Scientific Name
Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl
Synonyms
Camphorina cassia (Nees & T.Nees) Farw., Cinnamomum aromaticum Nees, Cinnamomum cassia (L.) D.Don, Cinnamomum longifolium Lukman., Cinnamomum medium Lukman., Cinnamomum nitidum Hook. [Illegitimate], Laurus cassia L., Laurus cassia Nees [Invalid], Laurus malabathrum Reinw. ex Nees [Unresolved], Neolitsea cassia (L.) Kosterm., Persea cassia (L.) Spreng. [1]
Vernacular Name
| Malaysia | Kayu manis [2] |
| English | Bastard cinnamon, cassia, cassia bark, cassia bark tree, cassia lignea, Chinese cassia, Chinese cinnamon, cinnamon tree, cinnamomum cassia [2] |
| China | Ch’un kuei, gui zhi, kuei, mou kuei, rou gui [2] |
| India | Coca, dalchini, daruchini, elavangappattai, gudatvac, gudatvak, ilavankappattai, karuvappattai, lavanga pattai, lawangapttai, lowangapattai, qirfa (taj), sajaz hibdi, saleekha, salikha, sazaj hindi, taj, taj qalmi, taj qalmi nim kofta, tezpat, tezpat nim kofta, thracham, thwak, tvak, twak, varanga, varangam [2] |
| Indonesia | Kayu manis cina [2] |
| Thailand | Kaeng [2] |
| Laos | S’a: chwang [2] |
| Tibetan | Shing tsa (=hot wood), shing tsha, twa dza [2] |
| Vietnam | May que, que, qu[ees], thanh, qu[ees] d[ow]n, qu[ees]qu[ar]ng [2]. |
Geographical Distributions
Cinnamomum cassia is an aromatic spice that has been found in Indochina, Laos, China, and Vietnam. [2]
Botanical Description
C. cassia is a tall, slender evergreen plant that grows up to 20 metres in height bearing fruits or Cassia buds. In addition to uses listed herein, it is grown as a shade tree. [3]
Cultivation
This plant is cultivated in Vietnam and China and somewhat in Java region. [3]
Chemical Constituent
C. cassia extract has been reported to contain D-limonene, ß-phellandrene, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-norbornanone, α-α-4-Trimethyl-3-cyclohexene- 1-methanol, benzenepropanal, (Z)-cinnamaldehyde, p-propenylanisole, α-cubebene, ß-elemene, (E)-cinnamaldehyde, caryophyllene, γ-muurolene, ß-eudesmene, α-amorphene, ß-bisabolene, δ-amorphene, α-longipinene. [4]
C. cassia extract has been reported to contain trans-cinnamaldehyde, o-methyoxy cinnamaldehyde and trans-cinnamyl acetate. [5]
Stem barkextract of C. cassia has been identified to contain cinnamaldehyde (CNA), 2-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (2-CNA), coumarin and cinnamyl acetate. [6]
Plant Part Used
Bark, essential oil [6][7]
Traditional Use
The bark of C. cassia has been traditionally used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat dysentery, spasmodic, infectious enterocolites, typhoid fever, tropical infections, fevers, ameabiases, amoebic cysts, urinary colibacillosis, bacteria cystitis, leuchorrhoea, vaginitis, oligomenorrheas, bronchitis, pleurisy, drowsiness, asthenia, depression, male functional impotence, blood clots and cardiovascular disorders. [7] C. cassia was also was effective as insecticide as well as an embalming agent in the mummification process in ancient Egypt according to history. [8][9][10]
Preclinical Data
Pharmacology
Antimicrobial activity
C. cassia bark extract has been demonstrated to exhibit a potent antimicrobial activity against various isolated bacteria. The result obtained showed that both cinnamon oil and cinnamaldehyde were equally effective in inhibiting the growth of bacteria with MIC range from 75-600 µg/mL. [11]
Toxicity
No documentation.
Clinical Data
Poisonous Management
No documentation.
Line Drawing
No documentation.
References
- The Plant List. Cinnamomum cassia. 2013 ver1.1 [updated 2013, cited 2016 April 06] Available from http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2721201
- Quattrocchi U. CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms and Etymology; Volume II C-D. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press; 2012. P.255-256
- Duong NV. Medicinal Plants of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Santa Ana, California: Mekong Printing; 1993. p.528
- Su S, Hua Y, Duan J-A, et al. Hypothesis of Active Components in Volatile Oil From a Chinese Herb Formulation, ‘Shao-Fu-Zhu-Yu Decoction’, Using GC-MS and Chemometrics. J Sep Sci. 2008;31:1085-1091
- Giordani R, Regli P, Kaloustian J, Portugal H. Potentiation of Antifungal Activity of Amphotericin B by Essential Oil From Cinnamomum cassia. Phytother Res. 2006;20:58-61
- Choi J, Lee K-T, Ka H, Jung W-T, Jung H-J, Park H-J. Constituents of The Essential Oil of The Cinnamomum cassia Stem Bark and The Biological Properties. Arch Pharm Res. 2001;24(5):418-423
- Lis-Balchin M. Aromatheraphy Science: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. Great Britain: Pharmaceutical Press, 2006; p.141-143.
- Lee EJ, Kim JR, Choi DR, Ahn YJ. Toxicity of Cassia and Cinnamon Oil Compounds and Cinnamaldehyde-Related Compounds to Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J Econ Entomol. 2008;101(6):1960-1966
- Kim SI, Kim HK, Koh YY, Clark JM, Ahn YJ. Toxicity of Spray and Fumigant Products Containing Cassia Oil to Dermatophagoides farina and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acari: Pyroglyhidae). Pest Manag Sci. 2006;62(8):768-774
- Buckley SA, Evershed RP. Organic Chemistry of Embalming Agents in Pharaonic and Graeco-Roman Mummies. Nature. 2001;413(6858):837-841
- Ooi LS, Li Y, Kam SL, Wang H, Wong EY, Ooi VE. Antimicrobial Activities of Cinnamon Oil and Cinnamaldehyde from The Chinese Medicinal Herb Cinnamomum cassia Blume. Am J Chin Med. 2006;34(3):511-522