Cinnamon1
Cinnamon (Cinnamon burmannii) which is widely found in Indonesia, particularly in Sumatra and Java. The C. burmanni variety, characterized by its red young leaves, thrives in the highlands of Mount Kerinci in Sumatra, earning it the nickname “Korintje Cinnamon.” Cinnamon is commonly used in traditional medicine by boiling the bark to make a decoction with various health benefits, one of which is its antidiabetic properties.2
Morphology of Cinnamon
The cinnamon tree can grow to a height of 10–15 m; it is woody, erect, branched, and brownish-green in color. The bark is smooth and ranges in color from grayish-brown to reddish. The leaves are simple, lanceolate, with pointed tips and bases, smooth margins, 4–14 cm long, and 1–6 cm wide. Young leaves are reddish, while mature leaves are dark green. The flowers are bisexual, yellow, and small. The fruit is a drupe, containing a single seed and fleshy pulp; it is elongated and round in shape, with young fruits dark green and mature fruits dark purple.3
Cinnamon Active Compounds
Cinnamon bark contains essential oils up to a minimum of 0.4 - 4% with the main content cinnamaldehyde. Other components include cinnamyl acetate, eugenol, linalool, cineol, cinnamic acid, and phenolic acid.3
Health Benefits of Cinnamon
In the field of traditional medicine, most of the uses of Cinnamon focus on treating muscle pain, digestive disorders, and anti-diabetes.
- Anti Diabetes
- Subjects: 30 non-diabetic people aged 20-53 who consumed 75 g of glucose per 200 ml of water.
- Dosage: Cinnamon Tea (6 g Cinnamon per 100 ml)
- Duration: blood sugar measurements were taken up to 2 hours after consuming glucose and cinnamon tea.
- Results: Consuming cinnamon tea can help reduce post-meal blood sugar spikes. Cinnamon tea also lowers and stabilizes post-meal blood sugar levels compared to a placebo.4
- Digestive Problems
Based on literature studiesin vivoIn mice, cinnamon bark extract at a dose of 20-50 kgBW can provide an anti-inflammatory effect.gastroprotective(protection of the stomach). In 2 studies, cinnamon extract was able to inhibit the occurrence of ulcers and reduce the severity of ulcers in the digestive tract (ulcer).2
- Relieves joint pain
- Subjects: 36 women withRheumatoid arthritis/arthritis
- Dosage: 1 tsp Cinnamon powder + 2 tbsp honey, 2x a day combined with hand strength training
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Results: Consuming cinnamon and honey supplements, combined with hand strength training, helped speed recovery and reduce wrist inflammation. After 8 weeks, there was a decrease in inflammatory substances.5
Besides being consumed, cinnamon is also widely used topically to relieve pain and inflammation. It can be used as a cream or a decoction applied to the affected area. This has been proven by several clinical studies and has yielded positive results.5
Safety
Cinnamon is included in the Formularium Obat Herbal Asli Indonesia (Permenkes No. 6 Th. 2016) with the indication of Diabetes Mellitus. The US FDA classifies it asGenerally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) with the status as a food additive. The LD50 of cinnamon oil is 4.16 g/kgBW.3
Keywords: Cinnamon burmannii;Cinnamon; Cinnamaldehyde; Antidiabetic; Digestive Problems; Joint Pain
Footer References
- References
- Image: vecteezy.com
- Handayani A, Lailaty IQ, Rosyidah AL, Sari DR, Yunarto N, Suherman D. Indonesian Cinnamon (Burmese cinnamon(Nees & T. Nees) Blume) as Promising Medicinal Resources: A Review. Sylva Lestari Journal. 2024; 12: 610-633.
- Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia Nomor 6 Tahun 2016 tentang Formularium Obat Herbal Asli Indonesia. Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia; 2016.
- Bernardo MA, Silva ML, Santos E, et al. Effect of Cinnamon Tea on Postprandial Glucose Concentration. J Diabetes Res. 2015;2015:913651.
- Muhammad S. Effectiveness of Cinnamon (Burmese cinnamon) in Reducing Pain Scale of Gouty Arthritis: Literature Review. Quantum Journal of Medical and Health Sciences. 2025; 4: 1-14.
