Cinnamomum verum J. Presl. (Lauraceae)

Abstract

The tree[aut]Cinnamomum verumis native to Sri Lanka, south India, Seychelles, Martinique, Cayenne, Jamaica, Brazil and Malagasy Republic. Traditionally the infusion, decoction or powder of bark is used in India to treat digestive complaints, such as dyspepsia, flatulency, mild spasms, cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. In Unani medicine, leaves are called Tezpaat or Sazaj Hindi, and the bark is called Darchini, and is regarded cardiorefrigerant, cardiotonic, cardiostimulant, carminative, antiseptic, antidote and phlegm liquefier (mucolytic). Therapeutic uses in Ayurveda include mukhasosa, trsna, kanthamukhroga, pinasa, krmiroga, vastiroga, arsa, and hrdroga. The bark is considered hot and irritating, and is a constituent of many prescriptions in TCM, and is used as abortifacient and oxytocic, and for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, adenopathy, rheumatism, dermatosis, dyspepsia, stroke, tumors, elephantiasis, and trichomonas, yeast, and viral infections; and in traditional Korean medicine, to improve blood circulation and Yang Qi. In southern Mexico state of Oaxaca, it is used by the indigenous community to treat women’s reproductive health problems, and is said to be effective as uteroactive at level II, also an emmenagogue, and tonic for stomach, intestine and liver; used externally in neuralgia, toothache and scorpion sting. In Austria, 85% of patients with type-1 diabetes and 70% with type-2 diabetes are aware of the positive effects of cinnamon on blood glucose. In Palestine, cinnamon is one of the most commonly used herbal products used by diabetic patients, especially the middle-aged and elderly. Cinnamomum contains eugenol, pinene, myristicine, cinnamaldehyde and camphorCamphor; also contains volatile oil, phlobatannins, mucilage, calcium oxalate and starch. Animal studies showed that cinnamon reduced FBG, LDL-C and HbA1c, increased HDL-C and circulating insulin levels, and attenuated diabetes associated weight loss and metabolic derangements, with beneficial effects on diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy. Six-gram cinnamon with rice pudding reduced postprandial blood glucose and delayed gastric emptying without affecting satiety in healthy Swedish volunteers, and ingestion of 3 g cinnamon by healthy subjects reduced postprandial serum insulin and increased GLP-1 concentrations, without significantly affecting blood glucose, ghrelin, satiety, or gastric emptying rate.