From type 2 diabetes to antioxidant activity: a systematic review of the safety and efficacy of common and cassia cinnamon bark.
Common (Cinnamomum verum, C. zeylanicum) and cassia (C. aromaticum) cinnamon have a long history of use as spices and flavouring agents. A number of pharmacological and clinical effects have been observed with their use. The objective of this study was to systematically review the scientific literature for preclinical and clinical evidence of safety, efficacy, and pharmacological activity of common and cassia cinnamon. Using the principles of evidence-based practice, we searched 9 electronic databases and compiled data according to the grade of evidence found. One pharmacological study on antioxidant activity and 7 clinical studies on various medical conditions were reported in the scientific literature including type 2 diabetes (3), Helicobacter pylori infection (1), activation of olfactory cortex of the brain (1), oral candidiasis in HIV (1), and chronic salmonellosis (1). Two of 3 randomized clinical trials on type 2 diabetes provided strong scientific evidence that cassia cinnamon demonstrates a therapeutic effect in reducing fasting blood glucose by 10.3%-29%; the third clinical trial did not observe this effect. Cassia cinnamon, however, did not have an effect at lowering glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). One randomized clinical trial reported that cassia cinnamon lowered total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides; the other 2 trials, however, did not observe this effect. There was good scientific evidence that a species of cinnamon was not effective at eradicating H. pylori infection. Common cinnamon showed weak to very weak evidence of efficacy in treating oral candidiasis in HIV patients and chronic salmonellosis.
Dugoua
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada. jeanjacques.dugoua@utoronto.ca
Seely
Dugald
D
Perri
Dan
D
Cooley
Kieran
K
Forelli
Taryn
T
Mills
Edward
E
Koren
Gideon
G
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000178:diet therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D032904:Cinnamomum aromaticum / Q000009:adverse effects; D002935:Cinnamomum zeylanicum / Q000009:adverse effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000178:diet therapy; D006801:Humans; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D024301:Plant Bark; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000178:diet therapy
D000975:Antioxidants; D028321:Plant Preparations