Cinnamon and Chronic Diseases

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2016:929:1-24. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-41342-6_1.

Abstract

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cinnamon cassia), the eternal tree of tropical medicine, belongs to the Lauraceae family and is one of the most important spices used daily by people all over the world. It contains a lot of manganese, iron, dietary fiber, and calcium. Cinnamon contains derivatives, such as cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamate, and numerous other components such as polyphenols and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer effects. Several reports have dealt with the numerous properties of cinnamon in the forms of bark, essential oils, bark powder, and phenolic compounds, and each of these properties can play a key role in human health. Recently, many trials have explored the beneficial effects of cinnamon in Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, arthritis, and arteriosclerosis, but still we need further investigations to provide additional clinical evidence for this spice against cancer and inflammatory, cardioprotective, and neurological disorders.

Keywords: Chronic disease; Cinnamaldehyde; Cinnamate; Cinnamic acid; Cinnamon.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / adverse effects
  • Analgesics / chemistry
  • Analgesics / isolation & purification
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cardiovascular Agents / adverse effects
  • Cardiovascular Agents / chemistry
  • Cardiovascular Agents / isolation & purification
  • Cardiovascular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Disease / drug therapy*
  • Cinnamomum zeylanicum / chemistry*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Discovery / methods*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Extracts / adverse effects
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plants, Medicinal

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cardiovascular Agents
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Plant Extracts