The genus Cinnamomum

278 K.K. Vijayan and R.V. Ajithan Thampuran
Therapeutic Uses
In the allopathic system of medicine neither cinnamon nor cinnamon oil is used.
However, in multidrug formulations it forms an important ingredient. Tincture of
cinnamon, cinnamon oil, etc. has been used in the pharmacy when medicaments are
dispensed in various forms. In the pharmacopoeias of different countries cinnamon and
cinnamon oil are included as official drugs mainly for the treatment of gastrointestinal
disorders. In ‘Martindale’ (Reynold, 1996) and the Extrapharmacopoeia, several
multidrug preparations containing cinnamon are described which are used therapeutically
in various countries for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The main use
of cinnamon is as a food additive. In the ‘Indian Systems of Medicine’, cinnamon is used
in the treatment of rheumatism, colic and diarrhoea, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea and
vomiting. It is used in many Ayurvedic formulations such as Sudarsan choorna, Yograj
gulgul, Aswagandharista, Dasamoolarishta, Vyaghri, Harithaki. Bark forms a constituent
of the Unani composition Jawarish jalinoos used for the treatment of gastrointestinal
complaints. In folk medicine the seeds are bruised and mixed with honey and used for
the treatment of coughs and dysentry in children. Doses usually used for bark powder
are 6.0 to 1200 mg as an infusion three times daily; for liquid extract 0.5–1.0 ml three
times daily; and, for tincture cinnamon 2–4 ml.
Chinese cassia is important in Chinese medicine. The ‘Chinese Materia Medica’
recognises the bark and twigs of the cassia tree as two separate drugs having different
therapeutic effects (see Chapter 6 for details).
Conclusion
The broad spectrum of pharmacological actions of cinnamon cortex and cinnamon oil,
together with its use as a spice, makes it a wonder plant. In the Indian and Chinese
systems of traditional medicine cinnamon is used in many therapeutic formulations as
a stimulant, a tonic, and in the relief of rheumatic disorders, of stomach disorders, of
diabetes, etc. But in these systems an active principle-based pharmacological activity
is not considered as the basis of therapeutics. Therefore, investigations employing
modern tools of pharmacological parameters have not been undertaken to ascertain the
wide range of actions attributed to cinnamon. However, the past two decades have seen
a spurt in research activities in Ayurveda medicines and medicinal plants due to the
revival of popularity of this system of traditional medicine. Many studies have been
reported from China and Japan on their traditional medicines and these investigations
provide pharmacological supports for many of the traditional uses of medicinal plants
including cinnamon and cassia.
Most studies are confined to in vitro and in vivo in small laboratory animals. The
results are all encouraging. Cinnamon is mainly used as a food additive and flavouring
agent. The antimicrobial and antioxidant actions protect food from oxidative spoilage
and also from bacterial growth. Cinnamon is a potent antioxidant and free radical
scavenger. Free radical scavenging inhibits tissue damage of the host cell. Another
significant activity is the hypoglycemic effect of this herb. It reduces the blood glucose
level and also modulates the enzyme aldose reductase, thereby preventing complications
of diabetes such as retinopathy, neuropathy, etc. The hypocholesterolemic
potential of cinnamon is also high. It reduces not only serum cholesterol but also
triglycerides, low density lipoproteins and phospholipids. These findings are very