CINNAMON 

Synonyms : Ceylon cinnamon, Kalmi Dalchini.

Biological Source : Dried inner bark of shoots of coppiced trees of Cinnamomum zeylanicum;

 Family : Lauraceae and contains not less than 1.0% volatile oil.

Macroscopy : 

        (a)  Quill of cinnamon           (b) Compound quill

Fig. Cinnamon bark and compound quill of cinnamon


Colour : Dull yellowish brown externally, dark yellowish internally.

Odour : Aromatic fragrant.

Taste : Sweet followed by warm sensation.

Size : 1 meter in length and 1.0 cm in diameter, thickness of the bark is approximately 0.5 mm. 

Shape : Compound quills approximately 0.5 mm in thickness.

Extra Features : Fracture : Splintery.

The outer surface of the bark is marked by wavy longitudinal striations with small holes of scars left by the branches. The inner surface also shows longitudinal striations. Bark is free of cork.

Microscopy :


                                        Fig. Transverse Section of Cinnamom Bark 

Starch Grains: These are numerous, found scattered and inside parenchymatous tissues or sclereids. These are commonly observed in phloem parenchyma and medullary rays. These are small, single or compound with four or more components. A rounded or slit-shaped hilum is observed in a few large grains. Diameter of the grains is less than 10 μ, which is a distinguishing character from the cassia bark. 

Calcium Oxalate Crystals: The thin-walled phloem parenchyma and medullary ray cells of the phloem show small, numerous acicular crystals of calcium oxalate.

Oil Cells: Oil cells are seen as entire or as fragments. These cells are often associated with the parenchyma or fibres of the phloem; cells are large and ovoid and usually occur singly.

Cork: The cork cells are usually absent. Very occasionally fragments of cork can be seen. These cells are thin walled and polygonal in surface view. In sectional view, fragments show the cell layers arranged in alternating bands of thin-walled cells and thick-walled, indistinct lignified cells. 


Powder Characteristics :


Fig. Powder microscopy of Cinnamon bark


1.     Fibres : Pointed, thin and isolated, less than 30 µ (bark).

2.     Stone cells :  Osodiametric, outer walls less thickened, inner walls lignified, pitted, U-shaped.

3.     Oil cells : Isolated, big, ovoid.

4.     Calcium oxalate crystals : Acicular, in phloem parenchyma and medullary ray cells, 5 - 8 µ.

5.     Starch grains : Numerous, simple and compound, 10 µ in cortex


Chemical Tests : 

Cinnamon oil gives pale green colour with ferric chloride solution.

Chemical Constituents : Cinnamon bark contains 0.5 to 1 .0% volatile oil, 1.2%  tannins. Volatile oil contains cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, benzaldehyde, cumin aldehyde. It also contains mucilage, calcium oxalate, starch and Sweet substance as mannitol.




Uses : Stomachic, carminative, Stimulant, mild astringent and antiseptic.


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