Cinnamon and Chronic Diseases

Cinnamaldehyde enhances the intervention effect of puerarin on stroke from the perspectives of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

The low oral bioavailability of puerarin (Pue) affects its therapeutic effect. The aim of this study is to enhance the absorption of Pue and improve therapeutic efficacy by adding cinnamaldehyde (CA). The pharmacokinetics of Pue in rats were studied using oral administration: CA + Pue, and single Pue. The Caco-2 cell model was used to investigate the effect of CA on the absorption and transport of Pue. The absorption sensitivity of TSG to P-gp inhibitors verapamil (Ver), Ko143, and MK-571 in vivo were simultaneously evaluated, and assessed the effects of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter inhibitors (such as P-gp inhibitors verapamil, MK-571, and BCRP inhibitor Ko143) on predicting targeted transport of active ingredients to explore the relationship between Pue transport and inhibition of these efflux proteins. A rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was established to explore the therapeutic effect of single Pue and Pue with CA on ischemic stroke (IS). The results showed that compared with Pue suspension, CA increased the absorption of Pue in rats, with Cmax and AUC(0-t) being 4.84 times and 11.54 times higher, respectively. Both P-gp and MRP play a role in the transport mechanism of Pue. Compared with single Pue, the transmembrane transport from Basolateral (BL) to Apical (AP) side of Pue was significantly reduced when Pue was applied in combination with CA. In addition, the efflux ratio (ER) value also significantly decreased. This discovery suggests that CA may reduce the secretion of Pue, thereby enhancing its absorption and transport by inhibiting exocytosis mediated by efflux transporters, similar to the effect of Ver. On the other hand, in the MCAO rat model, Pue + CA reduced the extent of cerebral infarction, alleviated pathological damage, significantly reduced the level of inflammatory mediators, and increased the release of anti-inflammatory factors, suggesting that CA can synergize with Pue to exert a better therapeutic effect on IS. Therefore, the combination of Pue and CA for the treatment of IS has profound scientific significance and rationality from the points of disposition and pharmacodynamics in vivo.

Natural anticancer agents: prospection of medicinal and aromatic plants in modern chemoprevention and chemotherapy

Natural products obtained from medicinal and aromatic plants are increasingly recognized as promising anticancer agents due to their structural richness, including terpene and flavonoid molecules, which induce apoptosis and modulate gene expression. These compounds offer an alternative to conventional treatments, often costly, which face challenges such as multidrug resistance. This review aims to provide a promising alternative approach to effectively control cancer by consolidating significant findings in identifying natural products and anticancer agent development from medicinal and aromatic plants. It synthesizes the findings of a comprehensive search of academic databases, such as PubMed and Springer, prioritizing articles published in recognized peer-reviewed journals that address the bioprospecting of medicinal and aromatic plants as anticancer agents. The review addresses the anticancer activities of plant extracts and essential oils, which were selected for their relevance to chemoprevention and chemotherapy. Compounds successfully used in cancer therapy include Docetaxel (an antimitotic agent), Etoposide VP-16 (an antimitotic agent and topoisomerase II inhibitor), Topotecan (a topoisomerase I inhibitor), Thymoquinone (a Reactive Oxygen Species-ROS inducer), and Phenethyl isothiocyanate (with multiple mechanisms). The review highlights natural products such as Hinokitiol, Mahanine, Hesperetin, Borneol, Carvacrol, Eugenol, Epigallocatechin gallate, and Capsaicin for their demonstrated efficacy against multiple cancer types, including breast, cervical, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, lung, prostate, and skin cancer. Finally, it highlights the need for continued bioprospecting studies to identify novel natural products that can be successfully used in modern chemoprevention and chemotherapy.

Time-of-day dependent promotion of keratinocyte differentiation by Cinnamomum cassia bark extract through the p38 MAPK Pathway

The skin serves as an essential barrier against pathogens and external insults, preventing moisture loss. Chronic skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis stem from impairments in skin barrier function. Circadian rhythms affect skin blood flow and barrier characteristics, which are significant for understanding atopic dermatitis. Cinnamomum cassia bark, commonly known as cinnamon, is extensively utilized in both modern and Traditional Chinese Medicine for its therapeutic properties in managing chronic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the potential use of Cinnamomum cassia bark in enhancing skin barrier function. We examined the impact of Cinnamomum cassia bark extract (CCBE) on circadian clock-mediated enhancement of the skin barrier. CCBE enhanced the expression of keratinocyte differentiation markers, including keratin 10, filaggrin, caspase 14, and calpain-1. CCBE also increased the production of hyaluronic acid protein. Additionally, CCBE improved the circadian rhythm of period circadian regulator 2 (PER2). Notably, CCBE upregulated the expression of keratinocyte differentiation markers and PER2 specifically during the morning hours. Furthermore, we discovered that siRNA-mediated PER2 knockdown diminished the increase in keratinocyte differentiation markers induced by CCBE. These findings demonstrate that CCBE can regulate the differentiation of keratinocytes in a time-of-day-dependent manner via the circadian clock. CCBE augmented phosphorylation of p38 and JNK, while the CCBE-induced enhancement in FLG expression and PER2 circadian rhythm was reduced by p38 MAPK inhibitors. These results suggest that CCBE can strengthen the skin barrier diurnally via the p38 MAPK pathway, representing a novel and more effective method for enhancing skin barrier function that accommodates daily variations in skin barrier properties.

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and network pharmacology to reveal the mechanism of Guizhi Gegen decoction against type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease. Clinical studies have shown that the incidence and prevalence of T2DM has been on the rise globally in recent years, and the mortality rate is also increasing. Chinese herbs is multiple target for disease. Guizhi Gegen decoction (GZGGD) is one of the most alternative treatment for T2DM. However, the treatment mechanism is unclear. The composition of the GZGGD was determined by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The key targets and pathways were predicted by network pharmacology and molecular docking. In vivo experiments were performed to further verify and reveal the potential mechanism of action. We identified 44 active components of GZGGD (genistein, 26-hydroxyporicoic acid DM, puerarin, eugenol, and gentiobiose). Network pharmacology predicted key targets such as TNF, AKT1, TP53, EGFR, and STAT3, and AGE-RAGE, IL-17 signaling pathways were enriched. Molecular docking showed that the active components of GZGGD have good binding activity with the potential targets of T2DM. In vivo animal experiments showed improvement in white blood, fasting blood glucose, and inflammatory factor levels (INS, TC, TNF-α, and IL-6). This study clarifies the potential role of GZGGD in T2DM, which can help in the study of T2DM.

Tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto (TSGST) Inhibits Aggression Induced by Isolation Rearing in Mice

Herbal medicines are widely used in clinical practice. Several herbal medicines are prescribed in clinical practice to improve mental symptoms. Yokukansan is an effective prescription for irritability and aggression, which are behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, because herbal medicines contain many components, their pharmacological effects have not been analyzed in detail. Risperidone and quetiapine are prescribed in severe cases; however, their side effects of oversedation are problematic. Tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto (TSGST) is a herbal medicine prescribed to improve blood circulation and relieve headaches, back pain, or chilblains associated with hemodynamic insufficiency. Interestingly, most of the individual components of TSGST are known to exert sedative or analgesic effects. In this study, we investigated whether TSGST ameliorates aggressive behavior induced by social isolation in mice. The mice were isolated for 5 or 6 weeks immediately after weaning and given TSGST via a water bottle during this period. Long-term administration of TSGST suppressed the onset of aggression induced by isolation rearing. This aggressive phenotype was significantly reversed by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT1A) receptor antagonist WAY-100635 in TSGST-isolated mice. We also showed that TSGST had similar effects as risperidone, a commonly used antipsychotic for irritability and aggression. These results suggest that TSGST may be effective for irritability or aggression in BPSD or ASD.

Trans-cinnamic acid alleviates high-fat diet-induced renal injury via JNK/ERK/P38 MAPK pathway

Obesity-related chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant risk to individuals' health and wellbeing, but the pathological mechanisms and treatment strategies are currently limited. Trans-cinnamic acid (CA) is a key active monomer found in cinnamon bark and is known for its diverse pharmacological activities. However, its effect on obesity-related renal injury remains unknown. In the current study, the in vitro and in vivo experiments were combined to investigate the beneficial effect of CA on renal injury induced by HFD or PA. We found that CA significantly reduced the obesity of zebrafish body and the accumulation of fat in kidney tissues. The histopathological changes and dysfunction induced by HFD were effectively mitigated by CA administration, as evidenced by the detection of Hematoxylin-Eosin straining, NAG activity, creatinine level, and expression of functional-related genes, respectively. Additionally, the in vitro and in vivo findings demonstrated that CA dramatically reduced the oxidative stress, inflammatory, and apoptosis in HFD-induced kidney tissues or PA-treated HEK293T and HK-2 cells. Finally, the results regarding ERK, JNK, and P38 proteins phosphorylation confirmed that CA may alleviate HFD-induced renal injury by inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and P38 MAPK proteins. This theory was further supported by the results of co-treatment with anisomycin (a JNK activator) or lipopolysaccharide and CA in HEK293T cells. This study proves that CA alleviates the obesity-related CKD probably through inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway.

Dietary plants for oral cancer prevention and therapy: A review of preclinical and clinical studies

Oral cancer is a disease with high mortality and rising incidence worldwide. Although fragmentary literature on the anti-oral cancer effects of plant products has been published, a comprehensive analysis is lacking. In this work, a critical and comprehensive evaluation of oral cancer preventative or therapeutic effects of dietary plants was conducted. An exhaustive analysis of available data supports that numerous dietary plants exert anticancer effects, including suppression of cell proliferation, viability, autophagy, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis while promoting cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Plant extracts and products target several cellular mechanisms, such as the reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the promotion of oxidative stress and mitochondrial membrane dysfunction by modulation of various signaling pathways. These agents were also found to regulate cellular growth signaling pathways by action on extracellular signal-regulated kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase, inflammation via modulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, and nuclear factor-κB p65, and metastasis through influence of cadherins and matrix metalloproteinases. In vivo studies support these findings and demonstrate a decrease in tumor burden, incidence, and hyperplastic and dysplastic changes. Clinical studies also showed decreased oral cancer risk. However, high-quality studies should be conducted to establish the clinical efficacy of these plants. Overall, our study supports the use of dietary plants, especially garlic, green tea, longan, peppermint, purple carrot, saffron, tomato, and turmeric, for oral cancer prevention and intervention. However, further research is required before clinical application of this strategy.

Fruits, Spices and Honey Phenolic Compounds: A Comprehensive Review on Their Origin, Methods of Extraction and Beneficial Health Properties

Numerous health benefits have been attributed in the last decades to the regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, along with honey, in a balanced diet. In this context, the aim of the present review was to provide the literature with the most relevant studies focusing on the determination protocols of these polyphenols and other reducing agents in selected fruits (orange, lemon, grapefruit, prunus, apricot, peach, plum, sweet cherry), spices (oregano, cinnamon, clove, saffron, turmeric) and honey of different botanical origin (nectar or honeydew). In addition, the content and the extraction methods of these compounds, along with their metabolic pathway, have been critically evaluated and discussed. Results showed that all fruits, spices and honey exhibit a considerably high antioxidant activity, which is mainly owed to their phytochemical content. Therefore, a balanced diet consisting of the combination of the foods studied herein may comprise a shield against chronic and other pathophysiological disorders and may be achieved through consecutive educational programs for consumers at an international level.

Bioeconomy and ethnopharmacology - Translational perspective and sustainability of the bioresources of northeast region of India

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The ecological environment of Northeast region of India (NER), with its high humidity, has resulted in greater speciation and genetic diversity of plant, animal, and microbial species. This region is not only rich in ethnic and cultural diversity, but it is also a major biodiversity hotspot. The sustainable use of these bioresources can contribute to the region's bioeconomic development.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The review aimed to deliver various perspectives on the development of bioeconomy from NER bioresources under the tenets of sustainable utilization and socioeconomic expansion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant information related to prospects of the approaches and techniques pertaining to the sustainable use of ethnomedicine resources for the growth of the bioeconomy were retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Springer from 1984 to 2023. All the appropriate abstracts, full-text articles and various book chapters on bioeconomy and ethnopharmacology were conferred.

RESULT

As the population grows, so does the demand for basic necessities such as food, health, and energy resources, where insufficient resource utilization and unsustainable pattern of material consumption cause impediments to economic development. On the other hand, the bioeconomy concept leads to "the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value-added products.

CONCLUSIONS

In this context, major emphasis should be placed on strengthening the economy's backbone in order to ensure sustainable use of these resources and livelihood security; in other words, it can boost the bio-economy by empowering the local people in general.

Pressurized liquid extraction of glucosinolates from Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz by-products: Process optimization and biological activities of green extract

The cultivation of Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz is rapidly increasing due to oil production resulting in a substantial volume of by-products, which still have an interesting composition in secondary metabolites, especially glucosinolates. Therefore, a green extraction procedure of glucosinolates by Pressurised Liquid Extraction was developed and optimized using a chemometric approach. Furthermore, the glucosinolates were purified by solid phase extraction, and a preliminary study on bioaccessibility and bioavailability study was carried out to evaluate the resistance of the glucosinolates to the digestive process. The application of pressurised liquid extraction to the recovery of glucosinolates from camelina sativa by-product, is a green, automatic, and rapid method, representing a valid alternative to conventional extraction method to obtain ingredients for food industries.

The effect of Centella asiatica, cinnamon, and spirulina as neuroprotective based on histopathological findings in ratus Sprague Dawley with traumatic brain injury

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global health problem with the potential to cause dangerous neurological problems. Based on histopathological findings in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with TBI in the acute phase, the study seeks to discover the effect of Centella asiatica, cinnamon, and spirulina as neuroprotective.

Methods

We conducted an experimental study with 30 SD rats randomly divided into three groups. The intervention was the administration of C. asiatica, cinnamon, and spirulina to the control and the experimental groups. Histological features were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemical examination. The data were analyzed using statistical analysis through correlation tests.

Results

The test samples' average body weights had P > 0.05, indicating no significant difference in the test sample body weights. Therefore, the variations in the expression level of the dependent variable were expected to be caused by the induction of brain injury and the administration of C. asiatica, cinnamon, and spirulina. In addition, the variables were not normally distributed. Thus, the Spearman test was carried out and showed the correlation was very strong, with a value of r = 0.818 and P < 0.05.

Conclusion

Based on histopathological findings from the brains of SD rats with TBI, pegagan, cinnamon, and spirulina will protect the brain (neuroprotective) in the acute phase.

Using the concept of food as medicine to mitigate inflammation in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis

The most common kidney replacement therapy (KRT) worldwide is hemodialysis (HD), and only 5%-10% of patients are prescribed peritoneal dialysis (PD) as KRT. Despite PD being a different method, these patients also present particular complications, such as oxidative stress, gut dysbiosis, premature aging, and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to an inflammation process and high cardiovascular mortality risk. Although recent studies have reported nutritional strategies in patients undergoing HD with attempts to mitigate these complications, more information must be needed for PD patients. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent studies of nutritional intervention to mitigate inflammation in PD patients.

Cinnamon modulates the pharmacodynamic & pharmacokinetic of amlodipine in hypertensive rats

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cinnamon on the pharmacodynamic (PD) & pharmacokinetic (PK) of amlodipine in hypertensive rats. The hypertensive control group of Wistar rats received L-NAME (40 mg/kg, daily, orally) only. The cinnamon group of rats was treated with cinnamon (200 mg/kg, daily, orally) along with L-NAME. Following 14 days treatment period, blood pressures of rats were monitored at designated intervals over 24 h utilizing a tail-cuff system for measuring blood pressure. To assess the oral PK; amlodipine was administered as a single oral dose of 1 mg/kg to rats and blood samples were collected at specified intervals over 24 h and analysed by UPLC-LC MS/MS. Synergistic decreased in rat's blood pressure was observed in presence of cinnamon + amlodipine. Simultaneous administration of cinnamon ameliorates the Cmax and AUC0-t of amlodipine, the Cmax and AUC0-t was 11.04 ± 1.01 ng/ml and 113.76 ± 5.62 ng h/ml for the cinnamon + amlodipine group as compared to 4.12 ± 0.49 ng/ml and 48.59 ± 4.28 ng h/ml for the amlodipine alone group. The study demonstrates that the use of cinnamon considerably decreases the blood pressure levels and enhances the PK parameters of amlodipine in hypertensive rats.

Beyond Seasoning-The Role of Herbs and Spices in Rheumatic Diseases

Although we have witnessed remarkable progress in understanding the biological mechanisms that lead to the development of rheumatic diseases (RDs), remission is still not achieved in a substantial proportion of patients with the available pharmacological treatment. As a consequence, patients are increasingly looking for complementary adjuvant therapies, including dietary interventions. Herbs and spices have a long historical use, across various cultures worldwide, for both culinary and medicinal purposes. The interest in herbs and spices, beyond their seasoning properties, has dramatically grown in many immune-mediated diseases, including in RDs. Increasing evidence highlights their richness in bioactive molecules, such as sulfur-containing compounds, tannins, alkaloids, phenolic diterpenes, and vitamins, as well as their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumorigenic, and anticarcinogenic properties. Cinnamon, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and saffron are the most popular spices used in RDs and will be explored throughout this manuscript. With this paper, we intend to provide an updated review of the mechanisms whereby herbs and spices may be of interest in RDs, including through gut microbiota modulation, as well as summarize human studies investigating their effects in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Fibromyalgia.

Natural products as novel anti-obesity agents: insights into mechanisms of action and potential for therapeutic management

Obesity affects more than 10% of the adult population globally. Despite the introduction of diverse medications aimed at combating fat accumulation and obesity, a significant number of these pharmaceutical interventions are linked to substantial occurrences of severe adverse events, occasionally leading to their withdrawal from the market. Natural products serve as attractive sources for anti-obesity agents as many of them can alter the host metabolic processes and maintain glucose homeostasis via metabolic and thermogenic stimulation, appetite regulation, pancreatic lipase and amylase inhibition, insulin sensitivity enhancing, adipogenesis inhibition and adipocyte apoptosis induction. In this review, we shed light on the biological processes that control energy balance and thermogenesis as well as metabolic pathways in white adipose tissue browning, we also highlight the anti-obesity potential of natural products with their mechanism of action. Based on previous findings, the crucial proteins and molecular pathways involved in adipose tissue browning and lipolysis induction are uncoupling protein-1, PR domain containing 16, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in addition to Sirtuin-1 and AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. Given that some phytochemicals can also lower proinflammatory substances like TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1 secreted from adipose tissue and change the production of adipokines like leptin and adiponectin, which are important regulators of body weight, natural products represent a treasure trove for anti-obesity agents. In conclusion, conducting comprehensive research on natural products holds the potential to accelerate the development of an improved obesity management strategy characterized by heightened efficacy and reduced incidence of side effects.

Diversity of Fungal Communities on Diseased and Healthy Cinnamomum burmannii Fruits and Antibacterial Activity of Secondary Metabolites

The composition and structure of fungal communities on healthy and diseased fruits of Cinnamomum burmannii (Nees and Nees) Blume were characterized, with evaluation of the antibacterial activity of secondary metabolites from culturable fungi following the first identification of secondary metabolites in the fungus Medicopsis romeroi (Esf-14; GenBank accession number OK242756). These results are significant for understanding the functional variation in bioactivity in fungal communities and developing a broader range of bioactive resources. High-throughput sequencing results indicated that the fungal community in diseased fruit differed from that in healthy fruit at the phylum, class, order, or genus level, with significant differences in the species and relative abundance of the dominant flora. A total of 49 (healthy fruit) and 122 (diseased fruit) artificially cultivable endophytic fungi were isolated, and 41 different strains (11 from healthy fruit and 30 from diseased fruit) were successfully identified by morphological and molecular biological analyses, which were classified into 8 groups and 23 genera by phylogenetic tree analysis, with Pleosporales, Glomerellales, and Hypocreales being the dominant groups at the order level and Colletotrichum being the dominant group at the genus level. The results of the antibacterial assay demonstrated that the secondary metabolites of all strains had different degrees of antibacterial activity, while the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi from diseased fruit were generally stronger than those of fungi from healthy fruit, with the active secondary metabolites dominated by small and moderately polar compounds. Combined analysis of fungal communities, phylogenetic tree analysis, and bioactivity analysis of culturable strains revealed strong antibacterial activity of both upregulated and downregulated flora in diseased fruit. Five compounds, including two new (5,6-dimethoxy-[1',1:4,1″-terphenyl]-2-ol [compound 1] and 5-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-methylbenzo[d][1,3]dioxole-2-carboxylic acid [compound 2]) and three known compounds (3,7-dihydroxy-1,9-dimethyldibenzofuran [compound 3], methyl 3-hydroxybenzoate [compound 4], and uracil [compound 5]), were isolated and identified for the first time from the endophytic fungus Medicopsis romeroi. In general, the diversity of fungal communities on diseased fruit was lower than that on healthy fruits, while the antibacterial activity of artificially cultured endophytic fungi on diseased fruits was generally stronger than that on healthy fruits, suggesting excellent promise for the development of secondary metabolites from active strains on diseased fruit as antibacterial agents. IMPORTANCE Powdery fruit disease is a notorious disease of Cinnamomum burmannii that causes severe loss in fruit production. Studies on the function of endophytic fungal communities in healthy plant tissues are not new, while little is known about the functional changes of fungal communities in disease-causing plant tissues. Our results demonstrate that fungal communities in diseased fruits differ from those in healthy fruits at the level of phylum, class, order, or genus, with significant differences in the species and relative abundance of dominant groups. Endophytic fungi in diseased fruits appeared to produce secondary metabolites with stronger antibacterial properties, although the community diversity was not as varied as that in healthy fruits. In addition, secondary metabolites of the Medicopsis romeroi strain from diseased fruits were identified for the first time. These results have important implications for understanding the functional variation of bioactivity in fungal communities and for developing a broader resource of bioactivity.

Trans-cinnamaldehyde attenuates renal ischemia/reperfusion injury through suppressing inflammation via JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway

Inflammation is the major contributor to the mechanisms of acute kidney injury due to renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCA) is a main bioactive component extracted from the bark of cinnamon and has been proved to have good anti-inflammatory properties. The current study was to demonstrate the effect of TCA on renal IRI and explore its specific mechanism. C57BL/6J mice were injected prophylactically intraperitoneally for TCA 3 days, and IRI for 24 h. In parallel, Human Kidney-2 (HK-2) cells were prophylactically treated with TCA, and then exposed to oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) and cobalt chloride (CoCl₂). TCA was found to significantly attenuate renal pathological changes and renal dysfunction, and inhibit gene and protein expression of kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). Furthermore, TCA significantly suppressed the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, COX-2, iNOS, and MCP-1. Mechanistically, the activation of the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway was inhibited by TCA in renal IRI as well as in OGD/R and CoCl₂-stimulated cells. However, following pretreatment with anisomycin before OGD/R treatment, we found that the activation of the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway was significantly enhanced, and concomitant abrogation of the TCA inhibitory effect on the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway, which was followed by a worsening of cell injury that was characterized by an increased number of cell necrosis and an increase in the expression of Kim-1, NGAL as well as proinflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS). In summary, TCA inhibited renal inflammation via the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway and attenuated renal IRI.

Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenols in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 randomized controlled trials

Objective

To evaluate safety and efficacy of dietary polyphenols in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

CNKI, Pubmed, Cochrane library, Embase were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of dietary polyphenols in the treatment of RA. The databases were searched from the time of their establishment to November 8nd, 2022. After 2 reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies, Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.4 software.

Results

A total of 49 records (47 RCTs) were finally included, involving 3852 participants and 15 types of dietary polyphenols (Cinnamon extract, Cranberry extract, Crocus sativus L. extract, Curcumin, Garlic extract, Ginger extract, Hesperidin, Olive oil, Pomegranate extract, Puerarin, Quercetin, Resveratrol, Sesamin, Tea polyphenols, Total glucosides of paeony). Pomegranate extract, Resveratrol, Garlic extract, Puerarin, Hesperidin, Ginger extract, Cinnamon extract, Sesamin only involve in 1 RCT. Cranberry extract, Crocus sativus L. extract, Olive oil, Quercetin, Tea polyphenols involve in 2 RCTs. Total glucosides of paeony and Curcumin involve in more than 3 RCTs. These RCTs showed that these dietary polyphenols could improve disease activity score for 28 joints (DAS28), inflammation levels or oxidative stress levels in RA. The addition of dietary polyphenols did not increase adverse events.

Conclusion

Dietary polyphenols may improve DAS28, reduce C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and improve oxidative stress, etc. However, more RCTs are needed to verify or modify the efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenols.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022315645.

Comparative GC Analysis, Bronchodilator Effect and the Detailed Mechanism of Their Main Component; Cinnamaldehyde of Three Cinnamon Species

Cinnamon is one of the most commonly used spices worldwide. In some Arab countries, cinnamon is used with other ingredients to relieve bronchospasm and treatment of airways-related disorders. In the current study, GC, GC-MS and tracheal relaxant effect comparison were performed using the three available types in Saudi Arabia, Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon cinnamon), C. cassia (Chinese cinnamon) and C. loureiroi (Vietnamese cinnamon). The essential oil of C. verum was the most potent in the relaxation of guinea pig isolated tracheal muscles against carbachol (CCh, 1 uM)-evoked bronchospasm at the concentration range from 0.03 to 3 mg/mL followed by C. bureiroi at 0.03 to 5 mg/mL; whereas, C. cassia was the least potent oil. Cinnamaldehyde (1), isolated as the main component of the three oils induced complete relaxation of low K+ (25 mM)-evoked contractions, with mild effect on the contractions evoked by high K+ (80 mM). Pre-incubation of the tracheal tissues with glibenclamide (10 mM) significantly opposed the relaxation of low K+ by cinnamaldehyde. The standard drug, cromakalim also inserted glibenclamide-sensitive inhibition of low K+ without relaxing high K+. These results indicate that cinnamaldehyde acts predominantly by ATP-specific K+ channel opening followed by weak Ca++ antagonistic effects. The obtained results justify the medicinal value of cinnamon oil in respiratory disorders.

Discovery of new cinnamic derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents for treating acute lung injury in mice

The blockade of the overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines by anti-inflammatory natural products has been proven therapeutically beneficial in the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). Given the fact that cinnamic acid has been proven to have significant anti-inflammatory activity, we selected it as a promising lead compound to develop more effective analogs in treating ALI. Learning from the symmetric structure of curcumin, 32 new symmetric cinnamic derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. Among them, 6h not only displayed a remarkable inhibitory activity in vitro (85.9% and 65.7% for  IL-6 and TNF-α, respectively) without cytotoxicity but also possessed chemical structure stability. Furthermore, an in vivo study in mice revealed that the administration of 6h significantly attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced ALI, providing new lead structures for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of ALI.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl) Bark Extract after In Vitro Digestion Simulation

Cinnamon bark is widely used for its organoleptic features in the food context and growing evidence supports its beneficial effect on human health. The market offers an increasingly wide range of food products and supplements enriched with cinnamon extracts which are eliciting beneficial and health-promoting properties. Specifically, the extract of Cinnamomum spp. is rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer biomolecules. These include widely reported cinnamic acid and some phenolic compounds, such asproanthocyanidins A and B, and kaempferol. These molecules are sensitive to physical-chemical properties (such as pH and temperature) and biological agents that act during gastric digestion, which could impair molecules' bioactivity. Therefore, in this study, the cinnamon's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivity after simulated digestion was evaluated by analyzing the chemical profile of the pure extract and digested one, as well as the cellular effect in vitro models, such as Caco2 and intestinal barrier. The results showed that the digestive process reduces the total content of polyphenols, especially tannins, while preserving other bioactive compounds such as cinnamic acid. At the functional level, the digested extract maintains an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect at the cellular level.

Cinnamon: an aromatic condiment applicable to chronic kidney disease

Cinnamon, a member of the Lauraceae family, has been widely used as a spice and traditional herbal medicine for centuries and has shown beneficial effects in cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. However, its effectiveness as a therapeutic intervention for chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unproven. The bioactive compounds within cinnamon, such as cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and cinnamate, can mitigate oxidative stress, inflammation, hyperglycemia, gut dysbiosis, and dyslipidemia, which are common complications in patients with CKD. In this narrative review, we assess the mechanisms by which cinnamon may alleviate complications observed in CKD and the possible role of this spice as an additional nutritional strategy for this patient group.

Cinnamon extract improves abnormalities in glucose tolerance by decreasing Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family 1 expression in adipocytes

We previously demonstrated that cinnamon extract (CE) alleviates streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in rats. The present study aimed to elucidate the detailed molecular target of cinnamon in cultured adipocytes and epididymal adipose tissue of type 2 diabetes model mice. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was employed to determine the molecular target of cinnamon in adipocytes. The function of Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family-1 (ACSL1), a molecular target of cinnamon that was identified in this study, was further investigated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes using specific inhibitors. Type 2 diabetes model mice (KK-Ay/TaJcl) were used to investigate the effect of CE on glucose tolerance, ACSL1 expression, and related signal molecules in vivo. CE decreased ACSL1 mRNA and protein expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes but increased glucose uptake and AMPK signaling activation; moreover, a similar effect was observed with an ACSL1 inhibitor. CE improved glucose tolerance and downregulated ACSL1 in mice adipose tissue in vivo. ACSL1 was demonstrated as a molecular target of CE in type 2 diabetes both in a cell culture system and diabetic mouse model.

Identification of potential targets of cinnamon for treatment against Alzheimer's disease-related GABAergic synaptic dysfunction using network pharmacology

Cinnamon aqueous extract's active substance base remains unclear and its mechanisms, mainly the therapeutic target of anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related GABAergic synaptic dysfunction, remain unclear. Here, 30 chemical components were identified in the aqueous extract of cinnamon using LC/MS; secondly, we explored the brain-targeting components of the aqueous extract of cinnamon, and 17 components had a good absorption due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limitation; thirdly, further clustering analysis of active ingredient targets by network pharmacology showed that the GABA pathway with GABRG2 as the core target was significantly enriched; then, we used prominent protein-protein interactions (PPI), relying on a protein-metabolite network, and identified the GABRA1, GABRB2 and GABRA5 as the closest targets to GABRG2; finally, the affinity between the target and its cognate active compound was predicted by molecular docking. In general, we screened five components, methyl cinnamate, propyl cinnamate, ( +)-procyanidin B2, procyanidin B1, and myristicin as the brain synapse-targeting active substances of cinnamon using a systematic strategy, and identified GABRA1, GABRB2, GABRA5 and GABRG2 as core therapeutic targets of cinnamon against Alzheimer's disease-related GABAergic synaptic dysfunction. Exploring the mechanism of cinnamon' activities through multi-components and multiple targets strategies promise to reduce the threat of single- target and symptom-based drug discovery failure.

Cinnamaldehyde Regulates the Generation of γ-aminobutyric Acid to Exert Sedation via Irreversible Inhibition of ENO1 in the Cerebellar Granular Layer

SCOPE

Glutamate (Glu) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters that control information flow in the brain. GABA dysfunction is a general vulnerability factor for mental illness. Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is found to have sedation in a mental illness model. However, the specific targets and molecular mechanisms related to the sedative effects of CA have not been elucidated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Metabolomics analysis and target fishing showed CA could increase the expression of GABA in vivo, and α-enolase (ENO1) is the primary target protein of CA associated with sedation. CA mainly binds with ENO1 in the cerebellar granular layer of brain, which influences the first transformations of the input signals arriving in the cerebellar cortex. The α,β-unsaturated aldehyde group of CA blocks the hydroxy group of Ser40, which induces a loss in ENO1 activation. CA also disturbs the glycolysis pathway and influences the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, which activate gluconeogenesis to provide energy to the brain. This mechanism is verified in zebrafish with ENO1 or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) deficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

CA demonstrates sedation and alleviates GABA dysfunction via covalent binding ENO1, which shows the potential to improve the therapy of mental illness.

The ameliorative effects of cinnamon oil against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats by regulating oxidative stress and promoting angiogenesis

Cinnamon is one of the herbal resources belonging to the Lauraceae family, is commonly used in traditional medicine and as a flavoring agent. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, the present study was performed to evaluate the gastroprotective effect of cinnamon on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in comparison to omeprazole. In Wistar rats, gastric ulcers were induced using one oral dose of 70% ethanol (5 ml/kg b. w.) Cinnamon oil at doses of 2.5 ml/kg body weight and omeprazole (a reference drug) at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight were orally administrated daily for 7 days before ulcer induction. 1 h after ethanol administration blood samples were collected and then the stomachs of sacrificed rats were subjected to biochemical, macroscopic and histological, and immunohistochemical studies. Oral administration of cinnamon oil significantly attenuated gastric ulcer as revealed by a significant increase in the gastric levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants namely CAT, SOD, GSH-Px, and GSH with a concomitant reduction in MDA level compared with those in the ethanol group. Pre-treatment of cinnamon oil markedly improved the level of TNF-α and PGE content. Furthermore, cinnamon oil pre-treatment significantly increased the immunoreactivity of VEGF while decreasing the immunoreactivity of COX-II. These results were further supported by histopathological findings which revealed the curing effect of cinnamon oil on the microscopic changes induced by ethanol toxicity. Cinnamon oil showed a potential gastroprotective effect on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer comparable to the gastroprotective effect of omeprazole, and its effect may be mediated through suppression of oxidative stress and gastric inflammation and promotion of angiogenesis.

Mechanisms for Improving Hepatic Glucolipid Metabolism by Cinnamic Acid and Cinnamic Aldehyde: An Insight Provided by Multi-Omics

Cinnamic acid (AC) and cinnamic aldehyde (AL) are two chemicals enriched in cinnamon and have been previously proved to improve glucolipid metabolism, thus ameliorating metabolic disorders. In this study, we employed transcriptomes and proteomes on AC and AL treated db/db mice in order to explore the underlying mechanisms for their effects. Db/db mice were divided into three groups: the control group, AC group and AL group. Gender- and age-matched wt/wt mice were used as a normal group. After 4 weeks of treatments, mice were sacrificed, and liver tissues were used for further analyses. Functional enrichment of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were performed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. DEPs were further verified by parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). The results suggested that AC and AL share similar mechanisms, and they may improve glucolipid metabolism by improving mitochondrial functions, decreasing serotonin contents and upregulating autophagy mediated lipid clearance. This study provides an insight into the molecular mechanisms of AC and AL on hepatic transcriptomes and proteomes in disrupted metabolic situations and lays a foundation for future experiments.

Novel cinnamon-laden nanofibers as a potential antifungal coating for poly(methyl methacrylate) denture base materials

OBJECTIVES

To modify the surface of denture base material by coating it with cinnamon-laden nanofibers to reduce Candida albicans (C. albicans) adhesion and/or proliferation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Heat-cured poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) specimens were processed and coated, or not, with cinnamon-laden polymeric nanofibers (20 or 40 wt.% of cinnamon relative to the total polymer weight). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses of the nanofibers were performed. Antifungal activity was assessed through agar diffusion and colony-forming unit (CFU/mL) assays. Representative SEM morphological analysis was carried out to observe the presence/absence of C. albicans on the fibers. Alamar blue assay was used to determine cell toxicity. Analysis of variance and the Tukey's test were used to analyze the data (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

SEM imaging revealed nanofibers with adequate (i.e., bead-free) morphological characteristics and uniform microstructure. FTIR confirmed cinnamon incorporation. The cinnamon-laden nanofibers led to growth inhibition of C. albicans. Viable fungal counts support a significant reduction on CFU/mL also directly related to cinnamon concentration (40 wt.%: mean log 6.17 CFU/mL < 20 wt.%: mean log 7.12 CFU/mL), which agrees with the SEM images. Cinnamon-laden nanofibers at 40 wt.% led to increased cell death.

CONCLUSIONS

The deposition of 20 wt.% cinnamon-laden nanofibers onto PMMA surfaces led to a significant reduction of the adhesive and/or proliferative ability of C. albicans, while maintaining epithelial cells' viability.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The high recurrence rates of denture stomatitis are associated with patient non-adherence to treatments and contaminated prostheses use. Here, we provide the non-patients' cooperation sensible method, which possesses antifungal action, hence improving treatment effectiveness.

Network Analyses Based on Machine Learning Methods to Quantify Effects of Peptide-Protein Complexes as Drug Targets Using Cinnamon in Cardiovascular Diseases and Metabolic Syndrome as a Case Study

Peptide-protein complexes play important roles in multiple diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The peptides may be the key molecules in the designing of inhibitors or drug targets. Many Chinese traditional drugs are shown to play various roles in different diseases, and comprehensive analyses should be performed using networks which could offer more information than results generated from a single level. In this study, a network analysis pipeline was designed based on machine learning methods to quantify the effects of peptide-protein complexes as drug targets. Three steps, namely, pathway filter, combined network construction, and biomarker prediction and validation based on peptides, were performed using cinnamon (CA) in CVDs and MetS as a case. Results showed that 17 peptide-protein complexes including six peptides and four proteins were identified as CA targets. The expressions of AKT1, AKT2, and ENOS were tested using qRT-PCR in a mouse model that was constructed. AKT2 was shown to be a CA-indicating biomarker, while E2F1 and ENOS were CA treatment targets. AKT1 was considered a diabetic responsive biomarker because it was down-regulated in diabetic but not related to CA. Taken together, the pipeline could identify new drug targets based on biological function analyses. This may provide a deep understanding of the drugs' roles in different diseases which may foster the development of peptide-protein complex-based therapeutic approaches.

Suppression of Inflammatory and Fibrotic Signals by Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) and Cinnamaldehyde in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Overactive Bladder in Mice

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine used to treat nocturia by tonifying and warming the kidney. Our recent clinical study found that overactive bladder (OAB) patients treated with cinnamon powder (CNP) patches exhibited significantly ameliorated OAB symptoms without significant side effects, but the mechanism of action is unclear. To explore the beneficial effects and action mechanisms of CNP and its major active component cinnamaldehyde (CNA) in an OAB-related murine model, cyclophosphamide- (CYP-) induced OAB injury was performed on male ICR mice in the presence or absence of CNP and CNA, as well as solifenacin, a clinical drug for OAB as a reference. Twenty-four-hour micturition patterns (frequency of urination and volume of urine per time), as well as histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blotting of the bladder, were analyzed for mechanism elucidation. Administration of CYP (300 mg/kg, i.p.) induced typical OAB pathophysiological changes, including increased frequency of urination and reduced volume of urine. CYP-induced mice displayed strong edema of the bladder and hemorrhagic cystitis, accompanied by loss of normal corrugated folds and decreased muscarinic receptors (M2/M3) in the urothelium, and disordered/broken structures of the lamina propria and detrusor. These changes were correlated with increased leukocyte (CD11b) infiltration colocalized with inflammatory (pp65 NFκB, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)) and fibrotic (stem cell factor (SCF)/c-Kit, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)/β-catenin) signals. Treatment with CNP (600 mg/kg, p.o.) and CNA (10–50 mg/kg, p.o.), but not solifenacin (50 mg/kg), 30 min after CYP induction significantly ameliorated CYP-induced dysfunction in micturition patterns and pathophysiological changes. CNP and CNA further suppressed MIF/TLR4-associated inflammatory and SCF/c-Kit-related fibrotic signaling pathways. Our findings indicate that suppression of inflammatory and fibrotic signals contributes to the crucial mechanism in the improvement of CYP-induced OAB by CNP and CNA.

COVID-19, cytokines, inflammation, and spices: How are they related?

BACKGROUND

Cytokine storm is the exaggerated immune response often observed in viral infections. It is also intimately linked with the progression of COVID-19 disease as well as associated complications and mortality. Therefore, targeting the cytokine storm might help in reducing COVID-19-associated health complications. The number of COVID-19 associated deaths (as of January 15, 2021; https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/) in the USA is high (1199/million) as compared to countries like India (110/million). Although the reason behind this is not clear, spices may have some role in explaining this difference. Spices and herbs are used in different traditional medicines, especially in countries such as India to treat various chronic diseases due to their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

AIM

To evaluate the literature available on the anti-inflammatory properties of spices which might prove beneficial in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 associated cytokine storm.

METHOD

A detailed literature search has been conducted on PubMed for collecting information pertaining to the COVID-19; the history, origin, key structural features, and mechanism of infection of SARS-CoV-2; the repurposed drugs in use for the management of COVID-19, and the anti-inflammatory role of spices to combat COVID-19 associated cytokine storm.

KEY FINDINGS

The literature search resulted in numerous in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials that have reported the potency of spices to exert anti-inflammatory effects by regulating crucial molecular targets for inflammation.

SIGNIFICANCE

As spices are derived from Mother Nature and are inexpensive, they are relatively safer to consume. Therefore, their anti-inflammatory property can be exploited to combat the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. This review thus focuses on the current knowledge on the role of spices for the treatment of COVID-19 through suppression of inflammation-linked cytokine storm.

A nutraceutical combination of cinnamon, purple onion, and tea linked with key enzymes on treatment of type 2 diabetes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is concomitant with significant morbidity and mortality and its prevalence is accumulative worldwide. The conventional antidiabetic agents are known to mitigate the symptoms of diabetes; however, they may also cause adverse effects. This study was to explore the efficacy of polyherbal dietary supplement cinnamon, purple onion, and tea on the mediation of postprandial hyperglycemia in the search of combinations with a maximal response. A starch solution (3 g/kg Bwt) of oral starch tolerance test (OSTT) and glucose solution (4 g/kg Bwt) of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with and without cinnamon, purple onion, tea extract (15 mg/kg Bwt), and mixture (each 5 mg/kg Bwt, 1:1:1), metformin (14 mg/kg Bwt), or acarbose (50 mg/kg Bwt) was administered to high fat plus high fructose-induced diabetic mice after an overnight fast. Postprandial plasma glucose levels were measured and changed areas under the response curve were calculated to find out the maximal efficacy of optimal polyherbal combinations. Compared with acarbose, the mixture of extracts (purple onion, cinnamon, and tea) indicated the decreasing blood glucose in OSTT. In OGTT, the mixture of extracts showed greater efficacy for hypoglycemia when compared with metformin. The molecular docking of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and AMPK was further confirmed the putatively acting molecules from the extracts of purple onion, cinnamon, and tea. Overall, this investigation evidenced a beneficial mediation for the progression of lowering blood glucose with a combinatory extract of cinnamon, dietary onion, and tea, implicating their prospective as nutraceuticals that might ameliorate hyperglycemia in diabetes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Diabetes mellitus (DM), one of metabolic syndrome, attributes to risk factors like obesity, physical inactivity, ageing, life style, and genetic predisposition even with significant morbidity and mortality. DM is increasing and accounts for an estimated annual medical expenditure of US$ 827 billion worldwide. Therefore, maintaining blood glucose levels within the normal range is critical for preventing diabetes and its co-morbidities. The conventional antidiabetic agents are known to mitigate the symptoms of diabetes; nevertheless, they may also cause adverse or side effects. In an effort to design novel and well-tolerated solutions to halt the progression of DM, however evidence-base is extremely limited regarding the efficacy of polyherbal dietary supplement individual herbs for the management of glycemia. In this investigation evidenced a beneficial mediation for the progression of lowering blood glucose with a combinatory extract of cinnamon, dietary onion, and tea, implicating their prospective as nutraceuticals that might ameliorate hyperglycemia in diabetes.

Nicotinamide-cinnamic acid cocktail exerts pancreatic β-cells survival coupled with insulin secretion through ERK1/2 signaling pathway in an animal model of apoptosis

PURPOSE

Pancreatic β-cells protection is integral to insulin secretion in diabetic conditions. In this context, we investigated cinnamic acid in combination with nicotinamide on the regulation of insulin secretion and apoptosis in pancreatic β-cells using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced apoptotic model in vivo.

METHODS

The pancreata of nicotinamide (NA)-cinnamic acid (CA) treated rats were studied using histopathological, immunofluorescence, molecular docking, and RT-PCR analyses, supported by serum glucose and insulin levels.

RESULTS

The biochemical data revealed that the acute treatment of NA and CA in combination significantly increased serum insulin, thereby lowering blood glucose level in vivo. From histological findings, NA-CA pre-treatment displayed significant protection against STZ-apoptotic trends, improved insulin secretion, and recapitulated the STZ-induced morphology to normal control. The upregulated expressions of caspases, caused by STZ-treatments, were significantly downregulated with NA-CA in immunofluorescent detection and their translational levels, respectively. We found dense ERK½-insulin staining and p-ERK½ expression, which was further supported by strong ERK½ residues-ligands interactions based on in silico analysis.

CONCLUSION

From the pre-clinical data, we thus conclude that NA-CA cocktail exerts dual insulin releasing and survival effects in pancreatic β-cells by targeting ERK½ pathway.

Cinnamon as a Useful Preventive Substance for the Care of Human and Plant Health

Cinnamon is widely used as a food spice, but due to its antibacterial and pharmacological properties, it can also be used in processing, medicine and agriculture. The word “Cinnamon” can refer to the plant, processed material, or an extract. It is sometimes used as a substance, and sometimes used as a mixture or as compounds or a group. This article reviews research into the effectiveness of various forms of cinnamon for the control of plant diseases and pests in crops and during storage of fruit and vegetables. Cinnamon acts on pests mainly as a repellent, although in higher doses it has a biocidal effect and prevents egg-laying. Cinnamon and its compounds effectively hinder bacterial and fungal growth, and the phytotoxic effects of cinnamon make it a possible herbicide. This article presents the wide practical use of cinnamon for various purposes, mainly in agriculture. Cinnamon is a candidate for approval as a basic substance with protective potential. In particular, it can be used in organic farming as a promising alternative to chemical pesticides for use in plant protection, especially in preventive treatments. The use of natural products is in line with the restriction of the use of chemical pesticides and the principles of the EU’s Green Deal.

What is the influence of cinnamon supplementation on liver enzymes? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Existing evidence has uncovered the potential health benefits of cinnamon intake; however, its effect on liver function is unclear. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effect of cinnamon supplementation on liver enzymes. Relevant articles were identified through a systematic search in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase up to September 2020. All trials assessing the effect of oral cinnamon supplementation on serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in adults were included. The pooled effect sizes were obtained using the random-effects model and expressed as mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of seven original trials (nine treatment arms) involving a total of 256 subjects were included in the final analysis. The pooled analysis indicated that cinnamon supplementation had no significant effect on serum levels of ALT, AST, and ALP. However, there was a significant reduction in ALT levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (MD: -4.01 U/L; 95% CI: -6.86, -1.15) and in trials with low-dose supplementation (<1,500 mg/d), follow-up duration longer than 12 weeks, and in the elderly patients (aged>50 years). The beneficial effects of cinnamon intake were also shown in AST levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and trials with long-term follow-up (>12 weeks). Longer-term, oral cinnamon supplementation may improve serum levels of liver enzymes in patients with type 2 diabetes. Further high-quality studies are needed, especially in populations with abnormal liver enzyme levels, to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of cinnamon on liver function.

An LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of 11 components of Xian-Xiong-Gu-Kang in the plasma of osteoarthritic rats and pharmacokinetic analysis

Xian-Xiong-Gu-Kang is composed of Epimedium brevicornu, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Radix clematidis, Cinnamomum cassia, and Fructus xanthii. It is used to treat numbness and pain of limbs. In this study, we developed a method to simultaneously quantify 11 components of Xian-Xiong-Gu-Kang (icarrin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariside II, chlorogenic acid, ligustilide, senkyunolide A, senkyunolide I, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid) in rat plasma using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry. Chromatographic separation was performed on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column using gradient elution with a mobile phase comprising acetonitrile and 0.05% (v/v) formic acid aqueous solution. Mass spectrometry detection was performed using positive and negative electrospray ionization in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The calibration curves of the 11 constituents were linear, with correlation coefficients > 0.99. The intra- and interday accuracy and precision values were within ±15.0%. The extraction recoveries of the 11 constituents and two internal standards were between 66.05 and 105.40%, and the matrix effects were between 86.74 and 112.86%. Using this method, the pharmacokinetic features of the 11 constituents were elucidated in the plasma of osteoarthritic rats after oral administration of the Xian-Xiong-Gu-Kang extract.

Inhibitory Effect of Cinnamaldehyde on Main Destructive Microorganisms of Nanhai No. 1 Shipwreck

Nanhai No. 1, a shipwreck in the Southern Song Dynasty, China, has a history of more than 800 years. It was salvaged in 2007 and is now on display in the Guangdong Maritime Silk Road Museum. Due to the fact that the hull is a wooden cultural relic and exposed to the air, the biological corrosion and biodegradation caused by microorganisms are key problems of hull protection. At present, the antimicrobial agent Euxyl® K100 (isothiazolinone) has a significant antimicrobial effect in the field, but it has a certain negative impact on the environment and archeologists. In order to reduce the use of chemical antimicrobial agents, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of cinnamaldehyde on the main destructive microorganisms of Nanhai No. 1. Cinnamaldehyde is the main active component of cinnamon, and has broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. The paper diffusion method, gas diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration experiment were used to detect the inhibitory effects of cinnamaldehyde on the main microorganisms of Nanhai No. 1. We found that cinnamaldehyde had significant inhibitory effects on Bacillus tequilensis NK-NH5, Bacillus megaterium NK-NH10, Bacillus velezensis NK-NH11, Bacillus sp. NK-NH15, Bacillus sp. NK-NH16, Bacillus sp. NK-NH17, Fusariumsolani NK-NH1 and Scedosporiumapiospermum NK.W1-3. At the same time, cinnamaldehyde had more inhibitory effects on fungi than bacteria. Finally, we verified that cinnamaldehyde can effectively inhibit the growth of microorganisms in water, for storing the scattered wood blocks of the Nanhai No. 1 hull through laboratory simulation experiments. Cinnamaldehyde, as an environment-friendly antimicrobial agent, is of great significance to protecting water-saturated wooden relics from microbial corrosion and degradation in the future.

The Potential Role of Cinnamon in Human Health

Cinnamon is an unusual tropical plant belonging to the Lauraceae family. It has been used for hundreds of years as a flavor additive, but it has also been used in natural Eastern medicine. Cinnamon extracts are vital oils that contain biologically active compounds, such as cinnamon aldehyde, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamic acid, and cinnamate. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties and is used to treat diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In folk medicine, cinnamon species have been used as medicine for respiratory and digestive disorders. Their potential for prophylactic and therapeutic use in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease has also been discovered. This review summarizes the available isolation methods and analytical techniques used to identify biologically active compounds present in cinnamon bark and leaves and the influence of these compounds in the treatment of disorders.

The beneficial effects of cinnamon among patients with metabolic diseases: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to summarize and conclude the clinical evidence regarding the use of cinnamon among patients with metabolic diseases. A comprehensive literature search without any limitation on language was conducted using the following bibliographical databases: ISI Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Search was conducted up to 23 January 2020. A total of 35 clinical trials were included for final analysis. Pooling of results showed a significant reducing effect of cinnamon on total cholesterol (TC) (weighted mean difference (WMD) = -11.67 mg/dL; P = 0.010), triglyceride (TG) (WMD = -16.27 mg/dL; P < 0.001), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD = -6.36 mg/dL; P < 0.001), serum glucose (WMD = -11.39 mg/dL; P < 0.001), serum insulin (WMD = -1.27 μIU/mL; P = 0.028), and waist circumstance (WC) (WMD = -1.68 cm; P = 0.016). These lowering effects on TG, TC, LDL-C, and serum glucose levels were robust in studies that used cinnamon supplementation dose ≤1.5 g. Also, our findings of the present meta-analysis showed that cinnamon supplementation could have favorable effects on high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C, WMD = 1.35; P = 0.038) as well as systolic (WMD = -3.95 mmHg; P = 0.018) and diastolic (WMD = -3.36; P = 0.001) blood pressure among patients with metabolic diseases. The present meta-analysis suggests that cinnamon might exert beneficial effects on various cardiometabolic risk factors among patients with metabolic diseases.

Eight different bioactivity profiles of 40 cinnamons by multi-imaging planar chromatography hyphenated with effect-directed assays and high-resolution mass spectrometry

Spices contain plenty of bioactive compounds, used to valorize foods. However, product quality may be affected by contaminations and adulterations along the global production chain. A newly developed multi-imaging in combination with bioactivity screening directly pointed to individual multi-potent compounds. For cinnamon as prominent example, the multi-imaging results provided a wealth of new information on their effects and clearly visualized the valorizing potential of cinnamon to foods. The separation focus was in the mid-polar to apolar range. Eight effect-directed assays (EDA, i.e. one radical scavenging, two biological and five biochemical assays) were performed in situ the high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) adsorbent. Several multi-potent compound zones were revealed and further characterized by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), highlighting the bioactive potential of cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, benzoic acid, coumarin, linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, caproic acid, and linalool oxide. This HPTLC-UV/Vis/FLD-EDA-HRMS profiling provided comprehensive information on product quality and safety.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Jiuwei Zhenxin Granules in Treating Depression: An Overview

Depression is known as "Yu Zheng" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Jiuwei Zhenxin granules (JZG) is a type of TCM. According to TCM theory, it nourishes the heart and spleen, tonifies Qi, and tranquilizes the spirit, and may also has effects in the treatment of depression. Here, we systematically reviewed recent basic and clinical experimental studies of JZG and depression, including studies of the pharmacological mechanisms, active ingredients, and clinical applications of JZG in depression treatment. This review will deepen our understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms, drug interactions, and clinical applications of TCM prescriptions and provide a basis for the development of new drugs in the treatment of depression.

Food as medicine: targeting the uraemic phenotype in chronic kidney disease

The observation that unhealthy diets (those that are low in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and high in sugar, salt, saturated fat and ultra-processed foods) are a major risk factor for poor health outcomes has boosted interest in the concept of 'food as medicine'. This concept is especially relevant to metabolic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), in which dietary approaches are already used to ameliorate metabolic and nutritional complications. Increased awareness that toxic uraemic metabolites originate not only from intermediary metabolism but also from gut microbial metabolism, which is directly influenced by diet, has fuelled interest in the potential of 'food as medicine' approaches in CKD beyond the current strategies of protein, sodium and phosphate restriction. Bioactive nutrients can alter the composition and metabolism of the microbiota, act as modulators of transcription factors involved in inflammation and oxidative stress, mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction, act as senolytics and impact the epigenome by altering one-carbon metabolism. As gut dysbiosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, premature ageing and epigenetic changes are common features of CKD, these findings suggest that tailored, healthy diets that include bioactive nutrients as part of the foodome could potentially be used to prevent and treat CKD and its complications.

The anti-inflammatory influence of Cinnamomum burmannii against multi-walled carbon nanotube-induced liver injury in rats

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are extensively used in nanotechnology due to their unique physico-chemical properties. CNTs were implicated in many disorders connected with human health. So, we aimed in this study to provide new insight into the role of aqueous C. burmannii in treating the possible hepatotoxic effects of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) exposure. A total of 32 male albino rats were divided into 4 groups: control group, cinnamon-treated group, MWCNT-treated, and cinnamon- and MWCNT-treated group. To achieve the aim of this study, evaluation of percentage change of body weight, oxidant, and antioxidant status including lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitrite, total thiols, glutathione contents (GSH), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione-S transferase (GST) was done. Histopathological examination and the rate of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), and tumor necrotic factor-α were performed. Oral administration of aqueous C. burmannii to those MWCNT-treated rats resulted in a significant reduction in LPO and total thiol contents with a significant elevation in the activities of SOD, CAT, and GPX, while GSH content and GST activity were not significantly affected. We observed a significant downregulation in the rate of previous pro-inflammatory cytokines. All this improvement in these examined markers resulted in a significant modulation in the hepatic histopathological lesions caused by MWCNTs. Aqueous C. burmannii extract exhibited a potential defensive effect on the hepatic injury triggered by MWCNTs through upgrading the antioxidant system and downregulating the rate of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Cinnamon extract inhibits allergen-specific immune responses in human and murine allergy models

BACKGROUND

Ceylon cinnamon has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties in many diseases including allergic inflammation.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyse in more detail the effects of cinnamon extract (CE) and its major compounds p-cymene and trans-cinnamaldehyde (CA) on allergen-specific immune responses in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Therefore, monocyte-derived mature dendritic cells (DC) from grass or birch pollen allergic donors were pulsed with the respective allergen in the presence or absence of CE, p-cymene, CA or the solvent ethanol and co-cultured with autologous CD4⁺ T cells. Furthermore, basophil activation test was performed with or without CE or ethanol treatment. For the in vivo experiments, BALB/c mice were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and orally treated with CE or ethanol.

RESULTS

Addition of CE, p-cymene or CA, but not ethanol significantly inhibited DC maturation and subsequent allergen-specific T cell proliferation as well as Th1 and Th2 cytokine production. Sulphidoleukotriene release and CD63 expression by basophils were also significantly diminished after addition of CE. In vivo, treatment of OVA-sensitized mice with CE led to a significant shift from OVA-specific IgE towards IgG2a production and to a strong inhibition of OVA-specific proliferation. Moreover, airway inflammation as well as anaphylaxis after intranasal or systemic allergen challenge was significantly reduced in CE-treated mice. Furthermore, topical application of CE prevented calcipotriol-induced atopic dermatitis-like inflammation in these mice.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Taken together, our data indicate that the anti-inflammatory effect of cinnamon might be exploited for treatment of allergic inflammation, which needs to be further investigated.

Antioxidant and Glycemic Regulatory Properties Potential of Different Maturity Stages of Leaf of Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) In Vitro

Dichloromethane:methanol (1:1, v/v) extracts of different maturity stages (immature, partly mature, and mature) of authenticated leaves of Ceylon cinnamon (CC) were used in this study. Antioxidant properties [total polyphenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)] and glycemic regulatory properties [antiamylase (AA); antiglucosidase (AG)] were evaluated using 96-well microplate based bio assays in vitro (TPC, TFC, DPPH, ABTS, ORAC n=4 each; FRAP, AA, AG n=3 each). Results clearly revealed significant differences (p<0.05) among different maturity stages of leaf of CC for both antioxidant and glycemic regulatory properties (except AG activity). The mean antioxidant and glycemic regulatory activities of immature, partly mature, and mature leaves ranged from TPC: 0.68 ± 0.02-22.35 ± 0.21 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of sample (GS); TFC: 0.85 ± 0.01-4.68 ± 0.06 mg quercetin equivalents/GS; DPPH: 0.42 ± 0.01-27.09 ± 0.65 mg Trolox equivalents (TE)/GS; ABTS: 3.57 ± 0.10-43.91 ± 1.46 TE/GS; ORAC: 0.71 ± 0.01-18.70 ± 0.26 TE/G, FRAP: 0.31 ± 0.02-69.16 ± 0.52 TE/GS; and AA: 18.05 ± 0.24-36.62 ± 4.00% inhibition at 2.5 mg/mL. Mature leaf had the highest antioxidant and AA activities for all the assays investigated. In contrast, immature leaf had the lowest. The order of potency for antioxidant and AA activities was mature leaf > partly mature leaf > immature leaf. This is the first study to report on antioxidant and glycemic regulatory properties of different maturity stages of leaf of Ceylon cinnamon and highlights its potential use in management of oxidative stress-associated chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus.

Modulating and opposite actions of two aqueous extracts prepared from Cinnamomum cassia L. bark and Quercus ilex L. on the gastrointestinal tract in rats

Cinnamon bark and evergreen oak acorns, natural sources of functional ingredients, are effective for those suffering from diarrhea, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the dissimilar phytochemical composition and the opposite potential actions of Cinnamomum cassia bark (ACCE) and Quercus ilex aqueous extracts (GIAE) on gastrointestinal (GI)-physiological activities and disruptions. An HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS assay was used to identify the distinctive qualitative and quantitative profiles of phenolic compounds. The GI-physiological action of both extracts on gastric emptying (GE) and gastrointestinal transit time (GIT) were evaluated using the phenol-red colorimetric method and a test meal containing charcoal/gum arabic in water. Loperamide (LOP)-induced colonic constipation and delayed emptying of the stomach were used to explore the reverse effects of ACCE/GIAE on GI disorders. HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS showed that the main phenolic compounds detected in ACCE are trans-cinnamic acid, quinic acid, protocatechuic acid and rosmarinic acid, while gallic acid, quinic acid and protocatechuic acid are the major chemical constituents found in GIAE. GIAE at two doses (150 and 300 mg kg-1) exerted a reduction of GE (66.40% and 60.87%, respectively) compared to a control group (70.25%). However, ACCE at the same concentrations induced contradictory actions on GE/GIT in comparison to GIAE and antagonistic synthetic pharmacological drugs in rats. The protective effect of CCAE against constipation induced by LOP in rats was accompanied by a strong antioxidant property related to moderation of intracellular-mediator disorders. An absence of toxic actions was revealed in the case of the hematological profile and biochemical parameters. Hence, in-depth investigations of these nutrients of both extracts may help future researchers to derive the underlying mechanisms and potential molecular targets for the development of physiologically functional foods and future therapies.