Search Results (74)

Strawberry preservation remains a critical challenge due to rapid postharvest microbial spoilage. This study investigated the preservative efficacy of Cinnamomum cassia and Punica granatum peel aqueous extracts, prepared via spray drying, on strawberries over 5 days of storage, with a specific focus on their regulatory impact on the fruit surface microbiome. Preservation tests demonstrated that the C. cassia extract was more effective in reducing visible mold development. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the C. cassia treatment reshaped microbial community structures, decreasing the relative abundance of spoilage-associated bacteria and the primary pathogenic fungus Botrytis (94.37%), while enriching potentially beneficial or antagonistic genera such as Sphingobium (28.72%), Sphingomonas (9.52%), and Cladosporium (0.62%). Using a probability threshold of 0.7, 121 compounds were identified as potential active candidates from a library of 675 C. cassia constituents. These compounds predominantly have a molecular weight between 100 and 250 and are characterized by prevalent functional groups including alkene (49.60%), hydroxyl (38.80%), and benzene rings (36.40%). In vitro antibacterial assays confirmed the inhibitory activity of vanillin and its isomers, validating the reliability of the computational predictions. These findings suggest that the preservative mechanism of C. cassia is likely mediated by the collective action of a multi-component matrix that modulates the microecological balance on the fruit surface, rather than the isolated effect of a single compound. This integrated approach provides an effective framework for developing plant-derived preservation strategies by combining microbiome dynamics with machine learning. Full article

Insects, such as the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) and the armyworm (Mythimna unipuncta), and nematodes, including the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) and the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), are major agricultural pests. Essential oils (EOs) from aromatic plants are promising botanical pesticides due to their bioactivity. This study evaluated the in vitro effects of EOs from Origanum vulgare, Thymus vulgaris, Ocimum gratissimum, Mentha pulegium, and Cinnamomum cassia, and their main compounds (carvacrol, thymol, eugenol, pulegone, and trans-cinnamaldehyde, respectively), on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and α- and β-glucosidases using crude enzyme extracts. All EOs inhibited AChE, with no significant effects on glucosidases. M. pulegium EO showed the strongest inhibition in C. capitata (IC₅₀ = 0.022 mg/mL) and B. xylophilus (IC₅₀ = 0.1209 mg/mL), while C. cassia EO was most effective against M. unipuncta (IC₅₀ = 0.0020 mg/mL) and M. incognita (IC₅₀ = 0.0197 mg/mL). In silico analysis revealed selective inhibition of insect AChE by EO-derived compounds, with insignificant effects on electric eel AChE, supporting species-specific interactions. These findings highlight EOs as selective, neurotargeting, and sustainable alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Full article

The price of Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon cinnamon) is higher than that of other cinnamon varieties known as cassia cinnamon and/or Cinnamon camphora, which can trigger fraudsters to perform partial or total substitution of the former by the latter types, especially in ground cinnamon products. In addition, substitution of cinnamon bark by different parts of the plant (e.g., root, leaves) and/or introduction of inorganic matter in any cinnamon variety can also occur, increasing the overall risk of fraud related to spices, which are among the most vulnerable food commodities. This work reports the development of a novel Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectroscopic method combined with principal component analysis (PCA) applied to ground cinnamon, as an analytical tool to detect suspicious samples related to the aforementioned fraudulent practices. The findings of this new analytical approach were supported by published results from experiments on these samples using confirmatory techniques, such as X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), cited in this paper. Full article

In this manuscript, we report the successful purification of two polysaccharide fractions (F1 and F2) from Cinnamomum cassia (C. cassia). Their chemical composition analysis revealed carbohydrates (54.8–61.1%), sulfates (8.1–9.5%), proteins (4.8–8.0%), and uronic acids (3.7–3.9%), with molecular weights ranging from 46.1 to 2919.1 kDa. Methylation analysis indicated that the highly active F2 fraction possesses a main chain of (1 → 4)-linked glucose, with minor side chains of (1 → 3)- and (1 → 5)-linked arabinose or (1 → 6)-linked glucose, and terminal glucose/arabinose residues. In vitro experiments demonstrated that F2 significantly enhanced nitric oxide and cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10) production in RAW264.7 macrophages through activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, exhibiting stronger immunomodulatory activity than F1. These results provide evidence that C. cassia polysaccharides, particularly F2, possess promising potential as natural immunostimulants for functional food or therapeutic applications. Full article

Cinnamomum cassia essential oil production generates substantial waste, and the therapeutic potential of non-volatile constituents from cinnamomum cassia leaves in ulcerative colitis (UC) has not been fully explored. This research focused on identifying the principal components of cinnamomum cassia leaf extract (CCLE) through ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS), and its anti-inflammatory potential was verified in vitro. A lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage model was employed, with assessments performed through cell viability assays, Griess assay, fluorescent probe detection, wound healing, and Transwell migration assays. Network pharmacology analysis combined with molecular docking revealed that CCLE exerts therapeutic effects against UC by targeting key molecules including TNF, TLR4, STAT3, SRC, PTGS2, NFKB1, MMP9, EGFR, BCL2, and AKT1, with high binding affinity between these targets and CCLE components (especially Quercetin, Catechin, Naringenin, 3′,4′-dimethoxyflavonol, Procyanidin Bl, and Caffeic acid). Enrichment analysis indicated that the therapeutic effect of CCLE on UC was significantly associated with the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, B cell receptor signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. The experimental results demonstrated that CCLE markedly reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (* p < 0.05) and inhibited macrophage migration (* p < 0.05). In conclusion, CCLE appears to ameliorate UC via a multi-target regulatory mechanism involving inflammatory signaling pathways. These outcomes offer a scientific foundation for the further development of CCLE. Full article

Consumer demand is growing for traceable, high-quality Cinnamomum cassia with defined sensory attributes. However, research linking cultivar morphology to these specific flavor signatures remains scarce. This study elucidated the relationships between phenotypic traits, volatile constituents, and key aroma characteristics of three C. cassia cultivars (Xijiang [XJ], Dongxing [DX], and Qinghua [QH]) using phenotypic evaluation, headspace solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and a combination of relative odor activity value and principal component analysis (rOAV-PCA). XJ exhibited an intensely spicy aroma, attributable to its high trans-cinnamaldehyde content (718.76 ± 60.08 mg/g). In contrast, DX showed the highest δ-cadinene level (44.86 ± 4.48 mg/g) and a complex spicy–woody–sweet profile, shaped by sesquiterpenes such as α-humulene, α-copaene, caryophyllene, and β-caryophyllene. QH displayed both a high volatile oil yield (2.57 ± 0.28%) and a distinct herbal–woody character, primarily contributed by δ-cadinene and α-muurolene. This study constructed an integrated phenotype–chemistry–sensory map for C. cassia cultivars, facilitating cultivar discrimination, supporting flavor quality management, and enabling marker-assisted breeding for desirable aroma profiles. Full article

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multi-faceted auto-immune disease. Growing evidence points to gut permeability and microbiota as key players in the development of the disease. Cinnamomum cassia is gaining attention as a potential modifier of the gut and liver health. We aim in this study to explore the effect of cinnamon on key elements of the gut–liver axis in imiquimod-induced lupus. Methods: Female C57BL/6J mice were stratified into five experimental groups: sham, sham plus cinnamon, lupus, lupus with cinnamon treatment, and lupus with pre- and post-induction cinnamon treatment. Lupus was induced through application of 1.25 mg of 5% imiquimod cream to the right ear, three times per week over six weeks. Cinnamomum cassia was given orally at 200 mg/kg, five days weekly. High-Throughput Sequencing of Bacterial 16S rRNA Gene was used on fecal samples with subsequent bioinformatic analysis of microbiota. Western blot and antibody array were used to measure E. coli translocation, and hepatic inflammatory, oxidative, and apoptotic markers. Results: Cinnamon treatment mitigated the trend toward a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio in the lupus mice. While not statistically significant, cinnamon also led to a decrease in Lachnospiraceae abundance. Interestingly, sham mice given cinnamon had more Lactobacillus and Limosilactobacillus. Furthermore, cinnamon effectively reversed the increase in E. coli protein in the liver and normalized the enhanced expression of TLR-7, p-NFκB/NFκB, SOD1 and SOD2 induced by lupus. Conclusions: Cinnamomum cassia modulates oxidative, inflammatory, and microbial elements of the gut–liver axis in lupus, offering a new perspective on lupus pathogenesis and potential nutritional interventions. Full article

This study investigated the differences in key volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and flavor characteristics between essential oils (CEOs) from cinnamon bark and leaf. The volatile compounds of essential oils extracted from Cinnamomum cassia (Xijiang) bark (CEOP) and leaf (CEOY) by hydrodistillation were identified using GC-MS. The results showed that the extraction rates of CEOP and CEOY were 1.56% ± 0.02 and 0.83% ± 0.01 (n = 3), respectively. CEOP and CEOY consisted of 45 and 50 compounds, respectively. Odor activity value (OAV) analysis indicated that cinnamaldehyde (OAV = 935), α-caryophyllene (OAV = 77), and borneol (OAV = 4) played key roles in shaping the aroma of CEOP. Meanwhile, cinnamaldehyde (OAV = 849), nerolidol (OAV = 107), and α-caryophyllene (OAV = 58) were the major contributors to the flavor of CEOY. Electronic nose (E-nose) analysis revealed that sensors W5S and W1W were important for detecting aromatic compounds. Sensory evaluation showed that CEOs differed significantly in spicy, floral, and grassy aromas. These differences may be related to the concentrations of compounds such as cinnamaldehyde, α-caryophyllene, and nerolidol, as well as their interactions with olfactory receptors such as OR2W1 and OR1D2. Cinnamaldehyde activates TRPA1 and TRPV1 to elicit the perception of spiciness. Thus, CEOP may be suitable for baked goods, and CEOY may be suitable for ice cream and beverages. In conclusion, this study provides a theoretical foundation for the precise application of CEOs as condiments in food. Full article

Background: The pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is very complex and is associated with neuroinflammation and blood–brain barrier compromise. Experimental investigations of NPSLE have classically relied on spontaneous models. Recently, TLR7 agonist-induced lupus has been shown to exhibit similar neuropsychiatric manifestations to spontaneous ones. Cinnamon is a widespread spice and natural flavoring agent. It has been proven to modulate vascular endothelial tight junctions, neuroinflammation, and autoimmunity pathways, but it has never been tested in relation to lupus. Hypothesis/Purpose: In this pilot study, we aimed to explore the disease-modifying effect of Cinnamomum cassia on NPSLE in a TLR7 agonist-induced model. Study Design: An experimental design was followed in this study. Methods: Lupus was induced in C57BL/6J female mice via the direct application of imiquimod, a TLR7 agonist (5% imiquimod cream, 1.25 mg three times weekly), to the skin. Mice were divided into five groups (n = 8 per group): a sham group (S), a sham group supplemented with cinnamon (SC), an imiquimod-treated group (L), an imiquimod-treated group supplemented with cinnamon starting from induction (LC), and an imiquimod-treated group supplemented with cinnamon beginning two weeks prior to induction (CLC). This protocol was followed for six consecutive weeks. Cinnamomum cassia powder was administered orally at 200 mg/kg, 5 days per week. Results: Behavioral alterations were significantly ameliorated in the CLC group compared to lupus mice. Neuronal shrinkage and nuclear chromatin condensation were visible in the hippocampal cornu ammonis and dentate gyrus zones of lupus mice, with an increased expression of TLR7 and NLRP3, versus significantly less neurodegeneration and TLR7 and NLRP3 expression in the CLC group. In addition, the expression of the blood–brain barrier endothelial cell tight junction proteins claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1 was abnormally modified in lupus mice and was restored in the CLC group. Moreover, while the cell–cell border delocalization of claudin-1 was documented in cultured blood–brain barrier endothelial cells treated with the plasma of lupus mice to a punctate intracytoplasmic fluorescence pattern, only cells treated with the plasma of the CLC group exhibited a complete reversal of this redistribution of claudin-1. Finally, cinnamaldehyde seemed to interact with TLR7 at multiple sites. Conclusions:Cinnamomum cassia seems to alleviate the pathogenesis of NPSLE. Supplementation with Cinnamomum cassia could be of great interest to modulate the activity and severity of the disease. Full article

Ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic extraction (UAEE) was utilized to obtain the polysaccharides from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia Presl. (C. cassia). Taking the yield of the crude polysaccharides from C. cassia (CCCP) as the assessment indicator, response surface methodology (RSM) and a genetic algorithm-back propagation (GA-BP) artificial neural network model were employed to forecast and contrast the optimal parameters for UAEE. The outcomes demonstrated that the GA-BP model, which was superior in prediction accuracy and optimization capabilities to the RSM and BP models, identified the following conditions as optimal for the UAEE of CCCP: cellulase was employed, the temperature for enzymatic hydrolysis was 50.0 °C, the pH value was 5.248, the addition of enzyme was 3%, and the ultrasonic time was 70.153 min. Under these parameters, the yield of CCCP was significantly increased to 28.35%. Then, UAEE-extracted CCCP under optimal conditions was further separated and purified using a DEAE-52 column and SephadexG-100 column, yielding five purified polysaccharides from C. cassia (CCPs). All of these five fractions were acidic polysaccharides with safety at 3 mg/mL. The CCPs did not significantly affect the viability of HaCaT cells affected by UVB exposure. The CCPs demonstrated differential inhibition of nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. Full article

Cinnamomum cassia has been extensively utilized in traditional medicine systems worldwide. The essential oil (EO) content and composition are influenced by various external and internal factors, such as climate and harvest season, making it vital to determine the optimal harvest period for high-quality EO production. This study is the first to evaluate the chemical profiles, as well as the antioxidant and antibacterial activities, of C. cassia leaf oil across the four seasons. GC–MS and FTIR analyses revealed significant seasonal variations in the components. Spring and autumn leaf oils contained the highest EO (2.20% and 1.95%, respectively) and trans-cinnamaldehyde (92.59% and 91.10%, respectively). Temperature and humidity primarily affected EO and trans-cinnamaldehyde accumulation. C. cassia leaf oil demonstrated the strongest antibacterial activity, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.25 mg/mL against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes for the spring oil. The MICs for the other three seasonal samples were 0.5 mg/mL for S. aureus, M. luteus, and L. monocytogenes, and 1.0 mg/mL for P. putida. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the EOs across all seasons against S. aureus ranged from 0.5 to 1 mg/mL. Winter leaf oil exhibited high antioxidant activity, primarily due to the presence of cis-cinnamaldehyde, caryophyllene, humulene, alloaromadendrene, γ-muurolene, cis-bisabolene, o-methoxycinnamaldehyde, and phenolics. This study provides essential data and valuable references for optimizing resource utilization and determining the ideal harvest time for C. cassia leaves. Full article

The use of chemical herbicides induces negative impacts on the environment, animals, and human health. It also leads to the development of herbicide-resistant weeds. In this context, natural and efficacious herbicides are highly sought after. Essential oils are natural compounds with antibacterial, fungicidal, and phytotoxic properties. For this reason, we studied the post-emergence phytotoxic effect of cinnamon essential oil (cinnamon EO) from Cinnamomum cassia under greenhouse conditions, testing it against Trifolium incarnatum (T. incarnatum) and Lolium perenne (L. perenne). The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), percentage of water loss, electrolyte leakage, and the fluorescence of treated leaves by cinnamon EO were determined in order to understand the physiological and biochemical responses. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study the effect of cinnamon EO on cellular organelles in different tissues of T. incarnatum leaves. Results showed that cinnamon EO quickly induced oxidative stress in treated leaves by increasing MDA content, impacting membrane integrity and causing water loss. TEM observations confirmed the cell desiccation by cellular plasmolysis and showed an alteration of the membrane integrity and chloroplast damages. Moreover, Raman analysis confirms the disturbance of the plant metabolism by the disappearance of some scattering bands which correspond to primary metabolites. Through our finding, we confirm that cinnamon essential oil (EO) could be proposed in the future as a potential bioherbicide and a suitable source of natural phytotoxic compounds with a multisite action on weeds. Full article

2′-Hydroxycinnamaldehyde (HCA), a natural product isolated from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia, has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. In this study, we explored whether HCA preconditioning could protect the heart against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced oxidative injury through cytosolic Bcl-2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) upregulation. In vivo HCA preconditioning was performed intraperitoneally in adult male Wistar rats (50 mg/kg body weight) three times/week for 2 weeks before cardiac I/R injury. The animals were divided into sham control (sham), I/R, and HCA preconditioning plus I/R (HCA+I/R) groups. We examined left ventricular pressure cardiac hemodynamics, the microcirculation, electrocardiograms, infarct size, and oxidative stress and performed Western blots, immunohistochemistry, and cytokine array assays. HCA pretreatment, via BAG3 overexpression, inhibited H₂O₂-induced H9c2 cell death. Cardiac I/R injury increased ST-segment elevation, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, infarct size, myocardial disruption, tissue edema, erythrocyte accumulation, leukocyte infiltration, reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, 8-isoprostane, caspase 3-mediated apoptosis, 4HNE/GPX4-mediated ferroptosis, and fibrosis but decreased the microcirculation, cytosolic BAG3, and Beclin-1/LC3 II-mediated autophagy in the I/R hearts. HCA preconditioning significantly decreased these oxidative injuries by increasing cardiac cytosolic BAG3 and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. HCA preconditioning significantly decreased cardiac I/R-enhanced mitochondrial fission DRP1 expression. Our data suggest that HCA preconditioning can efficiently improve myocardial I/R injury-induced cardiac dysfunction, apoptosis, ferroptosis, mitochondrial fission, and autophagy inhibition through cardiac BAG3 and Nrf2/HO-1 upregulation. Full article

Background: Decontamination of poultry surfaces through appropriate hygiene and sanitation measures can partially mitigate bacterial problems, as this process does not result in the complete elimination of bacteria. Thus, the remaining bacteria can persist and contaminate eggshells. Therefore, regardless of the rigor of the sanitary standards applied on farms, it is suggested that hatching eggs be subjected to the sanitization process. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of essential oil-based antibacterial agents in sanitizing eggs. Results: The results indicated that essential oils from Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl. (CCEO), Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry (SAEO) and Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle (CNEO), at specific concentrations, have antibacterial effects in vitro, reducing the load of mesophilic bacteria and enterobacteria in the eggshell by at least 3 and 2 log₁₀ CFU/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The adoption of CCEO, SAEO and CNEO to reduce the bacterial load on eggshells could be a favorable change to the conventional protocol of egg sanitization with formaldehyde, especially on farms where sanitary standards are insufficient. Full article

Agroforestry ecosystems are an efficient strategy for enhancing soil nutrient conditions and sustainable agricultural development. Soil extracellular enzymes (EEAs) are important drivers of biogeochemical processes. However, changes in EEAs and chemometrics in rubber-based agroforestry systems and their mechanisms of action are still not fully understood. Distribution of EEAs, enzymatic stoichiometry, and microbial nutrient limitation characteristics of rubber plantations under seven planting patterns (RM, rubber monoculture system; AOM, Hevea brasiliensis-Alpinia oxyphylla Miq; PAR, Hevea brasiliensis-Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb; AKH, Hevea brasiliensis-Alpinia katsumadai Hayata; CAA, Hevea brasiliensis-Coffea Arabica; CCA, Hevea brasiliensis-Cinnamomum cassia (L.) D. Don, and TCA, Hevea brasiliensis-Theobroma Cacao) were analyzed to investigate the metabolic limitations of microorganisms and to identify the primary determinants that restrict nutrient limitation. Compared with rubber monoculture systems, agroforestry ecosystems show increased carbon (C)-acquiring enzyme (EEA_C), nitrogen (N)-acquiring enzyme (EEA_N), and phosphorus (P)-acquiring enzyme (EEA_P) activities. The ecoenzymatic stoichiometry model demonstrated that all seven plantation patterns experienced C and N limitation. Compared to the rubber monoculture system, all agroforestry systems exacerbated the microbial limitations of C and N by reducing the vector angle and increasing vector length. P limitation was not detected in any plantation pattern. In agroforestry systems, progression from herbs to shrubs to trees through intercropping results in a reduction in soil microbial nutrient constraints. This is primarily because of the accumulation of litter and root biomass in tree-based systems, which enhances the soil nutrient content (e.g., soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and ammonium nitrogen) and accessibility. Conversely, as soil depth increased, microbial nutrient limitations tended to become more pronounced. Partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM) indicated that nutrient ratios and soil total nutrient content were the most important factors influencing microbial C limitation (−0.46 and 0.40) and N limitation (−0.30 and −0.42). This study presented novel evidence regarding the constraints and drivers of soil microbial metabolism in rubber agroforestry systems. Considering the constraints of soil nutrients and microbial metabolism, intercropping of rubber trees with arboreal species is recommended over that of herbaceous species to better suit the soil environment of rubber plantation areas on Hainan Island. Full article