Cinnamaldehyde

Appl. Environ. Microb., 2004, 70(10):5750-5.

Mechanisms of Bactericidal Action of Cinnamaldehyde against Listeria monocytogenes and of Eugenol against L. monocytogenes and Lactobacillus sakei[Reference: WebLink]

The spice oil components eugenol and Cinnamaldehyde possess activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, but the mechanisms of action remain obscure. In broth media at 20°C, 5 mM eugenol or 30 mM Cinnamaldehyde was bactericidal (>1-log reduction in the number of CFU per milliliter in 1 h) to Listeria monocytogenes. At a concentration of 6 mM eugenol was bactericidal to Lactobacillus sakei, but treatment with 0.5 M Cinnamaldehyde had no significant effect.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
To investigate the role of interference with energy generation in the mechanism of action, the cellular and extracellular ATP levels of cells in HEPES buffer at 20°C were measured. Treatment of nonenergized L. monocytogenes with 5 mM eugenol, 40 mM Cinnamaldehyde, or 10 μM carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) for 5 min prevented an increase in the cellular ATP concentration upon addition of glucose. Treatment of energized L. monocytogenes with 40 mM Cinnamaldehyde or 10 μM CCCP caused a rapid decline in cellular ATP levels, but 5 mM eugenol had no effect on cellular ATP. Treatment of L. sakei with 10 mM eugenol prevented ATP generation by nonenergized cells and had no effect on the cellular ATP of energized cells. CCCP at a concentration of 100 μM had no significant effect on the cellular ATP of L. sakei. No significant changes in extracellular ATP were observed.
CONCLUSIONS:
Due to their rapidity, effects on energy generation clearly play a major role in the activity of eugenol and Cinnamaldehyde at bactericidal concentrations. The possible mechanisms of inhibition of energy generation are inhibition of glucose uptake or utilization of glucose and effects on membrane permeability.

J. Stored Prod. Res., 1998, 34(34):11-7.

Toxicity and antifeedant activities of cinnamaldehyde against the grain storage insects, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Sitophilus zeamais Motsch.[Reference: WebLink]

A methylene chloride extract of the spice, cinnamon, Cinnamomum aromaticum Nees, was shown to be insecticidal to Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Sitophilus zeamais Motsch.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The contact, fumigant and antifeedant effects of Cinnamaldehyde were tested against T. castaneum adults and larvae and S. zeamais adults. T. castaneum and S. zeamais adults showed similar susceptibility to the contact toxicity of Cinnamaldehyde, both having an LC50 of 0.7 mg cm−2 and an LC95 of 0.9 mg cm−2. However, Cinnamaldehyde had a higher level of fumigant toxicity to T. castaneum than to S. zeamais, with LC50 values of 0.28 and 0.54 mg cm−2, respectively, and LC95 values of 0.32 and 1.78 mg cm−2, respectively. T. castaneum adults were more susceptible than larvae to the contact and fumigant actions of Cinnamaldehyde. The larvae became less susceptible to both contact and fumigant toxicity of Cinnamaldehyde with age. A flour disk bioassay using no-choice tests was employed to study the antifeedant activity of Cinnamaldehyde against the insects and effects on consumption and utilisation of food by the insects. Cinnamaldehyde had no significant (P > 0.05) effects on diet consumption and growth of T. castaneum adults and had no antifeedant action against them at concentrations of up to 13.6 mg g−1 food. However, this compound significantly (P < 0.05) reduced food consumption, growth and dietary utilisation in T. castaneum larvae, and had obvious antifeedant action against the larvae at concentrations of 27.2 and 54.4 mg g−1 food. For S. zeamais adults, it only significantly (P < 0.05) reduced food consumption at a concentration range of 6.8 to 13.6 mg g−1 food, but had no significant (P > 0.05) effects on the insects' growth and food utilisation.
CONCLUSIONS:
Antifeedant action was observed to increase with increasing Cinnamaldehyde concentrations. The combined contact, fumigant and antifeedant properties of Cinnamaldehyde make it a potentially useful grain protectant.

Phytomedicine. 2007 Jan;14(1):15-22.

Cinnamaldehyde--a potential antidiabetic agent.[Pubmed: 17140783 ]

Cinnamonum zeylanicum (cinnamon) is widely used in traditional system of medicine to treat diabetes in India.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The present study was carried out to isolate and identify the putative antidiabetic compounds based on bioassay-guided fractionation; the compound identified decreased the plasma glucose levels. The active compound was purified by repeat column and structure of Cinnamaldehyde was determined on the basis of chemical and physiochemical evidence. The LD(50) value of Cinnamaldehyde was determined as 1850+/-37 mg/kg bw. Cinnamaldehyde was administered at different doses (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg bw) for 45 days to streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg bw)-induced male diabetic wistar rats. It was found that plasma glucose concentration was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in a dose-dependent manner (63.29%) compared to the control. In addition, oral administration of Cinnamaldehyde (20 mg/kg bw) Cinnamonum zeylanicum (cinnamon) is widely used in traditional system of medicine to treat diabetes in India.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The present study was carried out to isolate and identify the putative antidiabetic compounds based on bioassay-guided fractionation; the compound identified decreased the plasma glucose levels. The active compound was purified by repeat column and structure of Cinnamaldehyde was determined on the basis of chemical and physiochemical evidence. The LD(50) value of Cinnamaldehyde was determined as 1850+/-37 mg/kg bw. Cinnamaldehyde was administered at different doses (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg bw) for 45 days to streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg bw)-induced male diabetic wistar rats. It was found that plasma glucose concentration was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in a dose-dependent manner (63.29%) compared to the control. In addition, oral administration of Cinnamaldehyde (20 mg/kg bw) significantly decreased glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1C)), serum total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and at the same time markedly increased plasma insulin, hepatic glycogen and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. Also Cinnamaldehyde restored the altered plasma enzyme (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase) levels to near normal. Administration of glibenclamide, a reference drug (0.6 mg/kg bw) also produced a significant (p<0.05) reduction in blood glucose concentration in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results of this experimental study indicate that Cinnamaldehyde possesses hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Int J Nanomedicine. 2014 May 21;9:2557-66.

Cinnamaldehyde and cinnamaldehyde-containing micelles induce relaxation of isolated porcine coronary arteries: role of nitric oxide and calcium.[Pubmed: 24904214]

Cinnamaldehyde, a major component of cinnamon, induces the generation of reactive oxygen species and exerts vasodilator and anticancer effects, but its short half-life limits its clinical use. The present experiments were designed to compare the acute relaxing properties of Cinnamaldehyde with those of self-assembling polymer micelles either loaded with Cinnamaldehyde or consisting of a polymeric prodrug [poly(Cinnamaldehyde)] that incorporates the compound in its backbone.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Rings of porcine coronary arteries were contracted with the thromboxane A2 receptor agonist U46619 or 40 mM KCl, and changes in isometric tension were recorded. Cinnamaldehyde induced concentration-dependent but endothelium-independent, nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-independent, cyclooxygenase-independent, soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)-independent, calcium-activated potassium-independent, and TRPA1 channel-independent relaxations. Cinnamaldehyde also inhibited the contractions induced by 40 mM KCl Ca(2+) reintroduction in 40 mM KCl Ca(2+)-free solution or by the Ca(2+) channel opener Bay K8644. Cinnamaldehyde-loaded control micelles induced complete, partly endothelium-dependent relaxations sensitive to catalase and inhibitors of NOS or sGC, but not cyclooxygenase or TRPA1, channels. Cinnamaldehyde-loaded micelles also inhibited contractions induced by 40 mM KCl Ca(2+) reintroduction or Bay K8644. Poly(Cinnamaldehyde) micelles induced only partial, endothelium-dependent relaxations that were reduced by inhibitors of NOS or sGC and by catalase and the antioxidant tiron, but not by indomethacin or TRPA1 channel blockers.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The present findings demonstrate that Cinnamaldehyde-loaded and poly(Cinnamaldehyde) micelles possess vasodilator properties, but that the mechanism underlying the relaxation that they cause differs from that of Cinnamaldehyde, and thus could be used both to relieve coronary vasospasm and for therapeutic drug delivery.

Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2014 Aug;34(8):964-9.

[Inhibitory effect of cinnamaldehyde on invasion capacities of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-435S and its relation with regulating the expression of miR-27a].[Pubmed: 25223182]

To explore the inhibitory effect of Cinnamaldehyde on invasion capacities of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-435S and its relation with regulating the expression of miR-27a.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The effect of Cinnamaldehyde on invasive capacities of MDA-MB-435S was measured by Transwell matrigel invasion assay. The effect of miR-27a expression on invasive capabilities of MDA-MB-435S, the intervention of Cinnamaldehyde in the miR-27a expression, and its relation with its effect on invasive capabilities were defected with liposome 2000 transinfection miRNA27a mimics/inhibitors, real time-polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), and Transwell chamber model. Compared with the control group, the number of cells passing through the transwell chamber was more significantly reduced after treated by Cinnamaldehyde for 12 h (P < 0.05). The miR-27a expression was 962.07 times and 40% of that of the control group after transinfected by miR-27a mimics and miR-27a inhibitors. After transinfected by miR-27a inhibitors, the number of cells passing through the transwell chamber was more significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The miR-27a expression of MDA-MB-435S was down-regulated by 12-h treatment of Cinnamaldehyde (2(-deltaCt) = 0.56, 0.18, 0.18, respectively). The number of miR-27a mimics transinfection pretreated MDA-MB-435S cells passing through the transwell chamber increased more obviously than the number of un-pretreated MDA-MB-435S cells in the control group (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Cinnamaldehyde could inhibit invasive capabilities of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-435S. The over-expression of miR-27a played an important role in the invasive capability of MDA-MB-435S. The inhibition of Cinnamaldehyde on invasive capabilities of MDA-MB-435S cells was correlated with down-regulating the expression of miR-27a.

Mol Med Rep. 2014 Feb;9(2):669-76.

Cinnamaldehyde/chemotherapeutic agents interaction and drug-metabolizing genes in colorectal cancer.[Pubmed: 24276478]

Cinnamaldehyde is an active monomer isolated from the stem bark of Cinnamomum cassia, a traditional oriental medicinal herb, which is known to possess marked antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The aim of the present study was to examine the potential advantages of using Cinnamaldehyde in combination with chemotherapeutic agents commonly used in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) therapy, as well as to investigate the effect of Cinnamaldehyde on chemotherapeutic-associated gene expression. The synergistic interaction of Cinnamaldehyde and chemotherapeutic agents on human CRC HT-29 and LoVo cells was evaluated using the combination index (CI) method. The double staining with Annexin V conjugated to fluorescein-isothiocyanate and phosphatidylserine was employed for apoptosis detection. The expression of drug-metabolizing genes, including excision repair cross‑complementing 1 (ERCC1), orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT), thymidylate synthase (TS), breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) and topoisomerase 1 (TOPO1), all in HT-29 and LoVo cells, with or without the addition of Cinnamaldehyde, was examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Cinnamaldehyde had a synergistic effect on the chemotherapeutic agents cytotoxicity in HT-29 and LoVo cells. In addition, Cinnamaldehyde suppressed BRCA1, TOPO1, ERCC1 and TS mRNA expression, except for OPRT expression, which was markedly upregulated.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings indicate that Cinnamaldehyde appears to be a promising candidate as an adjuvant in combination therapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and oxaliplatin (OXA), two chemotherapeutic agents used in CRC treatment. The possible mechanisms of its action may involve the regulation of drug‑metabolizing genes.

Tumour Biol. 2014 Jun;35(6):5717-22.

Research on tumorigenicity of cinnamaldehyde in melanoma cell lines and its mechanism.[Pubmed: 24643680]

Melanoma is a highly malignant tumor originating from melanocytes. This disease is characterized by inconspicuous onset, high malignancy, and poor prognosis.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The aim of this study is to explore the effect of Cinnamaldehyde on melanoma tumorigenicity and its mechanism. Melanoma cells were subcutaneously injected into a nude mouse to establish the tumour model. A comparison was made for the difference in formation and growth of melanoma cell tumor between normal saline and Cinnamaldehyde. A comparison was also made for the number of new vessels between the normal saline group (the control group) and the Cinnamaldehyde group (the experimental group) through immumohistochemical staining. The western blot was used to detect the difference in expression levels of vascularization related proteins. The results indicated that the volume of tumors formed and the number of new vessels in melanoma cells of the Cinnamaldehyde group decreased significantly compared with those in the cells of the normal saline group. A further study indicated that the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-a (HIF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the melanoma of the Cinnamaldehyde group decreased significantly.
CONCLUSIONS:
In conclusion, Cinnamaldehyde plays a certain role in inhibiting the occurrence and progression of melanoma and its action mechanism may be manifested by inhibiting expression of VEGF and HIF-α, thus blood vessel simulation and formation of new blood vessels of melanoma cells, and growth of tumors accordingly.