Omnia SanaCommon names in 23 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 3 pharmacological actions, 6 traditional / indicated uses, with 16 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Evergreen tree with smooth, aromatic, reddish-brown bark and leathery, oval leaves with three prominent longitudinal veins. Small, pale yellow-green flowers are borne in panicles, followed by small, dark, single-seeded berries. The dried inner bark, rolled into thick, dark reddish-brown quills, is the cassia cinnamon of commerce.
Habitat & Distribution
Native to southern China and mainland Southeast Asia; cultivated extensively in China, Vietnam and Indonesia on warm, humid, tropical to subtropical hillsides.
Harvesting
The bark is stripped from branches and stems of mature trees, then dried; as it dries it curls into the characteristic thick quills of cassia cinnamon, distinctly darker and rougher than the thin, tightly rolled quills of true (Ceylon) cinnamon.
Key Constituents
The main volatile-oil constituent; associated with the insulin-sensitising effect.
Antioxidant constituents of the bark.
Present in much higher amounts in cassia than in Ceylon cinnamon (~2-5 mg/g); the key safety-limiting compound.
Pharmacological Actions
Lowers fasting blood glucose as an adjunct in type 2 diabetes (evidence is positive but mixed) - recent meta-analyses report reduced fasting glucose, HbA1c and HOMA-IR
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Lowers fasting blood glucose as an adjunct in type 2 diabetes (evidence is positive but mixed) - recent meta-analyses report reduced fasting glucose, HbA1c and HOMA-IR
more plants for blood sugar / diabetes support →detailed sources →
inferred from lipid-lowering action
more plants for cardiovascular / heart health →detailed sources →
inferred from lipid-lowering action
Warming carminative for indigestion (traditional)
inferred from antidiabetic action
Traditional Use & History
Cassia bark (rou gui) is a major warming spice and digestive remedy of traditional Chinese medicine, used for cold-type digestive complaints, circulation and metabolic support; its cinnamaldehyde-rich bark is now widely studied as an adjunct for blood glucose and lipid management in type 2 diabetes, directly building on this traditional metabolic reputation.[11]
Preparations
Dried bark powder or standardised extract taken as capsules, the form used in most clinical glucose/lipid studies.
Dosage
Clinical trials in type 2 diabetes commonly use around 1-6 g of cassia bark powder daily; because of its coumarin content, intake should be kept modest and consistent, and true (Ceylon) cinnamon preferred for frequent medicinal use. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Cassia is high in coumarin: regular high intake of cassia bark or supplements can stress or damage the liver. For frequent or medicinal use, prefer true Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) and keep within safe daily limits.
Its blood-sugar-lowering action means it can add to the effect of diabetes medicines (risk of hypoglycaemia); avoid concentrated/medicinal doses in pregnancy (culinary amounts are fine).
Herb-Drug Interactions
Harvest Readiness
[12]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Lin, C., Wu, S., Chang, C. and Ng, L (2003) 'Antioxidant activity of Cinnamomum cassia', Phytotherapy Research, 17(7), pp. 726-730. doi:10.1002/ptr.1190 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1190 - Yan, Y., Fang, P., Yang, M., Li, N., Lu, Q. and Cheng, Y (2015) 'Anti-diabetic nephropathy compounds from Cinnamomum cassia', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 165, pp. 141-147. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.01.049 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.01.049 - Zhang, C., Fan, L., Fan, S., Wang, J., Luo, T., Tang, Y., Chen, Z. and Yu, L (2019) 'Cinnamomum cassia Presl: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology', Molecules, 24(19), pp. 3473. doi:10.3390/molecules24193473 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24193473 - Li, C., Liao, L., Yang, S., Wang, L., Chen, H., Luo, P., Huang, G. and Huang, Y (2024) 'Cinnamaldehyde: An effective component of Cinnamomum cassia inhibiting Helicobacter pylori', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 330, pp. 118222. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.118222 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2024.118222 - Cordero-Perez, P., Hernandez-Cruz, F.E., Garza-Guzman, D., Moreno-Pena, D.P., Sanchez-Martinez, C., Torres-Gonzalez, L., Munoz-Espinosa, L.E., Zapata-Chavira, H., Cura-Esquivel, I. and Serrano-Sandoval, M.I (2024) 'Antidiabetic and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Cinnamomum cassia Oil in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats', Pharmaceuticals, 17(9), pp. 1135. doi:10.3390/ph17091135 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17091135 - Zaidi, S.F., Aziz, M., Muhammad, J.S. and Kadowaki, M (2015) 'Review: Diverse pharmacological properties of Cinnamomum cassia: A review', Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 28(4), pp. 1433-1438. Meta-analysis / review
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Review%3A%20Diverse%20pharmacological%20properties%20of%20Cinnamomum%20cassia%3A%20A%20review - Lee, M.J., Seo, H.J., Hwang, G.S., Choi, S., Park, S.J., Hwang, S. and Kang, K.S (2022) 'Molecular Mechanism of Cinnamomum cassia against Gastric Damage and Identification of Active Compounds', Biomolecules, 12(4), pp. 525. doi:10.3390/biom12040525 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12040525 - Han, Y., Song, M., Lee, D., Lee, S., Ahn, H., Yoo, J., Kim, H.J. and Kim, E (2023) 'Gastric Mucosal Protective Effects of Cinnamomum cassia in a Rat Model of Ethanol-Induced Gastric Injury', Nutrients, 16(1), pp. 55. doi:10.3390/nu16010055 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16010055 - Kim, S.Y., Koo, Y.K., Koo, J.Y., Ngoc, T.M., Kang, S.S., Bae, K., Kim, Y.S. and Yun-Choi, H.S (2010) 'Platelet anti-aggregation activities of compounds from Cinnamomum cassia', Journal of Medicinal Food, 13(5), pp. 1069-1074. doi:10.1089/jmf.2009.1365 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2009.1365 - Mamindla, S., Koganti, V.S.R.G.P., Ravouru, N. and Koganti, B (2017) 'Effect of Cinnamomum cassia on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Pioglitazone', Current Clinical Pharmacology, 12(1), pp. 41-49. doi:10.2174/1574884712666170207152020 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.2174/1574884712666170207152020 - (2021) 'Impact of Cassia Bark Consumption on Glucose and Lipid Control in Type 2 Diabetes: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis'. doi:10.7759/cureus.16376 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.16376 - RawSpiceBar 'The Origin of Cinnamon and How It's Harvested (Cinnamomum cassia)'. Available at: https://rawspicebar.com/blogs/spices-101/the-origin-of-cinnamon-and-how-its-harvested Traditional / reference
https://rawspicebar.com/blogs/spices-101/the-origin-of-cinnamon-and-how-its-harvested - Allen, R.W., Schwartzman, E., Baker, W.L., Coleman, C.I. and Phung, O.J (2013) 'Cinnamon use in type 2 diabetes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis', Annals of Family Medicine. doi:10.1370/afm.1517 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1517 - Moridpour, A.H., Kavyani, Z., Khosravi, S., Farmani, E., Daneshvar, M., Musazadeh, V. and Faghfouri, A.H (2023) 'The effect of cinnamon supplementation on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: An updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', Phytotherapy Research, 38(1), pp. 117--130. doi:10.1002/ptr.8026 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8026 - de Moura, S.L., Gomes, B.G.R., Guilarducci, M.J., Coelho, O.G.L., Guimaraes, N.S. and Gomes, J.M.G (2025) 'Effects of cinnamon supplementation on metabolic biomarkers in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Nutrition Reviews, 83(2), pp. 249--279. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuae058 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuae058 - Allen, R.W., Schwartzman, E., Baker, W.L., Coleman, C.I. and Phung, O.J (2013) 'Cinnamon use in type 2 diabetes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis', Annals of Family Medicine, 11(5), pp. 452-459. doi:10.1370/afm.1517 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1517
Selected studies & references
All 15 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.