CINNAMON

Description

The cinnamon tree, known as cinnamon tree, is an evergreen tree, 10 to 15 meters high from Sri Lanka, it is also cultivated in India and other areas of the world. The stem is woody in consistency; the leaves, oval and pointed, bright green on the upper side, have five reddish nerves (one in the center and two on each side). The bark is grayish brown and has a perennial cycle. The flowers are hermaphrodite, white or greenish yellow and covered with hairs and are grouped in panicles. The fruit is a long ellipsoidal berry of about 12.5 cm, of very dark color, bluish-black, with a single seed inside. It reproduces from the seeds contained in the berry and also by vegetative multiplication.

Part used

The bark, obtained by peeling and cutting the tender branches of the tree.

Active principles

• Essential oil: cineol (up to 3%), linalool (1-6%), β-caryophyllene (1-4%), safrole (0.5%), cinnamic trans-aldehyde, (55-75%), eugenol (up to 7.5%), coumarins (0.5%), trans-2-methoxy-cinnamaldehyde (0.1-1%), benzylbenzoate (up to 1%).
• Flavonoids: catechin and quercetin.
• Tannins: catechins (gallic acid) and condensed (epicatechin and proanthocyanidins).
• Others: phenolic compounds (caffeic acid, paracoumaric acid, methoxy-cinnamaldehyde), diterpenes (cinceilanol, cinceilanine), traces of coumarin and beta-sitosterol.

Pharmacological action

• Digestive, carminative, spasmolytic and appetite stimulant.
• Hypoglycemic: decreases intestinal glucose absorption, stimulates cellular glucose uptake, increases circulating insulin levels, stimulates glucose metabolism and glycogen synthesis, inhibits gluconeogenesis.
• Reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• Emmenagogue and antidysmenorrheic.
• Others: antibacterial, antifungal, neuroprotective.

Indications

• Coadjuvant in the treatment of type II diabetes.
• Adjuvant in the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
• Dyspepsia, meteorism, intestinal spasms.
• Diarrhea.
• Menstrual pain, amenorrhea.

Contraindications

Pregnancy and lactation.

Precautions

Diabetics: it is advisable to periodically control glucose levels.

Drug interactions

Due to its hypoglycemic action, it could increase the effect of hypoglycemic drugs.

Side effects

At the recommended doses no side effects have been described.

Bibliographic references

Monografía de la SEFIT (Sociedad Española de Fitoterapia).

Ranasinghe P, Pigera S, Premakumara GA, Galappaththy P, Constantine GR, Katulanda P. Medicinal properties of 'true' cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a systematic review. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013;13: 275. 

Allen RW, Schwartzman E, Baker WL, Coleman CI, Phung OJ. Cinnamon use in type 2 diabetes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Fam Med. 2013; 11 (5): 452-9.

Kort DH, Lobo RA. Preliminary evidence that cinnamon improves menstrual cyclicity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014; 211 (5): 487.e1-6.

Askari F, Rashidkhani B, Hekmatdoost A. Cinnamon may have therapeutic benefits on lipid profile, liver enzymes, insulin resistance, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Nutr Res. 2014; 34 (2): 143-8.