The Potential Uses of Cinnamon as a Part of Anti-inflammatory Treatments

Ekram Rakib, Student ID – U1703251, Programme: Pharmacology, Module Name: BS5001 Biology of Disease, Supervisor: Dr Samir Ayoub

Layman Abstract:

Cinnamon is a spice that is made from the inner back of the cinnamon tree. There are two types that are mainly consumed and it has been found to have different health benefits. It has been used in the traditional medicine and most of the researches that have been done on it has come out with positive results of having medicinal value. Cinnamon spice has a compound that gives it the therapeutic value and it is called cinnamaldehyde.

Coumarin is a substance found in cinnamon spice and causes damage to the liver and the lungs but it is found in very low quantities in Ceylon, which has then been most preferred. The difference between the Ceylon and cassia cinnamon is that, Ceylon is sweeter and it has more delicate flavour while the cassia type is slightly darker in colour and has a stronger flavour.

 Tyrosine is a compound found in the cinnamon spice and it is the one that contain the antioxidant properties (Shan et al., 2005, p.7750) Cinnamaldehyde compound is also found in the cinnamon tree and is the one that contain the anti-inflammatory properties. Different test that have done in the labs have also confirmed that it reduces inflammation both externally and internally.

Aims and Justification:

The purpose of this research is to find out if the cinnamon tree or the spice that come from it has that capability to reduce inflammation and thus its possibility to be used in treatment of condition that has inflammation in the clinical set up. Inflammation is generally the process in which the white blood cells and other substance that it produces protect the body from infection from foreign organisms such as bacteria and viruses. Its function is to eliminate the initial causes of injury and also clear out the necrotic cells or the original insult to the damaged tissue.

Inflammation has five classical signs such as heat, pain, redness, swelling and loss of function and therefore it has different consequences. Different condition result to inflammation and therefore it presence with the classical signs with inflammation on the site (Lawrence, 2009, p.32). Cinnamon spices contains cinnamaldehyde which has been linked by different studies to reduce inflammation.

A studies that have been published shows that cinnamon spices which are the cassia and Ceylon are among the spices that reduce inflammation. There are different studies that have done and they all have a proof that the cinnamon spices reduce inflammation which is thus beneficial. Different lab test have also been known to reduce the inflammation markers in blood and therefore it reduces the side effects of the process that result.

A study that was done on paw edema where cinnamic aldehyde was used, the edema reduced the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the paw tissue. All the studies thus clearly shows that cinnamon spices cause reduction in the inflammation and thus it is a proof that it has a good effect in the reduction of inflammation in individuals with inflammatory conditions. The food or the tea made from the spice have been found to reduce inflammation.

Background Information:

Cinnamon is one of the tasty spices that have been found to have numerous medicinal value that can help in reduction of the severity of illnesses. It has different properties such as antioxidant, anti-microbial and an anti-inflammatory effect. The cinnamon spice comes from the inner bark of the trees that belong to the cinnamon genus. Most of the researchers state that, the spice is most commonly in use today. It has been used in the traditional medicine and this has been backed up by the current medicine.

            There are two most commonly used types which are Ceylon cinnamon and cassia cinnamon. They can be grounded into powder then added to food or even used to make tea. Reports from the journal BMC Complimentary &Alternative Medicine states that Ceylon cinnamon (Sri Lankan cinnamon) is the best type to use (Ranasinghe et al., 2013, p.235) It is native to Sri Lanka and it is more expensive than the cassia cinnamon.

            Coumarin is a substance that naturally occurs in the cinnamon and it has been associated with damaging of the liver and also the lungs if taken in high quantities. A study done on 2012 found that the level of concentration of coumarin is lower in Ceylon cinnamon at 0.004% than in cassia cinnamon at 1% (Blahová and Svobodová, 2012, p.7) Thus Ceylon the best choice.

            Cinnamon has also been found to have antioxidants activity due to the tyrosine compound that is found in its extracts. It also affect the immune strengthens the immune system and thus improve the body to fight against disease pathogens. A study that was done on Indian, Ceylon cinnamon found that the bark has a powerful immune boosting capability. The extracts from the cinnamon tree increased the antibodies in the blood and helped to stimulate the immune system.

            The compound that has been found to be more beneficial to reduce inflammation in cinnamon is cinnamaldehyde (Gunawardena et al., 2015, p.912). A study that was published on the journal Food & Function discovered that, the cinnamon tree contained the anti-inflammatory substance (cinnamaldehyde) which was closely related to help treat age related inflammatory conditions. Other studies in the laboratories have also shown that the compound that are found in the cassia cinnamon helps in reduction of the inflammatory markers in blood and therefore the scientist have concluded that cinnamon have naturally occurring substance that has good anti-inflammatory properties.

            The cinnamon powder has been greatly linked with reducing the inflammation when it has been consumed, a study that was done in 2017 found that the cinnamon bark has essential oil that have a potential to reduce inflammation on the human skin. The oil helped in boosting the number of cells thus promoting the skin to recover from the injury.

            It has also been found to have both anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activity which means that consumption of the spiced tea with cinnamon is likely to boost good digestive health.  A study that was done in 2017 found out the phenolic compound I the cinnamon tea to help kill microorganism and reduce gastrointestinal tract inflammation.

Methods and Experimental Design:

The cinnamon water extract preparation: Raw cinnamon bark is put into a tank then purified water is added into it at a ratio of 8:1 and then the mixture is heated to boil for one hour. The water extract is then remove and filtered via a 100-mwsh screen. This is to remove any solid debris and then the filtrates is collected into intermediate containers which were then left standing static. The supernatants are then carefully removed and placed in concentration tank for vacuum evaporation to make it more concentrated.it is then heated and later centrifuged and dried. The powder is then added to water to make the cinnamon water extract.

Animal: male BALB/c two months old bought from Taconic a branch of Korea and they were fed with  water together with rodent chow  in a facility with a well controlled humidity and temperature and no microorganisms causing diseases performed at the university. The sample were kept according to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals Guide provided by the National Research Council in US

The cinnamon water extracted was then administered to each mouse orally for six days prior administration of intraperitoneal injection of LPS at a dosage of twenty, hundred or five hundred mg/kg of body weight. The control sample were given the same amount of normal saline at the time of experiment and each of the groups were made up of twelve mice. On the 7^th day, LPS 1.3mg/kg was administered one hour prior to blood sampling taken which was then obtained through cardiac puncture. Dexamethasone was administered eighteen hours prior to the LPS injection to act as a reference. The samples of blood that were then collected were centrifuged at 800g for 20 minutes and then they were kept at negative 20°C as serum samples up to the time they were used

Statistical Analysis: The data for in vivo is mean ± SEM. The non-similarity in the statistics among many groups means were evaluated using one-way method called ANOVA which then Schaffer test was done.

Expected Results and Impact:

LPS originates from gram-negative bacteria cell wall and they are endotoxins that facilitates TNF alpha expression and IL-6 among microphages and monocytes. The cytokines protect the body by stimulating processes. The test on cinnamon water extract (CWE) effect on the inflammation response to stimulation of LPS. Based on the study the dosage of 20,100 and 500 mg/kg were used and it was found that serum level of TNF alpha was majorly decreased in the20 and 100 mg/kg doses and they were high in the 500mg/kg dosage. On the other hand, the levels of IL-6 decreased on 20 and 100 mg/kg group administered dose but the 100 mg/kg dosage group reached a great level. The group that was administered with 500 mg/kg indicated a higher IL-6 levels than in the control group. It is therefore likely that some of compounds which are not known are beyond a critical level may cause interference with nature of CWE in reducing inflammation..

 

Male mice

24 mice

Control group

Cinnamon water extract group

Water consumed (ml)

Weight of the body (kg)

 

Appendix 1:

Cost:

Items	Cost	Amount used	Total
Raw cinnamon bark	£5.0 to £15		£10
Purified water	£5.65		£5.65
Male mice	N/A	24	N/A
Serum tubes	£20.69		£20.69
incubator	N/A	N/A	N/A

 

 

Appendix 2:

It is necessary to endure that the equipment used at work is used for the purpose it is intended for. Instruction and training are all necessary. Use gloves, goggles and coat always. There is no drinking or eating and chemicals are properly handled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Risk Assessment Form                            School of health, sport and Bioscience  

                                                                                                           university of East London

Hazard Identified	Who might be at risk	COSHH	Likelihood H M L	Severity H M L	Residual risk 1-9	Additional control measured required	Date actioned	Estimated residual risk
Location: Experiment involving effects of  cinnamon water extract on mice test	Individuals & technicians	Well grooming for the laboratory, tie long hair at the back, and put on goggles and gloves. Notify others before any activity Avoid spoilage of the fluid	L	L	1	Accidents should be reported immediately. Dispose with biohazard waste.

 

Key

Likelihood                                                              Severity                                                                     Residual Risk (likelihood x severity)

1. Low (1 point) L. slight less (3 days off) (1 point)                            1-2 no action required
2. medium (2 point) M serious (more than 3 days off) (2 point) 3-4 medium

H high risk (3 points)                                           H major issues (injury) (3 points)                                6-9 high risk/ priority

References:

Blahová, J. and Svobodová, Z., 2012. Assessment of coumarin levels in ground cinnamon available in the Czech retail market. The Scientific World Journal, 2012.

Gunawardena, D., Karunaweera, N., Lee, S., van Der Kooy, F., Harman, D.G., Raju, R., Bennett, L., Gyengesi, E., Sucher, N.J. and Münch, G., 2015. Anti-inflammatory activity of cinnamon (C. zeylanicum and C. cassia) extracts–identification of E-cinnamaldehyde and o-methoxy cinnamaldehyde as the most potent bioactive compounds. Food & function, 6(3), pp.910-919.

Hong, J.W., Yang, G.E., Kim, Y.B., Eom, S.H., Lew, J.H. and Kang, H., 2012. Anti-inflammatory activity of cinnamon water extract in vivo and in vitro LPS-induced models. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 12(1), p.237.

Iqbal, M. (1993). International trade in non-wood forest products: An overview - IV. Spices and condiments. [online] Fao.org. Available at: http://www.fao.org/3/x5326e/x5326e07.htm#2.%20cinnamon%20and%20cassia [Accessed 10 Feb. 2019].

Lawrence, T. (2009). The Nuclear Factor NF- B Pathway in Inflammation. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, [online] 1(6), pp.a001651-a001651. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882124/ [Accessed 10 Feb. 2019].

Liao, J.C., Deng, J.S., Chiu, C.S., Hou, W.C., Huang, S.S., Shie, P.H. and Huang, G.J., 2012. Anti-inflammatory activities of Cinnamomum cassia constituents in vitro and in vivo. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012.

Mskcc.org. (2018). Cinnamon | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. [online] Available at: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/cinnamon [Accessed 10 Feb. 2019].

Ranasinghe, P., Pigera, S., Premakumara, G.S., Galappaththy, P., Constantine, G.R. and Katulanda, P., 2013. Medicinal properties of ‘true’cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a systematic review. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 13(1), p.275.

Shan, B., Cai, Y.Z., Sun, M. and Corke, H., 2005. Antioxidant capacity of 26 spice extracts and characterization of their phenolic constituents. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 53(20), pp.7749-7759.