Current knowledge of Cinnamomum species: A review on the bioactive components, pharmacological properties, analytical and biotechnological studies

Abstract

Cinnamon (Ceylon cinnamon or true cinnamon) is a popular, expensive aromatic condiment and flavoring agent cum medicinal plant that houses a major number of pharmaceutically active aromatic essential oils and its principal compound cinnamaldehyde, and its derivatives cinnamic acid, cinnamate, etc. In addition to its culinary use, in ancient Ayurvedic texts as well as in folkloric medicine, this plant and precisely the bark and bark powder have been reported as a remedy for respiratory, digestive, and gynecological ailments. It has been evaluated clinically and preclinically for its prominent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, lipid-lowering, and cardio-and neuroprotective efficacies. Commercially this plant is highly valued in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. We have summarized the recent relevant scientific evidence on the botanic characterization, distribution, traditional uses, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry, qualitative and quantitative estimation and extraction of important secondary metabolites, genetic diversity assessment, biotechnological breakthroughs, cultivation, and propagation along with industrial application and clinical studies of Cinnamon species to assess future perspectives for Cinnamon as a pharmacologically leading genus of interest. Secondary metabolite extraction, isolation, and identification using HPTLC, LC-MS, HPLC, and GC-MS, along with genetic diversity assessment through molecular markers and biotechnological advancement (in vitro culture, embryo rescue, genetic transformation, molecular marker-based polymorphism assessment) contributing collectively to cinnamon improvement programs, are conclusively studied and reported in association with phytochemical and pharmacological discoveries via clinical and preclinical trials. The implementation of collective knowledge of research in areas of chemical biology, biotechnology, and pharmacology will directly benefit cost-effective breeding and cultivation program and establishment of encyclopedic database on various fields associated with Cinnamon research, aid in selection of industrially profitable elite germplasm with improved screening and harvesting protocols for Cinnamon-derived components, and elucidate a vast role of Cinnamon as an integral compound of complementary and alternative medicine.