Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.): Phytochemical Constituents and Biological Potential from a Pharmacological Perspective
Abstract
The genus Cinnamomum (Lauraceae) has a long history of use in traditional medicine and continues to attract scientific interest due to its diverse pharmacological properties. This review summarizes the ethnopharmacological uses of Cinnamomum species, including major investigated species such as C. verum, C. cassia, C. burmannii, C. camphora, and other reported species, plant parts utilized, phytochemical composition, biological activities, underlying mechanisms, and safety considerations. Evidence from the literature indicates that bark and leaves are the plant parts most frequently investigated. The phytochemical profile of Cinnamomum comprises diverse volatile and non-volatile constituents, including bioactive compounds such as cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, cinnamic acid, coumarin, and phenolic compounds, with composition influenced by species, geographical origin, plant part, and extraction method. Chemometric approaches have been applied to characterize metabolite variations and their association with biological activities. Preclinical studies demonstrate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects across several Cinnamomum species. These activities are associated with regulation of oxidative stress, NF-κB/AP-1-mediated inflammatory responses, PI3K/AKT-related metabolic regulation, and apoptosis-related mechanisms. Despite these promising findings, substantial variability in plant materials, extraction procedures, chemical standardization, experimental models, dose selection, and safety profiles across different Cinnamomum species limits comparison among studies and clinical translation. Further research integrating phytochemical characterization, metabolomics and chemometrics, standardized bioactivity assays, toxicological evaluation, and clinical studies is required to establish the efficacy, safety, and quality of Cinnamomum species.