CINNAMON STICK

CINNAMON

Synonyms: Cinnamon bark; Kalmi-Dalchini, Ceylon cinnamon 

Biological Source :
Cinnamon consists of dried inner bark of shoots of coppiced trees of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees belonging to family Lauraceae. lt should not contain less than 1.0 % of volatile oil.

Geographical Distribution :

Cinnamon, the evergreen tree of tropical area is considered to be native of Sri Lanka and Malabar coast of lndia. lt is also found in Jamaica and Brazil. However, most of the world requirements are met by Sri Lanka and hence true cinnamon is known as I Ceylon cinnamon.

Chemical Test: 

On addition of a drop of ferric chloride solution to a drop of volatile oil, a pale green colour is produced. With ferric chloride, cinnamic aldehyde gives brown colour and eugenol gives blue colour, resulting in formation of pale green colour. 

in cassia oil, brown colour is obtained, as it contains only cinnamic aldehyde . 

Uses: 

Bark is used as a carminative, stomachic and mild astringent. It is also used as a flavouring agent, stimulant, an aromatic and antiseptic. Commercially, it is used as a spice and condiment, and also in the preparation of candy, dentifrices and perfumes. 

Colour : The outer surface is dull yellowish-brown, while the inner surface is dark yellowish-brown.

Odour : Aromatic, sweet followed by warm sensation.

Taste : Found in the form of compound quills. . ,

Size : About 1 m in length and 1 cm in diameter. The thickness of the bark is approximately 0.5 mm.
Fracture : Splintery. 

CINNAMON STICK

CINNAMON LEAF

Chemical Constituents :

Cinnamon bark contains about 0.5 to 1.0 % of volatile oil, 1.2 % of tannins

(phlobatanmns), mucilage, calcium oxalate, starch and a sweet substance known as mannitol. .

Bark yields 14 -16 % of 90 % alcohol-soluble extractives.

The volatile oil is the active constituent of the drug. lt is light yellow (when freshly distilled) in colour and changes to red on storage.

Cinnamon oil contains 60 7O % cinnamaldehyde, 5 10 % eugenol, benzaldehyde, cuminaldehyde and other terpenes like phellandrene, pinene, cymene, caryophyllane etc.

Chemical Test:
On addition of a drop of ferric chloride solution to a drop of volatile oil, a pale green colour is produced. With ferric chloride, cinnamic aldehyde gives brown colour and eugenol gives blue colour, resulting in formation of pale green colour.

in cassia oil, brown colour is obtained, as it contains only cinnamic aldehyde .

Uses:
Bark is used as a carminatiye, stomachic and mild astringent. It is also used as a flavouring agent, stimulant, an aromatic and antiseptic. Commercially, it is used as a spice and condiment, and also in the preparation of candy, dentifrices and perfumes.