An update on phytochemistry and biological activities of Cinnamomum

Abstract

The genus Cinnamomum belongs to the family Lauraceae and contains about 250 species. Cinnamomum plants have great economic value and have been widely used in the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and cosmetic industries. A great deal of research on the chemical constituents and their various biological activities has been conducted on only 20 species of Cinnamomum. We have already summarized the chemical structures and bioactivities of terpenoids from Cinnamomum. Herein, we give an update on other types of compounds and their biological activities. According to the findings, 380 chemical compounds obtained from Cinnamomum, including lignans, butanolides, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids and other compounds are summarized, and their corresponding unique chemical structures and significant biological activities are introduced in this paper.