Home > Herbs > Cinnamomum Verum

true cinnamon

Cinnamomum verum · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Extensive (1423 studies) · ★★★★★

True cinnamon, scientifically known as Cinnamomum verum, is a precious spice prized for its aromatic bark. Originating from Sri Lanka, this medicinal plant offers potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Long used in traditional healing, it helps regulate blood sugar and supports digestive health, making it a versatile botanical.

Family
Lauraceae
Native range
Africa
Parts used
Leaf
Common names
Ceylon Cinnamon · Sri Lanka Cinnamon · 1 more
Scientific synonyms
Camphorina Cinnamomum · Persea Cinnamomum · 54 more

Names

Common Names

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • canelero de Ceilán

German:

  • Ceylon-Zimtbaum
  • Echter Zimtbaum
  • Ceylonzimt
  • Ceylonzimtbaum
  • Zimtbaum
  • echter Ceylonzimt
  • Ceylon-Zimtbaum

French:

  • cannelier de Ceylan
  • Cannelier

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Cinnamomum verum

Synonyms

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Laurales and the family Lauraceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cinnamomum.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Laurales WCVP
Family Lauraceae WCVP
Genus Cinnamomum WCVP

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several diverse tropical regions. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence can be found around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Moving eastward, it is documented within the tropical landscapes of Tanzania. Its range extends into South Tropical Africa, specifically within the territory of Angola. Finally, the species inhabits various parts of the Western Indian Ocean, including the Comoros and Mauritius.

Region Area Source
West-Central Tropical Africa Gulf of Guinea Is. WCVP
East Tropical Africa Tanzania WCVP
South Tropical Africa Angola WCVP
Western Indian Ocean Comoros WCVP
Western Indian Ocean Mauritius WCVP
Western Indian Ocean Seychelles WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
Eastern Asia Taiwan WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Assam WCVP
Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Cinnamomum verum, is highly valued in traditional medicine for its various therapeutic components derived from different botanical structures. The most commonly utilized part is the bark, which is harvested and dried to be used in numerous medicinal preparations. Within this bark, and throughout the plant, are concentrated essential oils that provide its distinct aromatic and bioactive properties. These essential oils are often extracted as a potent oil used for topical applications or flavoring. While specific parts are often isolated for targeted use, the medicinal profile of the species can also be represented by the whole herb, encompassing the complex chemical synergy found across its entire structure.
Plant Part Sources Consensus
leaf Cancer biotherapy & radiopharmaceuticals (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆

Chemicals

Cinnamomum verum has 246 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, CINNAMIC ACID, Flavonoids, Cinnamon oil.

Chemicals reported in Cinnamomum verum
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
cinnamaldehyde 15 supporting sources ★★★★★
eugenol 10 supporting sources ★★★★★
CINNAMIC ACID 8 supporting sources ★★★★☆
Flavonoids 5 supporting sources ★★★☆☆
Cinnamon oil 4 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Proanthocyanidins 4 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Alcohols 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Linalool 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Tannins 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
polyphenols 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆

cinnamaldehyde

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
  3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
  4. Journal of biological engineering
  5. Pharmaceutical biology
View 10 additional sources
  1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
  2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
  3. Frontiers in pharmacology
  4. Microbiology spectrum
  5. Journal of applied biomedicine
  6. The journal of contemporary dental practice
  7. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
  8. Drug and chemical toxicology
  9. Advances in experimental medicine and biology
  10. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

eugenol

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Insects
  3. Cancer biotherapy & radiopharmaceuticals
  4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
  5. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
View 5 additional sources
  1. Journal of food science and technology
  2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
  3. International journal of molecular sciences
  4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
  5. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

CINNAMIC ACID

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
  3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
  4. RSC advances
  5. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
View 3 additional sources
  1. Drug and chemical toxicology
  2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
  3. Advances in experimental medicine and biology

Flavonoids

  1. In silico pharmacology
  2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
  3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
  4. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
  5. Medical mycology

Cinnamon oil

  1. Poultry science
  2. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR
  3. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD
  4. Analytical cellular pathology (Amsterdam)

Proanthocyanidins

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Dental materials : official publication of the Academy of Dental Materials
  3. Journal of separation science
  4. Journal of chromatography. A

Alcohols

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Inflammopharmacology
  3. Metabolites

Linalool

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Journal of food science and technology
  3. International journal of molecular sciences

Tannins

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
  3. Medical mycology

polyphenols

  1. In silico pharmacology
  2. Pharmaceutical biology
  3. Advances in experimental medicine and biology

Activities

Cinnamomum verum has 644 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Anticancer.

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Consensus
Antioxidant Dr. Duke (and other 21 sources) ★★★★★
Antimicrobial Current medicinal chemistry (and other 15 sources) ★★★★★
Antibacterial Dr. Duke (and other 8 sources) ★★★★☆
Antifungal Advances in dental research (and other 8 sources) ★★★★☆
Anticancer Dr. Duke (and other 7 sources) ★★★★☆
Antidiabetic Dr. Duke (and other 7 sources) ★★★★☆
Antitumor Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) ★★☆☆☆
Antiviral Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) ★★☆☆☆
Cytotoxic Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) ★★☆☆☆
Analgesic Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Cinnamomum verum has 86 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include type 2 diabetes mellitus, COVID-19, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, insulin resistance.

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Consensus
type 2 diabetes mellitus Blood pressure (and other 6 sources) ★★★☆☆
COVID-19 Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (and other 5 sources) ★★★☆☆
Escherichia coli Poultry science (and other 4 sources) ★★☆☆☆
Staphylococcus aureus Scientific reports (and other 4 sources) ★★☆☆☆
insulin resistance Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (and other 4 sources) ★★☆☆☆
Alzheimer's disease Pharmacological research (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆
blood pressure Blood pressure (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆
hypertension Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆
obesity Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆
oxidative stress Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆

Preparations

Preparations Sources Consensus
essential oils Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS (and other 10 sources) ★★★★★
EOs Future science OA (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Essential oils Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
bark Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
essential oil Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
extracts Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
methanol extract Inflammopharmacology (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Alcoholic extracts of the bark Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
CEO The journal of contemporary dental practice (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Cinnamomum verum bark Journal of separation science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆