Omnia SanaCommon names in 19 European languages →
The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 7 pharmacological actions, 11 traditional / indicated uses, with 20 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Evergreen tree with smooth, thin, light brown bark and leathery, oval leaves with three prominent longitudinal veins, often flushed reddish-pink when young. Small, pale yellow-green flowers are borne in panicles, followed by small, dark, single-seeded berries. The thin inner bark is peeled and dried into the characteristic pale, tightly layered, multi-ply quills of true cinnamon.
Habitat & Distribution
Native to Sri Lanka and the Malabar coast of southern India; cultivated in warm, humid tropical lowlands, especially Sri Lanka, which remains the main source of true (Ceylon) cinnamon.
Harvesting
Young shoots are cut back to encourage thin, straight new growth; the thin outer bark is scraped away and the paper-thin inner bark is peeled off, dried and rolled by hand into the characteristic multi-layered quills of Ceylon cinnamon.
Key Constituents
Trans-cinnamaldehyde is the principal constituent of cinnamon bark essential oil and the main driver of its antimicrobial, antifungal (anti-Candida) and anti-inflammatory activity, acting partly by damaging microbial cell membranes and inhibiting NF-kB signalling.
Cassia cinnamon (C. cassia) contains high levels of coumarin, which is potentially hepatotoxic in excess; true Ceylon cinnamon (C. verum) contains only trace coumarin and is the safer culinary/medicinal choice. Several pooled clinical and antimicrobial studies do not distinguish the two species.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antidiabetic action
more plants for blood sugar / diabetes support →detailed sources →
inferred from anticancer action
more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →
more plants for cardiovascular / heart health →detailed sources →
inferred from antifungal action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antidiabetic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Traditional Use & History
True cinnamon bark has an ancient trade and medicinal history across Asia, the Middle East and Europe as a warming digestive and circulatory remedy, used for indigestion and as a general tonic spice; because it contains only trace coumarin, it is considered the safer species for frequent or medicinal use compared with cassia.[9]
Preparations
Dried bark powder or standardised extract taken as capsules for metabolic and antioxidant support.
Comminuted bark infused in hot water as a herbal tea, 0.5-1 g up to four times daily per the EU herbal monograph. The monograph describes an infusion; it does not cover a simmered decoction. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Dosage
The EU herbal monograph on Cinnamomum verum J.S. Presl, cortex gives, for adults and elderly, 0.5-1 g of the comminuted bark as an infusion up to 4 times daily; a liquid extract at 0.5-1 mL three times daily and a tincture at a daily dose of 2-4 mL are also listed. Not recommended under 18 years, and a practitioner should be consulted if symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks. Note this is Ceylon cinnamon (C. verum); cassia species carry a much higher coumarin load and are not covered here. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
True cinnamon (C. verum) is safe in culinary and moderate medicinal doses. Cassia (C. cassia) contains high coumarin - excessive intake may be hepatotoxic and should not be confused with true cinnamon. May lower blood sugar - use caution with antidiabetic medications. Avoid high doses during pregnancy.
Duke (2002) rates Ceylon cinnamon as +++ and provides clinical evidence (score 2) for antibacterial activity, consistent with Commission E and WHO recognition. Key activities include antifungal (anti-Candida), antispasmodic, and carminative effects. Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and coumarin. Important safety concern: Duke's entry aggregates true cinnamon (C. verum) and cassia (C. cassia) - cassia contains significantly higher coumarin levels (potentially hepatotoxic) than true Ceylon cinnamon. True cinnamon (C. verum) has very low coumarin content and is safe at normal culinary doses. Medicinal dose: 0.5–1 g bark powder three times daily. Caution: cinnamon bark oil is highly irritating to mucous membranes (Duke, 2002).
Herb-Drug Interactions
Herb-Herb Pairings
Cinnamon and fenugreek can each lower blood sugar, so taking them together - especially alongside diabetes medicines - may add up and increase the risk of blood sugar dropping too low (hypoglycaemia). Monitor your blood glucose.
Cinnamon and bitter melon can each lower blood sugar, so taking them together - especially alongside diabetes medicines - may add up and increase the risk of hypoglycaemia. Monitor your blood glucose.
Harvest Readiness
[8]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Muthukuda, D. and de Silva, C.K. and Ajanthan, S. and Wijesinghe, N. and Dahanayaka, A. and Pathmeswaran, A (2025) 'Effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ceylon cinnamon) extract on lipid profile, glucose levels and its safety in adults: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial', PLoS One, 20(1), pp. e0317904. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0317904 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317904 - Singh, N. and Rao, A.S. and Nandal, A. and Kumar, S. and Yadav, S.S. and Ganaie, S.A. and Narasimhan, B (2020) 'Phytochemical and pharmacological review of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl - a versatile spice used in food and nutrition', Food Chemistry, 338, pp. 127773. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127773 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127773 - Kim, N.Y. and Kim, S. and Park, H.M. and Lim, C.M. and Kim, J. and Park, J.Y. and Jeon, K.B. and Poudel, A (2023) 'Cinnamomum verum extract inhibits NOX2/ROS and PKCdelta/JNK/AP-1/NF-kB pathway-mediated inflammatory response in PMA-stimulated THP-1 monocytes', Phytomedicine, 112, pp. 154685. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154685 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154685 - Pagliari, S. and Forcella, M. and Lonati, E. and Sacco, G. and Romaniello, F. and Rovellini, P. and Fusi, P. and Palestini, P (2023) 'Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl) Bark Extract after In Vitro Digestion Simulation', Foods, 12(3), pp. 452. doi:10.3390/foods12030452 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12030452 - Ul Hasnain, S.Z. and Ahmed, M. and Manzoor, R. and Amin, A. and Mudassir, J. and Jafar Rana, S. and Abbas, K (2024) 'Anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and hypolipidemic potential of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl bark coupled with FT-IR and HPLC analysis', Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 37(6), pp. 1529-1544. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Anti-inflammatory%2C%20antidiabetic%20and%20hypolipidemic%20potential%20of%20Cinnamomum%20verum%20J.%20Presl%20bark%20coupled%20with%20FT-IR%20and%20HPLC%20analysis - Gu, K., Feng, S., Zhang, X., Peng, Y., Sun, P., Liu, W., Wu, Y., Yu, Y., Liu, X., Deng, G., Zheng, J., Li, B. and Zhao, L (2023) 'Deciphering the antifungal mechanism and functional components of Cinnamomum cassia essential oil against Candida albicans', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, pp. 2023. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.117156 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2023.117156 - Aggarwal, S., Bhadana, K., Singh, B., Rawat, M., Mohammad, T., Al-Keridis, L.A., Alshammari, N., Hassan, M.I. and Das, S.N (2022) 'Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract and its bioactive component cinnamaldehyde show anti-tumor effects via inhibition of multiple cellular pathways', Frontiers in Pharmacology. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.918479 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.918479 - Fern, Ken 'Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamon) — Useful Temperate Plants'. Available at: https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cinnamomum+verum Traditional / reference
https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cinnamomum+verum - Groves, M (2016) 'Body into Balance'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Body%20into%20Balance - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2011) 'Community herbal monograph on Cinnamomum verum J.S. Presl, cortex'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/community-herbal-monograph-cinnamomum-verum-js-presl-cortex_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/community-herbal-monograph-cinnamomum-verum-js-presl-cortex_en.pdf - Jafari, A., Mardani, H., Faghfouri, A.H., AhmadianMoghaddam, M., Musazadeh, V. and Alaghi, A (2025) 'The effect of cinnamon supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in adults: a GRADE assessed systematic review, dose-response and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 44(1). doi:10.1186/s41043-025-00967-3 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00967-3 - Akilen, R. et al (2010) 'Glycated haemoglobin and blood pressure-lowering effect of cinnamon in multi-ethnic Type 2 diabetic patients in the UK', 27(10), pp. 1159--1167. Clinical study
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Glycated%20haemoglobin%20and%20blood%20pressure-lowering%20effect%20of%20cinnamon%20in%20multi-ethnic%20Type%202%20diabetic%20patients%20in%20the%20UK - Khan, A. et al (2003) 'Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes', 26(12), pp. 3215--3218. doi:10.2337/diacare.26.12.3215 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.26.12.3215 - 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 - Maierean, S.M., Serban, M.C., Sahebkar, A., Ursoniu, S., Serban, A., Penson, P. and Banach, M (2017) 'The effects of cinnamon supplementation on blood lipid concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 11(6), pp. 1393--1406. doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2017.08.004 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacl.2017.08.004 - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - 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 - Kim, J., Noh, W., Kim, A., Choi, Y. and Kim, Y.S (2023) 'The effect of fenugreek in type 2 diabetes and prediabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(18), pp. 13999. doi:10.3390/ijms241813999 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241813999 - Zhang, X., Zhao, Y., Song, Y. and Miao, M (2024) 'Effects of Momordica charantia L. supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profile in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', Heliyon, 10(10), pp. e31126. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31126 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31126
Selected studies & references
All 18 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.