title: Cinnamon effects on metabolic syndrome: a review based on its mechanisms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nowadays, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major risk factors of death globally. One of the most undeniable reasons of CVDs is metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS is defined as a complex of diseases including insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, obesity, high blood pressure and dyslipidemia. The use of complementary medicine such as traditional herbal species can be effective in treatment of MetS's complications.Cinnamomum verum(family Lauraceae) is a medicinal global plant which has been used daily by people all over the world. Positive effects of cinnamon in reducing blood pressure, plasma glucose, obesity and ameliorating dyslipidemia which represented in traditional medicine introduced it as probable decreasing MetS's complications agent. The aim of this review was to investigate the mechanisms ofC. verumin reducing the MetS's complications and CVDs risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Various databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Persian Websites such as www.sid.ir with keywords search of cinnamon, cinnamomum, cinnamaldehyde, atherogenic, hypertension, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, obesity and dyslipidemia have been included in this search.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical data and mechanisms of action ofC. verumand its active ingredients that have been shown in this review indicated that cinnamon has protective effects against MetS's aspects in various ways.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of this plant can be effective in reducing MetS's complications and its morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mollazadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacodynamic and Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosseinzadeh
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Cinnamon; Insulin resistance; Mechanism; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity