Cinnamomum tamala Health Dictionary

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Cinnamomum Tamala: From 1 Different Sources

Family: Lauraceae.

Habitat: The subtropical Himalayas, Khasi and Jaintia Hills.

English: Indian Cassia, Lignea.

Ayurvedic: Tejapatra, Patra, Patraka, Utkat, Tamaalpatra, Naalukaa, Naalikaa.

Unani: Saleekhaa, Saazaj Hindi (Also equated with Zarnab/Telispattar by National Formulary of Unani Medicine, Part I.)

Siddha/Tamil: Talishpattiri (now equated with the leaf of Abies webbiana); Lavangappattiri.

Folk: Tejpaata.

Action: Leaf—Carminative, antidiarrhoeal, spasmolytic, an- tirheumatic, hypoglycaemic. Essential oil—fungicidal.

The oil from bark contains cin- namaldehyde (70-85%) as major constituent. (See.C.cassia.) Leaves from Nepal yield a volatile oil, containing mainly linalool 54.66%; cinnamalde- hyde 1.16%, alpha-and beta-pinene, p- cymene and limonene.

Cinnamomum wighti Meissn. is also equated with Tejapatra. The bud, known as Sirunaagappoo in Siddha/ Tamil, is used as Naagakeshara (black var.). (Naagakeshara is obtained from Mesuaferra and Dilleniapentagyne.)

C. impressinervium Meissn. (Sik- kim) and C. obtusifolium (Roxb.) Nees (the Central and Eastern Himalayas up to 2,100 m, Assam and Andaman Islands) are related species of Cinnamo- mum.

The leaves and bark contain cin- namaldehyde.

Dosage: Dried leaves—1-3 g powder. (API Vol. I.)
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Cinnamomum Camphora

(Linn.) Nees & Eberm.

Family: Lauraceae.

Habitat: A tree native to China and Japan and often grown as a hedge plant.

English: Camphor tree.

Ayurvedic: Karpura, Ghanasaara, Chandra, Chandra Prabhaa, Sitaabhra, Hima-valukaa, Hi- mopala, Himakara, Shashi, Indu, Tushaara, Gandhadravya, Shital- raja.

Unani: Kaafoor.

Siddha/Tamil: Indu, Karupporam.

Action: Camphor taken internally in small doses (toxic in large doses) acts as a carminative, reflex expectorant and reflex stimulant of heart and circulation as well as respiration. Also used as a sedative and nervous depressant in convulsions, hysteria, epilepsy, chorea. Topically used as a rubefacient and mild analgesic.

Key application: Externally in catarrhal diseases of the respiratory tract and muscular rheumatism; internally in hypotonic circulatory regulation disorders, Catarrhal diseases of the respiratory tract. (German Commission E.)

The plant contains a volatile oil comprising camphor, safrole, linalool, eugenol and terpeneol. It also contains lignans (including secoisosolari- ciresinol dimethyl ether and kusunoki- ol). Safrole is thought to be carcinogenic.

The leaf oil is a natural source of linalool (94.9%); also contained cit- ronellal (2.4%).

Camphor in concentration of 500 mcg/ml completely inhibits the growth of vibro parahaemolyticus, one of the causative agents of diarrhoea and dysentery. Ethanolic extract (50%) of fruits show antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The essential oil from the plant possesses antifungal activity against many fungi. Camphor is toxic at 2-20 g.

Dosage: Concentrate—125-375 mg (CCRAS.)... cinnamomum camphora

Cinnamomum Cassia

Blume.

Synonym: C. aromaticum Nees.

Family: Lauraceae.

Habitat: Native to China, Indonesia and Vietnam.

English: Chinese Cinnamon, Cassia Bark.

Ayurvedic: Tvak, Daalchini (bark).

Siddha/Tamil: Lavangappattai.

Action: Antispasmodic, carminative, antiputrescent, antidiarrhoeal, antiemetic, antimicrobial, mild analgesic. Used for flatulent dyspepsia, colic, irritable bowel, diverticulosis; also for influenza and colds.

Key application: In loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints such as mild spasma of gastrointestinal tract, bloating, flatulence. (German Commission E, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, ESCOP.)

The bark yields an essential oil containing cinnamaldehyde (82.2%) and eugenol (1.5%) as major constituents.

Cinnamaldehyde is a weak CNS stimulant at low doses and a depressant at high doses and has spasmolytic activity. It is hypotensive, hypogly- caemic and increases peripheral blood flow; it reduces platelet aggregability by inhibiting both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism.

Aqueous extract of the bark shows significant antiallergic activity in guinea pig. Diterpenes (Cinncassi- ols) are thought to be responsible for atleast some of the antiallergic effects.

The herb inhibited ulcers induced by ethanol, also ulcers induced by phenylbutazone; failed to prevent ulcers induced by indomethacin. (Planta Med 1989, 55(3), 245-248.)

The extract, when administered orally to rats with nephritis, prevents the increase of protein level in urine.

The bark markedly reduces blood pressure in experimental rats; exhibits tranquilizing effect and is used as an antiepileptic and sedative agent in drugs ofTCM.... cinnamomum cassia

Cinnamomum Zeylanicum

Synonym: C. verum Persl.

Family: Lauraceae.

Habitat: Western Ghats at low levels. Plantations of cinnamon are confined to Kerala State.

English: Cinnamon, Ceylon Cinnamon.

Ayurvedic: Tvak, Daaruchini, Chochaa, Choncha, Varaanga, Utkata, Daarusitaa (bark).

Unani: Daarchini (bark).

Siddha/Tamil: Elavangappattai.

Folk: Daalchini.

Action: Bark—carminative, astringent, antispasmodic, expectorant, haemostatic, antiseptic. Leaf— antidiabetic. Ground cinnamon is used in diarrhoea and dysentery; for cramps of the stomach, gastric irritation; for checking nausea and vomiting; used externally in toothache, neuralgia and rheumatism. The bark is included in medicinal preparations for indigestion, flatulence, flu, mothwashes, gargles, herbal teas.

Key application: As antibacterial and fungistatic. Internally, for loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints such as mild spastic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, bloating and flatulence. (German Commission E, ESCOP.) Contraindicated in stomach and duodenal ulcers. (WHO.)

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia indicated the use of dried mature leaves of Cinnamomum tamala and dried inner bark of C. zeylanicum in sinusitis.

Cinnamaldehyde is the major constituent (74%) of the essential oil from bark.

Major constituent of the leaf oil is eugenol (28-98%) and that of root- bark oil camphor (60%).

Cinnamaldehyde is hypotensive, spasmolytic and increases peripheral blood flow; and it inhibits cyclooxy- genase and lipoxygenase enzymes of arachidonic acid metabolism.

Cinnamaldehyde exhibits CNS stimulant effects at high doses. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)

The bark oil and extracts exhibit antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities, and enhance trypsin activity.

Eugenol content of the leaf oil is antiseptic and anaesthetic. It is not inter- changable with the bark oil.

Root bark oil acts as a stimulant in amenorrhoea. The bark contains tannins (6.5%) consisting of tetrahydrox- yflavandiols; diterpenes, cinnzeylanin and cinnzeylanol.

C. malabatrum (Burm. f.) Blume is equated with Jangali Daarchini.

Dosage: Dried inner bark—1-3 g powder. (API Vol. I.)... cinnamomum zeylanicum

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