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Cinnamonum zeylanicum
Natural Encyclopaedia

Cinnamon

Botanical name: Cinnamonum zeylanicum

FAMILY: Lauracee.

PART USED: bark.

Cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum, also known as Cinnamomum verum, is a small evergreen tree of the Lauraceae family, about 10-15 m tall. The leaves are opposite, oval and elongated, and can be up to 18 cm long and 5 cm wide. The white flowers are grouped in inflorescences.

RECOMMENDED PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS: Literature attributes an important role to the essential oil for its carminative activity, and the control of diarrhoea, as well as gastric acidity, so it is used in dyspepsia and nausea, flautolence and intestinal colic, diarrhoea and digestive disorders in general. Antioxidant action is being studied. (1)

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: Cinnamon essential oil contains many biologically active molecules including: cinnamaldehyde (60-75%), cinnamyl acetate, eugenol, β-caryophyllene, linalool, 1,8- cineole, and procyanidins, polysaccharides, cinnamic acid, phenolic acids.

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES: Digestive function. Elimination of intestinal gas. REGULAR BOWEL MOVEMENT. anti-oxidant Carbohydrate metabolism.

CONTROL OF GASTRIC ACIDITY:

The action of cinnamon is related to the control of the proton pump H/KPase (2).

The proton pump H/K ATPase.

It is mainly responsible for the acidity of the gastric environment. A reduction in the activity of this pump safeguards the stomach from structural damage caused by gastric hyperacidity, which is increasingly recorded in subjects with functional gastrointestinal impairments.

Anti-inflammatory action:

The anti-inflammatory action (inhibition of NF-kB factor expression and reduction of COX-2 production) of cinnamon (and in particular its essential oils) is reported in several studies (3).

Antimicrobial action:

The antimicrobial action of cinnamon essential oil towards:

  • Gram+(Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus)
     

  • Gram-(Salmonella choleraesuis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Yersina enterocolitica) is widely demonstrated in many studies (4).

    Anti-diabetic/insulin-like action:

    The anti-diabetic action is related to polyphenols; among the most important are rutin (90.0672%), catechin (1.9%), quercetin (0.172%), kaempferol (0.016%), and isoramnetin.

    ANTIOXIDANT ACTION

    Essential oils and other ingredients (such as E-cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and linalool) are studied with regard to their action on lipid peroxidation. In a comparative study of 26 spices, cinnamon essential oil was shown to have the highest antioxidant activity. The mechanism of action is a free radical scavenger. (5)

    TOLERABILITY AND SAFETY PROFILE:

    Allergy to cinnamon essential oil is recognised in the literature, skin irritations in animal models are reported as undesirable effects.

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  • Bibliography:

  1. Escop Monograph. 2003 - Cinnamomi Cortex

  2. Wu KL et al. Effects of ginger on gastric emptying and mobility in healthy humans. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008

  3. Escop Monograph. 2003 - Cinnamomi Cortex

  4. Escop Monograph. 2003 - Cinnamomi Cortex

  5. Escop Monograph. 2003 - Cinnamomi Cortex