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The present study investigated the effects of composite coatings made of chitosan (CS), tragacanth gum (TG), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) containing cinnamon essential oil (CEO) on the shelf-life of refrigerated chicken breast fillets. The samples were treated with different coating dispersions, and coded as: T 1 (distilled water as control), T 2 (blank composite coating), and T 3 (composite coating containing CEO). Results showed that incorporating CEO into CS/TG/PVA coatings could significantly increase the quality of chicken fillets. The obtained results showed that after 21 days, the total microbial population of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), psychrotrophic and mesophilic bacteria in T 3 samples was less than T 1 and T 2 samples. In addition, the highest antioxidant activity (48.04 %) and total phenolic content (TPC) values (2.458 mg gallic acid /g), the best sensory characteristics and the lowest pH (5.73), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) (21.89 mg N/100 g), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (1.678 mg malondialdehyde equivalent/kg) and percentage of cooking loss (30 %) were related to T 3 . Results disclosed that this composite coating is a promising technology to improve the shelf life of chicken fillets during storage., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Flavonoids and phenolic acid are two of the rich polyphenols found in cinnamon ( Cinnamomum zeylanicum ). The effects of cinnamon extract on the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 fibroblast cells and prohibitory lipid accumulation in male mice fed a high-fat diet were examined. Upon treating 3T3-L1 cells with cinnamon for 3 days, the cinnamon inhibited lipid accumulation and increased gene expression levels, such as those of adiponectin and leptin. In in vivo experiments, mice were randomized into four groups after a one-week acclimation period, as follows: normal diet, normal diet + 1% cinnamon extract, high-fat diet, and high-fat diet + 1% cinnamon extract. After 14 weeks of supplementation, we found that cinnamon extract increased the expression of lipolysis-related proteins, such as AMPK, p-ACC, and CPT-1, and reduced the expression of lipid-synthesis-related proteins, such as SREBP-1c and FAS, in liver tissue. Our results show that cinnamon extract may exhibit anti-obesity effects via the inhibition of lipid synthesis and adipogenesis and the induction of lipolysis in both 3T3-L1 fibroblast cells and mice fed a high-fat diet. Accordingly, cinnamon extract may have potential anti-obesity effects.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by an increased level of β-amyloid (Aβ) protein deposition in the brain, yet the exact etiology remains elusive. Nowadays, treatments only target symptoms, thus the search for novel strategies is constantly stimulated, and looking to natural substances from the plant kingdom. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of a spice blend composed of cinnamon bark and two different turmeric root extracts (CCSB) in Aβ-exposed THP-1 cells as a model of neuroinflammation. In abiotic assays, CCSB demonstrated an antioxidant capacity up to three times stronger than Trolox in the ORAC assay, and it reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by the amyloid fragment in THP-1 cells by up to 39.7%. Moreover, CCSB lowered the Aβ stimulated secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 by up to 24.9% and 43.4%, respectively, along with their gene expression by up to 25.2% and 43.1%, respectively. The mechanism involved the mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK, JNK and p38, whose phosphorylation was reduced by up to 51.5%, 73.7%, and 58.2%, respectively. In addition, phosphorylation of p65, one of the five components forming NF-κB, was reduced by up to 86.1%. Our results suggest that CCSB can counteract the neuroinflammatory stimulus induced by Aβ-exposure in THP-1 cells, and therefore can be considered a potential candidate for AD management.

This study was designed to assess the effect of cinnamon powder (CNP) and turmeric powder (TP) on growth performance, antioxidant status, liver function, meat quality and lactate dehydrogenase activity of broiler chickens under heat stress conditions. A total of 200, one day old as-hatched broiler chickens (ROSS 308) were randomly allotted into five treatments with four replicates ( n  = 10). Treatment groups were control (C): fed basal diet; T1: 0.5% CNP; T2: 1.0% CNP; T3: 0.5% TP and T4: 1.0% TP. Results indicated that body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were improved significantly ( p  < 0.05) in treatments fed CNP and TP. Serum malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase activity were decreased ( p  < 0.05) while blood superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity were increased ( p  < 0.05) in treatments fed CNP and TP. Addition of CNP and TP decreased ( p  < 0.05) serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activity. Treatments fed CNP and TP resulted increased ( p  < 0.05) breast and thigh meat monounsaturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid and water holding capacity while decreased ( p  < 0.05) saturated fatty acid and cook loss. In conclusion CNP and TP possess advantageous effect on growth performance, antioxidant status, liver function, meat quality and lactate dehydrogenase activity.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of 0%, 0.2%, 0.35%, and 0.5% cinnamon essential oil on growth performance, fatty acid, and fillet quality of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The results of growth experiments showed that the weight gain rate linearly and quadratically increased with increasing cinnamon essential oil doses (p < 0.05). The results of fatty acids experiments showed that the addition of essential oil significantly decreased the saturated fatty acids levels from 36.67% to 30.82% and increased the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) levels from 24.55% to 46.89%; especially, the n - 3 PUFA of 0.5% essential oil treatment showed the highest levels. Moreover, the n - 6 PUFA of 0.2% essential oil treatment were increased from 22.17% to 32.99%. The results of fillet quality experiments showed that the hardness and cohesiveness were linearly and quadratically increased with the increasing essential oil doses on days 4 and 7, respectively. The b* values linearly and quadratically decreased as the doses increased on day 7 (p < 0.05). The total volatile basic nitrogen levels were quadratically decreased with increasing cinnamon essential oil doses on day 7 (p < 0.05). In general, it can be concluded that cinnamon essential oil presented positive effects on the growth, nutritive values, and meat quality in tilapia., (© 2023 Institute of Food Technologists.)

This study aimed to investigate the digestibility and bioaccessibility of spray-dried microparticles co-encapsulating paprika and cinnamon oleoresins using simulated gastrointestinal conditions. It focused on exploring the potential of these co-encapsulated active compounds, which possess diverse technological and functional properties, particularly within a food matrix, in order to enhance their bioavailability. Mayonnaise was selected as the food matrix for its ability to promote the diffusion of carotenoids, as most hydrophobic compounds are better absorbed in the intestine when accompanied by digestible lipids. Model spice mayonnaise, containing 0.5 wt% paprika and cinnamon microparticles content, was formulated in compliance with Brazilian regulations for spices, seasonings, and sauce formulations. Droplet size distribution, optical microscopy and fluorescence microscopy analyses were conducted on the microparticles, model spice mayonnaise, and standard mayonnaise both before and after in vitro gastric and intestinal digestion. Following digestion, all samples demonstrated droplet aggregation and coalescence. Remarkably, dispersed particles (37.40 ± 2.58%) and model spice mayonnaise (17.76 ± 0.07%) showed the highest release rate of free fatty acids (FFAs), indicating efficient lipid digestion. The study found that using mayonnaise as a delivery system significantly increased bioaccessibility (22.7%). This suggests that particles in an aqueous medium have low solubility, while the high lipid composition of mayonnaise facilitates the delivery of active compounds from carotenoids present in paprika and cinnamon oleoresin after digestion., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In the current study supplementations of cinnamon ( Cinnamomum zeylanicum ) powder (CNP) and turmeric ( Curcuma longa L ) powder (TP) as an antibiotic growth promoter substitutions on growth performance, intestinal microbiota and hematological profile of broiler chickens have been investigated. A total of 240, one day old as-hatched broiler chickens (ROSS 308) were randomly assigned into five treatments with four replicates per treatment and 10 chickens per replicate. Treatment groups were C: control (fed basal diet); CNP1: 0.5% CNP; CNP2: 1.0% CNP; TP1: 0.5% TP; TP2: 1.0% TP and 500 mg oxytetracycline (OTC)/kg of diet. Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were improved ( p  < 0.05) by CNP and TP while OTC improved BWG and FCR. Ileal and cecal Lactobacillus and total aerobes were significantly improved while coliforms and Escherichia coli were decreased by CNP, TP, and OTC. The percentage of packed cell volume (%PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) count, and white blood cell (WBC) count was increased by CNP and TP while OTC decreased %PCV, Hb, RBC, and increased WBC count. In conclusion, the results showed that OTC can be safely replaced by CNP and TP at 1.0% dose rate in broiler chicken's diets.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-leading cause of cancer death, with a worldwide incidence rate constantly increasing; thus, new strategies for its prevention or treatment are needed. Here, we describe the adjuvant effect of the polyphenol-enriched fractions of cinnamon, from cinnamon bark and buds, when co-administered with a potent anticancer drug, cetuximab, used for CRC therapy. The co-administration significantly reduces the cetuximab dose required for the antiproliferative activity against colorectal cancer cell line E705, which is sensitive to EGFR-targeted therapy. The anticancer activity of these cinnamon-derived fractions, whose major components (as assessed by UPLC-HRMS analysis) are procyanidins and other flavonoids, strictly correlates with their ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines through ERK activation and the mitochondrial membrane potential impairment. Due to the severe side effects of cetuximab administration, our results suggest the use of nutraceuticals based on the polyphenolic fractions of cinnamon extracts as adjuvants in the therapy of CRC.

Cinnamaldehyde has been widely applied in various fields due to its special flavor and various pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. The strategy of quick and efficient enrichment for cinnamaldehyde is imperative. In this study, an electroosmotic coupled particle-assisted solvent flotation (ECPASF) system was designed for the cinnamaldehyde enrichment from cinnamon. The response surface method was used to optimize extraction parameters. Under optimal operating conditions, its yield was 9.33 ± 0.11 mg/g. Such high yield of cinnamaldehyde using the ECPASF might be because electroosmosis effectively alters the permeability of plant cells, which facilitates the release of cinnamaldehyde. In addition, both the crude extract of cinnamon and pure cinnamaldehyde showed good antioxidant activity. The results demonstrated that the ECPASF system is a sustainable and effective method for the extraction of cinnamaldehyde from cinnamon. It also has the prospect of being extended to the extraction of other natural products., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Essential oils (EOs), which are plant-oriented anti-biofilm agents, are extensively encapsulated by cyclodextrins to overcome their aqueous solubility and chemical instability, and achieve slow release during long-term storage. However, the biological activities of EOs decreased after initial encapsulation in CDs. In this study, modified-β-cyclodextrins (β-CDs) were screened as wall materials to maintained the initial anti-biofilm effect of pure CEO. The inhibitory and bactericidal activities of CEO encapsulated in five types of β-CDs with different substituents (primary hydroxyl, maltosyl, hydroxypropyl, methyl, and carboxymethyl) against Staphylococcus aureus biofilm were evaluated. Crystal violet assay and 3D-View observations suggested that CEO and its inclusion complexes (CEO-ICs) inhibited Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation through the inhibition of colonising spreading, exopolysaccharide synthesis, and cell surface properties. Molecular docking revealed the causes of the decrease in the anti-biofilm effect after encapsulation, and quantitative structure-activity relationship assays provided MIC and MBIC prediction equation for modified-β-cyclodextrins inclusion complexes. Maltosyl-β-CD was screened as the best wall material to retained the anti-biofilm activities as pure cinnamon essential oil in initial stage, and its inclusion complexes can effectively inhibited biofilm formation in milk. This study provides a theoretical guidance for the selection β-CDs to encapsulate CEO as plant-oriented anti-biofilm agents to inhibit bacterial biofilm formation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled ‘Study on the formation and anti-biofilm properties of cinnamon essential oil inclusion complexes by the structure of modified β-cyclodextrins’., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Formaldehyde (FA) is an environmentally-available pollutant. Since the liver acts as a detoxifier in the human body, it is the first and most affected organ in individuals exposed to higher-than-normal amounts of FA. FA mainly alters oxidant/antioxidant status and initiates oxidative stress, and by means, causes functional damage to the liver. Thus, it is important to identify natural bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties in order to be used as food additives. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is a popular flavor and also a medicinal plant with a variety of beneficial effects. In the present original study, cinnamon essential oil (CEO) has been administrated at doses of 10, 20, and 100 mg/kg, orally, to hepatotoxicity rat models caused by FA (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Liver enzymes and its histology were assessed and oxidative stress biomarkers in the liver tissue were also examined. CEO administration caused a significant increase in superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase and a prominent decrease in nitric oxide levels in the liver tissue. Also, in serum samples, CEO significantly reduced the elevated amounts of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase. When assessed histologically, portal area and central vein fibrosis alongside with the hepatocytes’ hypereosinophilia and swelling, focal inflammation, and necrotic areas were found to be prominently decreased in the CEO group. In conclusion, our study suggested that the CEO may have the potential for being used against FA-induced hepatotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Efflux-based systems may play a role in resistance to fluoroquinolones in Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Extracts of some medicinal plants contain molecules that can act as efflux pumps inhibitors. In this study, we aimed to evaluate antibacterial activities of ethanolic and chloroform extracts of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and their possible synergistic activity with ciprofloxacin against some Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. We also analyzed the extracts for presence of efflux pump inhibitors against the examined bacteria. Methods: Powdered dried leaves and branches of C. zeylanicum were extracted with ethanol (85%) and chloroform by the maceration method. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the extracts alone or combined with ciprofloxacin and phenylalaninearginine β-naphthylamide (an efflux pump inhibitor) were determined against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter bummani, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis using the double serial microdilution method. Results: The extracts of C. zeylanicum inhibited the growth of all studied bacteria. Synergistic effects were noted between the extracts and ciprofloxacin against all tested bacteria other than P. aeruginosa. Ciprofloxacin efflux pumps in E. coli, S. enteritiditis and A. baumannii were inhibited by the extracts of C. zeylanicum. Conclusion: The extracts of C. zeylanicum could be used as ciprofloxacinpotentiating agents against some Gram-negative pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume, bark and Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague, seeds growing in Iraq was investigated by GC/MS. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation method. The essential oils and ethanolic extracts of C. zeylanicum bark and T. ammi seeds were also examined for their α-glucosidase inhibition effects. The essential oil of C. zeylanicum bark yielded 14 constituents amounting to 99.92 % and essential oil of T. ammi seeds yielded 22 compounds amounting 99.18 %. The major constituents of essential oil of C. zeylanicum bark were cinnamic aldehyde (95.89 %) and eugenol (1.58 %). The major constituents of T. ammi seeds were thymol (62.52 %), p-cymene (20.26 %), γ-terpinene (12.77 %) and β-pinene (2.24 %). The results of α-glucosidase inhibition test showed concentration dependent enzyme inhibition with IC50 values 90±0.85 and 180±2.61for C. zeylanicum bark essential oil and ethanolic extract, respectively; and IC50 values 160±1.27 and 220±2.03 for T. ammi seeds essential oil and ethanolic extract, respectively. The present study confirmed that the C. zeylanicum bark and T. ammi seeds may be used for reducing post prandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting α-glucosidase enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polyphyto drugs FM27; compose of Mentha piperita (10%), Ribes nigrum (20%), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (20%), Aloe vera (10%), Zingiber officinalis (5%), Glycine max (5%) and Avena sativa (30%) on memory acquisition and retention was studied using EPM, MWM and PCA test in rat using two different routes, one is per oral (FM27O) and another one is transcranial (FM27T). The test drug studied for in vitro safety profile screening by MTT assay in a different cell line. As per the result, cell line toxicity confirmed that formulation FM27 was non toxic in SH-SY-5Y human neuroblastoma cell line, Vero monkey normal kidney epithelial cells, and Chang liver cell line. Test drug FM27O studied at a dose of (PO 50 and 100 mg/kg), showed graded dose response and it was observed significantly (p <0.01) effect of memory improvement comparing standard group containing Bacopa monnieri (PO 50 and 100 mg/kg), whereas transcranially applied FM27T (10 mg/kg) showed a significant (p <0.001) effect of memory improvement comparing control group and observed similar effect like standard drug. Herbal formulations FM27 was found to be potent for treating dementia to improve memory. The cell line toxicity study report confirmed it was safe in higher dose also. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetaminophen, APAP, is a common over-the-counter drug with antipyretic-analgesic action. When APAP is used in large doses, it causes hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity but safe at therapeutic doses. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is extensively used in folk medicine due to its high content of natural antioxidants. The current investigation was planned to study the possible ameliorative effect of cinnamon toward induced APAP-apoptosis and cellular damage in renal cells. Four groups (nine rats each) were used; negative control group administrated distilled water for 15 days; positive control APAP group administrated a single dose of APAP (1 g/kg) orally on the last day; APAP+Cin L (200 mg/kg) and APAP+Cin H (400 mg/kg) aqueous extract of cinnamon orally once a day for 15 days. An hour after the last dose of cinnamon, all rats in the third and fourth group were administrated a single dose of APAP (1 g/kg) orally. GC/MS analysis was performed to identify the plant used in the study. APAP markedly increased serum levels of creatinine, BUN, and glucose and decreased levels of albumin and total protein. In addition, APAP could also exert severe alteration in the kidney histopathology along with upregulation of caspase-3 and PCNA. However, pre-treatment with cinnamon ameliorated the APAP-induced cellular alterations and apoptosis, possibly through its high content of antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study evaluates the anti-hyperglycemic potential of two Indian spices Cinnamomum zeylanicum(CZ) and Cumin cyminum(CC) (whole powder and aqueous extracts) using in vitro techniques like glucose adsorption assay, amylolysis kinetics and ex vivo assays like amylase, Sucrase and α-glucosidase assay. CZ displayed higher glucose adsorption and glucose diffusion retardation than CC, as shown by glucose adsorption and amylolysis kinetics assay. CZ showed lower inhibition of α-amylase and sucrase where as CC has no effect on both the enzymes. In case of α- glucosidase, CC had better inhibition than CZ. Further research is needed to understand the mechanism through which both the spices act to regulate the hyperglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 C max and AUC 0-t of amlodipine, the C max and AUC 0-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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Considering the increasing tendency of public towards green consumption and the dangers of artificial additives, this study aimed to assess antibacterial activity of essential oils of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Mentha piperita L., Zataria multiflora Boiss and Thymus vulgaris against three important pathogenic and spoilage bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens, Erwinia carotovora and Escherichia coli). After obtaining the essential oils from Magnolia Co., their antimicrobial activity was assessed using broth microdilution method by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50, MIC90) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). All experiments were performed in triplicate and the data were analyzed using the GraphPad software and Duncanchr('39')s new multiple range test. All essential oils showed antimicrobial activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Increasing the concentration of essential oils from 0.01% to 4% (v/v) significantly enhancing the antibacterial activity. The statistical calculations and comparison of data showed that the essential oils of C. zeylanicum and Z. multiflora performed better compared to the other two essential oils, due to having lower values of MIC50 (≤0.1%), MIC90 (≤0.4%) and MBC (≤1%) (P

Low alcohol wine is a new entry in the global wine market, due to the increase in consumers’ concern for health, economic and modern lifestyle issues. As low alcohol products are prone to spoilage, the adoption of natural-derived products with antimicrobial activity as biopreservatives seems to be an intriguing alternative. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the possible antimicrobial properties of Citrus medica and Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oils (EOs) and assess their commercial prospective in the wine industry. The main constituents identified by GC/MS analysis were limonene (38.46%) and linalool (35.44%) in C. medica EO, whereas trans-cinnamic-aldehyde (63.58%) was the dominant compound in C. zeylanicum EO. The minimum inhibitory (MIC), non-inhibitory (NIC) and minimum lethal concentration (MLC) values against common wine spoilage microbes were initially determined. Subsequently, their efficiency was further validated in low alcohol (~6% vol) wines, either separately or in combination at 0.010% (v/v), as well as in wines deliberately inoculated with Gluconobacter cerinus, Oenococcus oeni, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Dekkera bruxellensis, Candida zemplinina, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Pichia guilliermondii or Zygosaccharomyces bailii. EO addition led to considerable spoilage and microbial growth delay during storage at room or refrigerated temperature, suggesting their potential use as wine biopreservatives.

Comprehensive oncology research suggests an important role of phytochemicals or whole plant foods in the modulation of signaling pathways associated with anticancer action. The goal of this study is to assess the anticancer activities of Cinnamomum zeylanicum L. using rat, mouse, and cell line breast carcinoma models. C. zeylanicum (as bark powder) was administered in the diet at two concentrations of 0.1% (w/w) and 1% (w/w) during the whole experiment in chemically induced rat mammary carcinomas and a syngeneic 4T1 mouse model. After autopsy, histopathological and molecular evaluations of mammary gland tumors in rodents were carried out. Moreover, in vitro analyses using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were performed. The dominant metabolites present in the tested C. zeylanicum essential oil (with relative content over 1%) were cinnamaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde dimethyl acetal, cinnamyl acetate, eugenol, linalool, eucalyptol, limonene, o-cymol, and α-terpineol. The natural mixture of mentioned molecules demonstrated significant anticancer effects in our study. In the mouse model, C. zeylanicum at a higher dose (1%) significantly decreased tumor volume by 44% when compared to controls. In addition, treated tumors showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in mitotic activity index by 29% (0.1%) and 45.5% (1%) in comparison with the control group. In rats, C. zeylanicum in both doses significantly reduced the tumor incidence by 15.5% and non-significantly suppressed tumor frequency by more than 30% when compared to controls. An evaluation of the mechanism of anticancer action using valid oncological markers showed several positive changes after treatment with C. zeylanicum. Histopathological analysis of treated rat tumor specimens showed a significant decrease in the ratio of high-/low-grade carcinomas compared to controls. In treated rat carcinomas, we found caspase-3 and Bax expression increase. On the other hand, we observed a decrease in Bcl-2, Ki67, VEGF, and CD24 expressions and MDA levels. Assessment of epigenetic changes in rat tumor cells in vivo showed a significant decrease in lysine methylation status of H3K4m3 and H3K9m3 in the high-dose treated group, a dose-dependent increase in H4K16ac levels (H4K20m3 was not changed), down-regulations of miR21 and miR155 in low-dose cinnamon groups (miR22 and miR34a were not modulated), and significant reduction of the methylation status of two out of five gene promoters—ATM and TIMP3 (PITX2, RASSF1, PTEN promoters were not changed). In vitro study confirmed results of animal studies, in that the essential oil of C. zeylanicum displayed significant anticancer efficacy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells (using MTS, BrdU, cell cycle, annexin V/PI, caspase-3/7, Bcl-2, PARP, and mitochondrial membrane potential analyses). As a conclusion, C. zeylanicum L. showed chemopreventive and therapeutic activities in animal breast carcinoma models that were also significantly confirmed by mechanistic evaluations in vitro and in vivo.

Spices are natural plant products, have been used not only as flavoring and coloring agents, but also as food preservatives and folk medicines throughout the world for thousands of years. Many spices also have been recognized by having both digestive stimulant and carminative actions and also antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic potential. Antioxidant and genotoxic potential of species commonly used in Brazil was evaluated. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using different methods, including DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing power (FRAP), iron ion chelating power, inhibition of lipid peroxidation (TBARS), NO radical scavenging, and oxidative hemolysis inhibition. Furthermore, the antigenotoxic activity was evaluated through mitotic index and chromosome aberration in Allium cepa roots. Quantification of total phenols and flavonoids carried out. The results with the Ocimum basilicum spices in the DPPH test showed activity (82.01%), FRAP (321.12 uM ET and iron chelating activity (94.18) and for the Cinnamomum zeylanicum spice in the TBARS test (18.52%) evaluated by different methods and mechanisms of inactivation of free radicals and according to the evaluation of genotoxicity by the Allium cepa test the spices do not present genotoxic effects.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of cinnamon in reducing lipid levels in people with diabetes., Method: Randomized clinical trial of parallel groups, triple-blind, conducted in Basic Health Units in the state of Piauí in 2019. People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, between 18 and 80 years old, using oral antidiabetics, were included, and divided into two groups. The experimental group tested 3g of cinnamon for 90 days., Results: 140 people participated in the study. From these, the experimental group (n= 71) showed a reduction in mean levels of total cholesterol (p= 0.316 | CI 95% -24.9-8.1), LDL (p= 0.024 | CI 95% -29.3 -2.1) and triglycerides (p= 0.969 | 95% CI -28.6-27.5), and increased HDL (p= 0.001 | 95% CI 4.2-10.2)., Conclusion: The use of 3g of cinnamon per day, for 90 days, seems to help reduce LDL values and increase HDL levels in patients with diabetes.

The influence of chemical diluents on the antimicrobial activity of plant essential oil (EO) vapors was evaluated. We first determined if vapors generated from 22 chemical diluents not containing EO had antimicrobial activities. Ethyl ether vapor retarded the growth of S. aureus. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimal lethal concentrations (MLCs) of cinnamon bark EO vapor, which was diluted in and generated from 21 diluents, against S. aureus and S. enterica were determined. Cinnamon bark EO vapor showed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower MICs against S. aureus when diluted in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethanol, ethyl acetate, or jojoba oil, and against S. enterica when diluted in DMSO, ethanol, or jojoba oil, compared to those in other diluents. We compared antimicrobial activities of cinnamon bark EO vapor diluted in DMSO, ethanol, ethyl acetate, or jojoba oil against S. aureus and S. enterica on beef jerky as a food model. Antimicrobial activity was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher when vaporized from DMSO. These results indicate that antimicrobial activity of cinnamon bark EO vapor may vary significantly (P ≤ 0.05) depending on the type of diluent from which it is vaporized. These observations provide basic information when developing food and food-contact surface decontamination strategies using EO vapors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome. We confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. We further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us. We confirm that we have given due consideration to the protection of intellectual property associated with this work and that there are no impediments to publication, including the timing of publication, with respect to intellectual property. In so doing we confirm that we have followed the regulations of our institutions concerning intellectual property. We understand that the Corresponding Author is the sole contact for the Editorial process (including Editorial Manager and direct communications with the office). Prof. Ryu is responsible for communicating with the other authors about progress, submissions of revisions and final approval of proofs. We confirm that we have provided a current, correct email address which is accessible by the Corresponding Author and which has been configured to accept email from escheri@korea.ac.kr. I, Jee-Hoon Ryu, sign this document on the behalf of all authors, Taehyung Lee, Woorim Yeom, Hoikyung Kim, Larry R. Beuchat, and Jee-Hoon Ryu., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The accumulated dental biofilm can be a source of oral bacteria that are aspirated into the lower respiratory tract causing ventilator-associated pneumonia in hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the synergistic antibiofilm action of the produced and phytochemically characterized extracts of Cinnamomum verum and Brazilian green propolis (BGP) hydroethanolic extracts against multidrug-resistant clinical strains of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , in addition to their biocompatibility on human keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT). For this, High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the plant extracts was performed; then the minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of the extracts were determined; and antibiofilm activity was evaluated with MTT assay to prevent biofilm formation and to reduce the mature biofilms. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was verified using the MTT colorimetric test, evaluating the cellular enzymatic activity. The data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey's tests as well as Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests, considering a significance level of 5%. It was possible to identify the cinnamic aldehyde in C. verum and p-coumaric, caffeic, and caffeoylquinic acids as well as flavonoids such as kaempferol and kaempferide and Artepillin-C in BGP. The combined extracts were effective in preventing biofilm formation and reducing the mature biofilms of A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa . Moreover, both extracts were biocompatible in different concentrations. Therefore, C. verum and BGP hydroethanolic extracts have bactericidal and antibiofilm action against multidrug resistant strains of A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa . In addition, the combined extracts were capable of expressively inhibiting the formation of A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa biofilms (prophylactic effect) acting similarly to 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate.

Aims: Cinnamon is a polyphenol-rich spice that has beneficial effects on markers of cardio metabolic health such as lipid profile, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Despite the accumulating evidence from meta-analyses on the effects of cinnamon on these markers, their findings are controversial. Thus, this umbrella meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the present evidence and provide a conclusive clarification., Data Synthesis: We searched the following international databases from inception to January 2022: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase, and Google Scholar. Our findings of eleven meta-analyses showed that cinnamon consumption can significantly improve total cholesterol (TC) (WMD = -1.01 mg/dL; 95% CI: -2.02, -0.00, p = 0.049), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD = -0.82 mg/dL; 95% CI: -1.57, -0.07, p = 0.032), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (WMD = 0.47 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.77, p = 0.002) levels but not triglyceride (TG) levels (WMD = -0.13 mg/dL; 95% CI: -0.58, 0.32, p = 0.570). Our results did not show any significant effect of cinnamon on malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (WMD = -0.47; 95% CI: -0.99, 0.05, p = 0.078) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (WMD = -1.33; 95% CI: -2.66, 0.00, p = 0.051) but there was enhanced total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (WMD = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.64, p = 0.026) and increased levels of interleukin-6 (WMD = -1.48; 95% CI: -2.96, -0.01, p = 0.049)., Conclusions: Our results support the usefulness of cinnamon intake in modulating an imbalanced lipid profile in some metabolic disorders, particularly PCOS, as well as in improving TAC and interleukin-6. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO as CRD42022358827., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There is no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Black extrinsic tooth stain (BETS) is a health challenge that commonly affects children. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) presents in higher prevalence within the polymicrobial community of BETS. In this study, the anti-planktonic and anti-sessile activities of cinnamon essential oil (CEO) and its individual compounds against Aa were evaluated. The preventive effect of CEO and its active substances on BETS formation was also studied in vitro., Methods: Aa was isolated from a preschool child with BETS and was identified based on the morphological characteristics, MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy and 16S rRNA sequencing. The effect of CEO and its individual compounds on the growth kinetics of planktonic and sessile Aa cells as well as their antibacterial efficacy and their rate of bacterial killing were examined. The preventive effect of CEO and its active substances on the formation of BETS was evaluated using an ex vivo model. The data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the significance level was set at p < 0.05., Results: Out of eight individual compounds of CEO, only eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and α-methyl cinnamaldehyde showed anti-Aa activities. The values of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were in the following order: CEO (421.5 mg/ml) > α-methyl cinnamaldehyde (26.37 mg/ml) > cinnamaldehyde (0.209 mg/ml) > eugenol (0.052 mg/ml). CEO, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and α-methyl cinnamaldehyde, respectively, exhibited two-, four-, four- and eightfold increase of sessile MIC compared to their planktonic MIC. The growth kinetics of both planktonic and sessile Aa in the presence of CEO, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and α-methyl cinnamaldehyde revealed a complete inhibition at the MICs and 5.3%-37.4% biofilm inhibition at sub-MICs. The time-killing study demonstrated that CEO, eugenol and cinnamaldehyde were capable of reducing the survival rate of both planktonic and sessile Aa cells after 15-20 and 25-30 min, respectively. However, α-methyl cinnamaldehyde showed a superior anti-planktonic to anti-biofilm activity. The daily incorporation of CEO, eugenol and cinnamaldehyde at their MICs for 14 days totally prevented the formation of BETS in the ex vivo model; however, in the case of α-methyl cinnamaldehyde, BETS was visually detectable after 10 days., Conclusion: CEO and its individual compounds have marked antibacterial activity against Aa. The effective results against planktonic and sessile Aa within reasonable time indicate that they can be used to prevent BETS., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Cinnamomum species have gained worldwide attention because of their economic benefits. Among them, C. verum (synonymous with C. zeylanicum Blume), commonly known as Ceylon Cinnamon or True Cinnamon is mainly produced in Sri Lanka. In addition, Sri Lanka is home to seven endemic wild cinnamon species, C. capparu-coronde, C. citriodorum, C. dubium, C. litseifolium, C. ovalifolium, C. rivulorum and C. sinharajaense. Proper identification and genetic characterization are fundamental for the conservation and commercialization of these species. While some species can be identified based on distinct morphological or chemical traits, others cannot be identified easily morphologically or chemically. The DNA barcoding using rbcL, matK, and trnH-psbA regions could not also resolve the identification of Cinnamomum species in Sri Lanka. Therefore, we generated Illumina Hiseq data of about 20x coverage for each identified species and a C. verum sample (India) and assembled the chloroplast genome, nuclear ITS regions, and several mitochondrial genes, and conducted Skmer analysis. Chloroplast genomes of all eight species were assembled using a seed-based method.According to the Bayesian phylogenomic tree constructed with the complete chloroplast genomes, the C. verum (Sri Lanka) is sister to previously sequenced C. verum (NC&#95;035236.1, KY635878.1), C. dubium and C. rivulorum. The C. verum sample from India is sister to C. litseifolium and C. ovalifolium. According to the ITS regions studied, C. verum (Sri Lanka) is sister to C. verum (NC&#95;035236.1), C. dubium and C. rivulorum. Cinnamomum verum (India) shares an identical ITS region with C. ovalifolium, C. litseifolium, C. citriodorum, and C. capparu-coronde. According to the Skmer analysis C. verum (Sri Lanka) is sister to C. dubium and C. rivulorum, whereas C. verum (India) is sister to C. ovalifolium, and C. litseifolium. The chloroplast gene ycf1 was identified as a chloroplast barcode for the identification of Cinnamomum species. We identified an 18 bp indel region in the ycf1 gene, that could differentiate C. verum (India) and C. verum (Sri Lanka) samples tested., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Bandaranayake et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Electronic cigarettes (ECs) are considered a less hazardous alternative to tobacco smoking but are not harmless. Growing concerns about the safety profiles of flavors in e-liquids underpin the need for this study. Here, we screened 53 nicotine-free flavored e-liquids (across 15 flavor categories) across a 3-point concentration range (0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% v/v) in a high-throughput fashion in human bronchial epithelial (HBEC-3KT) submerged cell cultures to identify 'toxic hits' using in vitro endpoint assays comprising cell count, cell viability, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). We observed significant, dose-dependent adverse effects only with cinnamon, vanilla tobacco, and hazelnut e-liquids compared to media-only and PG/VG vehicle controls. Hence, we further analyzed these three flavors for their effects on HBEC-3KT proliferation, mitochondrial health, and oxidative stress. A significant decrease in cell proliferation after 36 h was observed for each e-liquid toxic hit compared to media-only and PG/VG controls. Hazelnut (at all concentrations) and vanilla tobacco (1%) increased cytoplasmic reactive oxygen species generation compared to media-only and PG/VG controls. Conversely, all three flavors at 0.5% and 1% significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential compared to PG/VG and media-only controls. Chemical analysis revealed that all three flavors contained volatile organic compounds. We hypothesized that the cytotoxicity of cinnamon might be mediated via TRPA1; however, TRPA1 antagonist AP-18 (10 μM) did not mitigate these effects, and cinnamon significantly increased TRPA1 transcript levels. Therefore, pathways mediating cinnamon's cytotoxicity warrant further investigations. This study could inform public health authorities on the relative health risks assessment following exposure to EC flavor ingredients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The development of antibiotic-free antibacterial strategies applied in the control of bacterial and biofilm proliferation on surfaces is an important topic in discussion in the literature. Essential oils have been explored as isolated and combined components to act as an antibacterial material that inhibits bacterial proliferation, avoiding the contamination of surfaces. Herein, cellulose acetate electrospun fibers impregnated with essential oils of clove, cinnamon and eucalyptus and their combination (clove + cinnamon, cinnamon + eucalyptus and clove + eucalyptus) were explored against the standard strain of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). As isolated components, the best performance follows the order clove>cinnamon>eucalyptus essential oil. The association of clove and cinnamon into cellulose acetate electrospun fibers returned a promising and fast antibacterial and antibiofilm activity (improvement in 65%), as a piece of evidence that synergism is observed for the association of essential oils incorporated into electrospun fibers that preserves the antibacterial activity by encapsulation of components., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

The price of Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon cinnamon) is around twice as high as that of the other cinnamon varieties commonly grouped under the name cassia cinnamon, making the former spice an attractive target for fraudsters. This work demonstrates that elemental profiles obtained by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence in combination with multivariate analyses can be used as a screening method to detect Ceylon cinnamon adulteration. Thirty-six elements were analysed in 52 commercially available cinnamon samples, 29 Ceylon, 8 cassia, and 15 for which no indication about variety was provided. Fifty-eight percent of the samples were either adulterated or did not meet international quality criteria. Four of the ground cinnamon samples labelled as Ceylon cinnamon were found to be pure cassia or a mixture with a high cassia content, and 26 samples were suspected of other types of adulteration including replacement of bark with other parts of the cinnamon tree. Headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ash determination by thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the conclusions reached by elemental analysis. Only one sample labelled as Ceylon cinnamon and that according to its volatile composition was cassia cinnamon was not flagged as suspicious by elemental analysis., (© 2023. European Union, represented by European Union.)

Given the regression in empowering representations of queer women in the literary and, more generally, the cultural life of the modern Arab world, this article spotlights the hitherto under-researched literary portrayals of female homosexuality as a site of redemptive and/or reparative, queer(ed) home in 21 st -century Syria. Through a close reading of Samar Yazbek's Ra'ihat al-Qirfa (2008), and, for added nuance, its English translation Cinnamon (2012), the study explores the novel's curation of home in and through the protagonist Aliyah's same-sex relationship with her employer Hanan al-Hashimi. Using Roberta Rubenstein's and Sara Ahmed's notions of fixing past homes, and of queer(ing) home, respectively, the article shows how the sense of home cushioned by the same-sex affair transcends social class and domination/submission binaries. I thus argue that even as the same-sex relationship in Yazbek's novel may not be performative from a contemporary lesbian feminist perspective, it kneads hope, not desolation, into the plot and the real-life setting it extrapolates, since it responds to the local context the characters inhabit.