported to possess a number of medicinal properties. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal activity of the aqueous extract of the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum which is used traditionally as folk medicine, by using a castor oil and MgSO4 (Magnesium Sulphate) induced diarrhoea model. Methods: The aqueous extract of the bark of this plant at graded doses (100mg/kg, 200mg/kg body weight) was investigated for its anti-diarrhoeal activity in terms of the reduction in the rate of defaecation and the consistency of faeces in castor oil, Mgso4 induced diarrhoea. To understand the mechanism of its antidiarrhoeal activity, its effect was further evaluated on the gastrointestinal transit time with charcoal meal. Results: The bark extract showed significant (p
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Hepatoprotective activity of cinnamon ethanolic extract against CCL 4-induced liver injury in rats
Article
Full-text available
  • Nov 2012
The inner bark of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum L.) is commonly used as a spice and has also been widely employed in the treatment and prevention of disease. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the protective effect of cinnamon bark extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage in male Wistar rats. Administration with cinnamon extracts (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 g/kg) for 28 days significantly reduced the impact of CCl4 toxicity on the serum markers of liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. In addition, treatment of cinnamon extract resulted in markedly increased the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes in rats. The histopathological studies in the liver of rats also supported that cinnamon extract markedly reduced the toxicity of CCl4 and preserved the histoarchitecture of the liver tissue to near normal. Thus, the results suggest that cinnamon extract acts as a potent hepatoprotective agent against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
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Evaluation of the wound healing activity of an ethanolic extract of Ceylon cinnamon in mice
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2012
The present study was conducted to verify the effect of Ceylon cinnamon on experimentally induced excision wounds in rats. Thirty-two rats were divided into four groups of eight rats each. Group A received a placebo containing 1.5% of cinnamon and Group B a placebo containing 3%. Group C, as the control group, didn’t receive any treatment and finally Group D received a blank placebo as the reference standard group. Wound healing was monitored on Days 3, 6, 9 and 14 and histological evaluation was carried out on the samples. The results show that cinnamon extract served to accelerate the wound healing process and specifically increased epithelialization in treatment groups compared to the other groups. Thus, this study demonstrates that Ceylon cinnamon may be effective in stimulating the enclosure of wounds. Keywords: wound healing; Ceylon cinnamon; ethanolic extract; mice
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A comparison of essential oil constituents of bark, leaf, root and fruit of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blum) grown in Sri Lanka
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2001
The essential oils of the bark, leaf, root and fruit of Cinnamon were analyzed by capillary GC and GCIMS. The major constituents of Cinnamon fruit oil, were 6-and y-cadinene (36.0%) and T-cadinol (7.7%) and 8-caryophyllene (5.6%). About 84% of Cinnamon fruit oil comprised sesquiterpenes while other parts of Cinnamon contained less than 9% of this group of compounds. Phenyl propanoids were the major constituents of Cinnamon bark and leaf oils while root oil had monoterpenes as the major constituents (95%).
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Antioxidative stress potential of Cinnamomum zeylanicum in humans: A comparative cross-sectional clinical study
Article
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Background: Cinnamomum zeylanicum is an important spice and aromatic crop used in folk medicine. Cinnamon is usually regarded as the bark of the C. zeylanicum tree. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidative stress capacity of cinnamon in humans when administered in a regular and controlled manner. Methods: A total of 54 normal subjects were divided into three groups, receiving water, regular tea or cinnamon tea for 2 weeks. Blood samples were obtained before and after treatment and analyzed for lipid peroxidation levels, total antioxidant power and total thiol groups by standard methods. Results: The results indicated increased total antioxidant power and total thiols but a decrease in lipid peroxidation levels in individuals who received regular or cinnamon tea compared with controls. The extent of increase in total antioxidant power and decrease in lipid peroxidation levels were more evident in individuals who received cinnamon tea compared with those who received regular tea. Conclusion: Cinnamon has a marked antioxidant potential and may be beneficial in alleviating the complications of many illnesses related to oxidative stress in humans.
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Antihypertensive and Vasorelaxant Effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Stem Bark Aqueous Extract in Rats
Article
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The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume stem bark aqueous extract in rats. The in vivo activities of the extract were evaluated on normotensive and three rat models of hypertension while the in vitro tests were assayed on rat isolated aorta rings. Acute intravenous injection of the extract (5, 10 and 20mg/kg) induced a significant reduction in mean arterial blood pressure in anaesthetised normotensive Wistar rats, salt-loaded hypertensive, L-NAME hypertensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. Pre-treatment of rats with either propranolol or atropine significantly inhibited the hypotensive effects of the plant extract suggesting its possible action through the interferences with both cholinergic and sympathetic transmissions. Moreover, pre-treatment of rats with L-NAME inhibited the sustained plant antihypertensive effects, suggesting a possible active vasodilatation, which might be partly mediated by an endothelial l-arginine/nitric oxide pathway. In isolated rat aortic rings pre-contracted with KCl (60mM), the extract exhibited cumulative vasodilating effects, which were attenuated with either L-NAME, vascular endothelium removal or both tetraethylammonium and glibenclamide pre-treatments. The vasorelaxant effects may be involved in the extract antihypertensive mechanism, partially by increasing the endothelial nitric oxide and by activating the KATP channels in vascular smooth muscle.
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Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Cinnamomum zeylanicum leaf oil
Article
  • Dec 2005
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of the essential oil of Cinnamomum zeylanicum were studied and the results are discussed. It is found that the oil has significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. The GC-MS data of the oil showed the presence of eugenol, β-caryophyllene, eugenyl acetate as major components along with nine minor components.
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Therapeutic effect of onion (Allium cepa) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) oils on cryptosporidiosis in experimentally infected mice
Article
  • Jan 2011
In this study, we investigated the effect of administration of onion (Allium cepa) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) oils on the development and progression of the experimental cryptosporidiosis in mice. Four groups of susceptible mice (G1, G2, G3 and G4); 10 mice each were used. Each mouse of the first 3 groups was experimentally infected with 10sup6/sup Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. After establishment of infection in mice of G1 and G2 were orally received onion and cinnamon oils, respectively daily till the end of the experiment at a dose of 1 ml/100g body weight. The G3 mice was infected but non-treated (control positive) while the G4 mice was non-infected and non-treated (control negative). Fecal smears from mice were examined daily for 17 days post-treatment and the assessment of results was by oocysts count and mucosal histology for experimentally infected mice. The results showed that the two oils were effective against experimental infection of mice with Cryptosporidium parvum. A. cepa oil showed more potent than C. zeylanicum. It was concluded that administration of onion or cinnamon oils was beneficial in protecting susceptible hosts against opportunistic zoonotic parasites such as Cryptosporidium parvum.
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Anti-secretagogue and antiulcer effects of Cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum in rats
Article
  • Jul 2012
The present study was carried out to evaluate the gastric antisecretory and antiulcer activities of 'Cinnamon' Cinnamomum zeylanicum in rats. The aqueous suspension of cinnamon (250 and 500 mg/kg) has been screened using pylorus ligation (Shay) rat model, necrotizing agents and indomethacin-induced ulceration in rats. Histopathological assessment was done on gastric tissue of rats. Gastric wall mucus and nonprotein-sulfhydryl contents were also estimated. Cinnamon suspension pretreatment decreased the basal gastric acid secretion volume and rumenal ulceration in pylorus ligated rats. The suspension effectively inhibited gastric hemorrhagic lesions induced by 80% ethanol, 0.2 M sodium hydroxide, and 25% sodium chloride. The cinnamon suspension also showed antiulcer activity against indomethacin. Pretreatment with cinnamon suspension offered a dose-dependent protection against various histological indices. Treatment of rats with cinnamon replenished the ethanol-induced decreased levels of gastric wall mucus and nonprotein-sulfhydryl concentrations. The gastroprotection of cinnamon observed in the present study is attributed to its effect through inhibition of basal gastric secretion (attenuation of aggressive factors) and stimulation mucus secretion (potentiation of defensive factors); and increase in nonprotein-sulfhydryl concentration probably due to prostaglandin-inducing abilities mediated through its antioxidant property.
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