ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The leaf of Ceylon cinnamon (true cinnamon) is traditionally claimed for a variety of health benefits. However, reported scientific information is scanty and needs urgent attention for value addition. METHODS: Ethanolic (95%) and Dichloromethane:Methanol (DM, 1:1 v/v) leaf extracts of Ceylon cinnamon were evaluated for a range of medically important bioactivities namely anti-inflammatory [nitric oxide scavenging activity (NOSA), superoxide scavenging activity (SCA), COX1 and COX2 inhibition], growth inhibition & cytotoxicity against MCF7, HePG2 and AN3CA carcinoma cell lines, glutathionase-S-transferase (GST) inhibition and antilipidemic (anti-HMG-CoA reductase, anti-lipase, anti-cholesterol esterase, and cholesterol micellization inhibition) properties in vitro (n = 3). Further, a range of bioactive compounds in both leaf extracts was also quantified (n = 3). RESULTS: Both leaf extracts had all the investigated bioactive compounds and possessed moderately potent bioactivities compared to the reference drugs used in the study. Ethanolic leaf extract (ELE) exhibited the highest activities (IC50: µg/mL) for NOSA (40.26 ± 0.52), SCA (696.24 ± 40.02), cholesterol esterase inhibition (110.19 ± 1.55), cholesterol micellization inhibition (616.69 ± 7.09), GST inhibition (403.78 ± 2.70) and growth inhibition (GI50: 144.84 ± 1.59-269.00 ± 0.51) & cytotoxicity (LC50: 355.44 ± 9.38-717.71 ± 23.69) against studied cancer cell lines. In contrast, COX1 & COX2 (IC50: 6.62 ± 0.85 and 44.91 ± 3.06 µg/mL) and HMG-CoA reductase & lipase inhibitory activities (36.72 ± 4.74 and 19.71 ± 0.97% inhibition at 200 and 600 µg/mL) were highest in DM extract. ELE also showed the highest quantities (0.81 ± 0.06-104.38 ± 1.79) of tested compounds (mg/g extract) where eugenol was the highest and gallic acid was the lowest among quantified. CONCLUSION: Both leaf extracts of Ceylon cinnamon had all the tested bioactive compounds and possess all the investigated bioactivities. This is the 1st study to report all the investigated bioactivities of the leaf of Ceylon Cinnamon.
Subject(s)
Cinnamomum zeylanicum , Oils, Volatile , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Coenzyme A , Cyclooxygenase 2 , Esterases , Eugenol , Gallic Acid , Methanol , Methylene Chloride , Nitric Oxide , Oxidoreductases , Plant Extracts/metabolism , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Superoxides , TransferasesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunomodulatory activity of a traditional Sri Lankan concoction of Coriandrum sativum L. and Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr., which is a Sri Lankan traditional medicine used to relieve inflammation and cold. METHODS: In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was tested using carrageenan-induced rat paw-edema model. Mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by investigating the production of nitric oxide (NO), expression of iNOS enzyme, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by rat peritoneal cells. The membrane stabilizing activity was also tested. The antibody response was determined by assessing the specific haemagglutination antibodies raised against sheep red blood cells. RESULTS: The three doses of freeze-dried concoction used ((human equivalent dose (HED)-183 mg/kg) 2 × HED and 1/2HED; n = 6 rats/group) showed significant inhibition of paw edema compared to water control at 3rd-5th hours (p < 0.05). Both HED and 1/2HED exhibited marked anti-inflammatory activity (72-83% inhibition at 4th-5th hours; p < 0.05). The HED of the concoction showed significant inhibition of NO (77.5 ± 0.73%, p < 0.001) and ROS production (26.9 ± 2.55%; p < 0.01) by rat peritoneal cells. Inhibition of NO production in the concoction treated rat peritoneal cells was confirmed by the lack of iNOS expression. The concoction also exhibited significant membrane stabilizing activity (IC50 = 0.0006 µg/ml; p = 0.001). HED resulted in a significantly high induction of specific antibody production against SRBC antigens as detected by SRBC haemagglutination assay (mean day 14 titers 253.3 compared to control: 66.7) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The traditional Sri Lankan concoction of C. sativum and C. fenestratum demonstrated potent in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, significant reduction of ROS, and NO production by rat peritoneal cells and the lack of iNOS expression confirmed the low NO production. The increased membrane stability also supports the anti-inflammatory activity of the concoction. Further, this concoction induced a significantly high antibody response reflecting its immunostimulatory activity. Together these results scientifically validate the therapeutic use of the concoction of C. sativum and C. fenestratum in Sri Lankan traditional medicinal system for immunomodulatory effects.
ABSTRACT
Dichloromethane:methanol (1:1, v/v) extracts of different maturity stages (immature, partly mature, and mature) of authenticated leaves of Ceylon cinnamon (CC) were used in this study. Antioxidant properties [total polyphenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)] and glycemic regulatory properties [antiamylase (AA); antiglucosidase (AG)] were evaluated using 96-well microplate based bio assays in vitro (TPC, TFC, DPPH, ABTS, ORAC n=4 each; FRAP, AA, AG n=3 each). Results clearly revealed significant differences (p<0.05) among different maturity stages of leaf of CC for both antioxidant and glycemic regulatory properties (except AG activity). The mean antioxidant and glycemic regulatory activities of immature, partly mature, and mature leaves ranged from TPC: 0.68 ± 0.02-22.35 ± 0.21 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of sample (GS); TFC: 0.85 ± 0.01-4.68 ± 0.06 mg quercetin equivalents/GS; DPPH: 0.42 ± 0.01-27.09 ± 0.65 mg Trolox equivalents (TE)/GS; ABTS: 3.57 ± 0.10-43.91 ± 1.46 TE/GS; ORAC: 0.71 ± 0.01-18.70 ± 0.26 TE/G, FRAP: 0.31 ± 0.02-69.16 ± 0.52 TE/GS; and AA: 18.05 ± 0.24-36.62 ± 4.00% inhibition at 2.5 mg/mL. Mature leaf had the highest antioxidant and AA activities for all the assays investigated. In contrast, immature leaf had the lowest. The order of potency for antioxidant and AA activities was mature leaf > partly mature leaf > immature leaf. This is the first study to report on antioxidant and glycemic regulatory properties of different maturity stages of leaf of Ceylon cinnamon and highlights its potential use in management of oxidative stress-associated chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus.
ABSTRACT
Ethanol (95%) and dichloromethane : methanol (DCM : M, 1 : 1 v/v) bark extracts (BEs) and leaf extracts (LEs) of authenticated Ceylon cinnamon (CC) were studied for antiamylase, antiglucosidase, anticholinesterases, and antiglycation and glycation reversing potential in bovine serum albumin- (BSA-) glucose and BSA-methylglyoxal models in vitro. Further, total proanthocyanidins (TP) were quantified. Results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between bark and leaf extracts for the studied biological activities (except antiglucosidase) and TP. BEs showed significantly high (p < 0.05) activities for antiamylase (IC50: 214 ± 2-215 ± 10 µg/mL), antibutyrylcholinesterase (IC50: 26.62 ± 1.66-36.09 ± 0.83 µg/mL), and glycation reversing in BSA-glucose model (EC50: 94.33 ± 1.81-107.16 ± 3.95 µg/mL) compared to LEs. In contrast, glycation reversing in BSA-methylglyoxal (EC50: ethanol: 122.15 ± 6.01 µg/mL) and antiglycation in both BSA-glucose (IC50: ethanol: 15.22 ± 0.47 µg/mL) and BSA-methylglyoxal models (IC50: DCM : M: 278.29 ± 8.55 µg/mL) were significantly high (p < 0.05) in leaf. Compared to the reference drugs used some of the biological activities were significantly (p < 0.05) high (BEs: BChE inhibition and ethanol leaf: BSA-glucose mediated antiglycation), some were comparable (BEs: BSA-glucose mediated antiglycation), and some were moderate (BEs and LEs: antiamylase, AChE inhibition, and BSA-MGO mediated antiglycation; DCM : M leaf: BSA-glucose mediated antiglycation). TP were significantly high (p < 0.05) in BEs compared to LEs (BEs and LEs: 1097.90 ± 73.01-1381.53 ± 45.93 and 309.52 ± 2.81-434.24 ± 14.12 mg cyanidin equivalents/g extract, resp.). In conclusion, both bark and leaf of CC possess antidiabetic properties and thus may be useful in managing diabetes and its complications.
ABSTRACT
Ethanol (95%) and dichloromethane : methanol (1 : 1) bark extracts of authenticated Ceylon cinnamon were investigated for range of antilipidemic activities (ALA): HMG-CoA reductase, lipase, cholesterol esterase, and cholesterol micellization inhibitory activities and bile acids binding in vitro. Individual compounds in bark extracts were also evaluated. Bark extracts showed ALA in all the assays studied. The IC50 (µg/mL) values ranged within 153.07 ± 8.38-277.13 ± 32.18, 297.57 ± 11.78-301.09 ± 4.05, 30.61 ± 0.79-34.05 ± 0.41, and 231.96 ± 9.22-478.89 ± 9.27, respectively, for HMG-CoA reductase, lipase, cholesterol esterase, and cholesterol micellization inhibitory activities. The bile acids binding (3 mg/mL) for taurocholate, glycodeoxycholate, and chenodeoxycholate ranged within 19.74 ± 0.31-20.22 ± 0.31, 21.97 ± 2.21-26.97 ± 1.61, and 16.11 ± 1.42-19.11 ± 1.52%, respectively. The observed ALA were moderate compared to the reference drugs studied. Individual compounds in bark extracts ranged within 2.14 ± 0.28-101.91 ± 3.61 and 0.42 ± 0.03-49.12 ± 1.89 mg/g of extract. Cinnamaldehyde and gallic acid were the highest and the lowest among the tested compounds. The ethanol extract had highest quantity of individual compounds and ALA investigated. Properties observed indicate usefulness of Ceylon cinnamon bark in managing hyperlipidemia and obesity worldwide. Further, this study provides scientific evidence for the traditional claim that Ceylon cinnamon has antilipidemic activities.
