A Herbal Concoction of Cinnamomum cassia and Artemisa annua Extracts Ameliorates Allergic Rhinitis in OVA-Induced Balb/C Mice by Inhibiting Th2 Signaling

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory airway disease (IAD) that is characterized by itching, nasal obstruction, and sneezing. AR is induced by Th-2 inflammatory responses such as those mediated by IgE and IL-4. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of an herbal concoction, which is a combination of Cinnamomum cassia and Artemisa annua extracts (CIAR) against ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis in a Balb/C mouse model. The effect of CIAR on the Th-2 mediated inflammatory response in the AR mouse model was studied by analyzing blood or nasal fluid samples. Experimental results revealed that OVA inhalation increased IgE, IL-4, IL-33, and TSLP levels, leading to Th2-type cytokine response. CIAR was found to significantly reduce the Th-2 response and levels of cytokines, including IL-4, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). CIAR also down-regulated eosinophil (EOS) and basophil (BASO) levels in the blood. Histological analyses demonstrated decreased OVA-induced thickness of the respiratory epithelium in the CIAR-treated group. Collectively, our results suggest that the herbal concoction CIAR can effectively ameliorate the development of allergic rhinitis through the inhibition of Th-2 mediated responses.

Suppression of Inflammatory and Fibrotic Signals by Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) and Cinnamaldehyde in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Overactive Bladder in Mice

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine used to treat nocturia by tonifying and warming the kidney. Our recent clinical study found that overactive bladder (OAB) patients treated with cinnamon powder (CNP) patches exhibited significantly ameliorated OAB symptoms without significant side effects, but the mechanism of action is unclear. To explore the beneficial effects and action mechanisms of CNP and its major active component cinnamaldehyde (CNA) in an OAB-related murine model, cyclophosphamide- (CYP-) induced OAB injury was performed on male ICR mice in the presence or absence of CNP and CNA, as well as solifenacin, a clinical drug for OAB as a reference. Twenty-four-hour micturition patterns (frequency of urination and volume of urine per time), as well as histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blotting of the bladder, were analyzed for mechanism elucidation. Administration of CYP (300 mg/kg, i.p.) induced typical OAB pathophysiological changes, including increased frequency of urination and reduced volume of urine. CYP-induced mice displayed strong edema of the bladder and hemorrhagic cystitis, accompanied by loss of normal corrugated folds and decreased muscarinic receptors (M2/M3) in the urothelium, and disordered/broken structures of the lamina propria and detrusor. These changes were correlated with increased leukocyte (CD11b) infiltration colocalized with inflammatory (pp65 NFκB, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)) and fibrotic (stem cell factor (SCF)/c-Kit, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)/β-catenin) signals. Treatment with CNP (600 mg/kg, p.o.) and CNA (10–50 mg/kg, p.o.), but not solifenacin (50 mg/kg), 30 min after CYP induction significantly ameliorated CYP-induced dysfunction in micturition patterns and pathophysiological changes. CNP and CNA further suppressed MIF/TLR4-associated inflammatory and SCF/c-Kit-related fibrotic signaling pathways. Our findings indicate that suppression of inflammatory and fibrotic signals contributes to the crucial mechanism in the improvement of CYP-induced OAB by CNP and CNA.

Óleos essenciais no tratamento de dermatozoonoses – uma revisão de literatura

O uso indiscriminado de medicamentos tem representado uma das maiores ameaças à Saúde Única, haja vista sua atuação na resistência antimicrobiana e seus impactos ao meio ambiente. Assim, busca-se como alternativa sustentável a esses fármacos, os óleos essenciais, substâncias com diversas atividades terapêuticas, destacando a eficácia no tratamento de dermatopatias de origem zoonótica, a exemplo escabiose canina, esporotricose, dermatofitose e leishmaniose tegumentar americana. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo realizar revisão bibliográfica acerca do emprego de óleos essenciais na medicina veterinária, destacando-se o tratamento das dermatopatias de origem zoonótica. Foi demonstrado o efeito acaricida, fungicida e fungistático dos óleos essenciais de Melaleuca alternifolia, Cedrus deodara, Azadirachta indica, Myrtus communis, Thymus vulgaris, Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia, Cinnamomum cassia, Eugenia uniflora e Plectranthus amboinicus. As dermatozoonoses apresentam crescente resistência a antifúngicos e antibióticos comerciais, o emprego de terapias alternativas utilizando óleos essenciais se faz relevante de forma a amenizar essa resistência, e proporcionar melhoria na sanidade dos animais. Diante disso, dentre os estudos avaliados é demonstrado que os óleos essenciais de Melaleuca alternifolia, Cedrus deodara, Azadirachta indica, Myrtus communis, Thymus vulgaris, Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia, Cinnamomum cassia, Eugenia uniflora e Plectranthus amboinicus apresentam resultado in vitro satisfatórios na terapêutica de dermatozoonoses de importância clínica, contudo, se faz necessário a realização de estudos in vivo para verificar a eficácia destes compostos, realizando-se um monitoramento de sua ação mediante as barreiras fisiológicas e metabolismo dos animais.

Detection of the Active Compounds of the Hot Aqueous Extract of Cinnamomum cassia using FTIR Technology and Testing as Anti-bacterial and Antioxidant

The results of the FTIR analysis of the hot aqueous extract of bark indicated that it contains many groups and active compounds, and the results of the bacterial tests conducted by digging and spreading method showed a high inhibitory activity of the hot aqueous extract of cinnamon against all pathogenic bacterial strains and at different concentrations. It was observed that the highest efficacy of the extract was against bacteria an inhibition diameter of 35 mm at concentration 800 mg/mL in Bacillus sp. while the bacterial strains were resistant to most of the antibiotics, in the study (Amoxicillin, Gentamycin, Ampicillin, Erythromycin, Tetracycline) except for gentamicin, which showed inhibition of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus with a diameter 19mm and Serratia sp. in diameter17mm. We conclude from the study that the cinnamon plant contains many active compounds and that the hot aqueous extract of Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) bark has a high inhibitory ability for different bacterial strains, which exceeded the inhibitory ability of antibiotics.

Potential and beneficial effects of Cinnamomum cassia on gastritis and safety: Literature review and analysis of standard extract

The prevalence of gastritis in South Korea is rapidly increasing owing to the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and fast eating habit. The usual treatment for acute gastritis following a long intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or alcohol is to stop the causal factors. Metronidazole and lansoprazole are recommended for the treatment of H. pylori infection gastritis. Omeprazole a proton pump inhibitor, is used to decrease gastric acid production. However, owing to the side effects and refractoriness of the drug, a safe and efficient treatment is required. Plant-derived phytochemicals have emerged as novel agents against chronic disorders. In this study, firstly, to explore the potential of pharmacological activities, including efficacy and mechanisms of Cinnamomum cassia against gastritis, a literature review was performed based on 20 studies out of a total of 749 records obtained using a search strategy. From the literature review, the therapeutic targets of C. cassia extract and cinnamaldehyde, a compound of C. cassia, were found to be related with NFκB activity, and their signaling pathway were verified by experiments. C. cassia extract plays a role in protection of gastric ulcers induced in four ways (immersion stress-induced, ethanol-induced, hydrochloric acid-induced, or NSAIDs-induced ulcer). None of the clinical studies on C. cassia extracts or compounds met our criteria. When the standardized extract of C. cassia (ECC) was orally administered repeatedly to Beagle Dog for 4 weeks, no toxicologically harmful changes were observed. Therefore, under the test condition, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of ECC was judged to be 1000 mg/kg/day for both sexes, and no toxic target organ was observed. Administration of ECC in the Sprague–Dawley rat model of acute gastric injury caused by indomethacin administration significantly increased gastric mucus volume. Administration of ECC in the acute gastric injury model caused by indomethacin administration is considered effective in improving gastric injury. However, research and efforts to develop a reliable ‘standardization of natural drugs’ by establishing the best quality evaluation system are limited. Despite the pharmacological potential of ECC, further well-designed experimental studies such as in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials are required to validate these findings and the underlying mechanisms of ECC.

Biological potential and microencapsulation of Cinnamomum cassia essential oil as an alternative for pest control in stored maize

This study proposes a review of biological potential of cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) essential oil with a focus on microencapsulation as an alternative to control the occurrence of pests in stored maize grains. Due to the demands on corn productivity, there is the need to improve grain storage processes and conditions, since that in this stage there are quantitative and/or qualitative losses, mainly due to the maize weevils (Sitophilus zeamais) and the incidence of mycotoxin-producing fungi (Penicillium crustosum, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus flavus). The control of these pests is usually carried out with chemical insecticides, which can leave toxic residues in the grain. Therefore, the microencapsulation of essential oils appears as a promising alternative, considering the volatility of aromatic compounds, which are largely responsible for the activity against pests.