Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Extracts Research Articles

Heat stability of the in vitro inhibitory effect of spices on lipase, amylase, and glucosidase enzymes.

This study investigated the effect of boiling on the inhibitory action of spices on digestive enzymes. Unboiled extracts of Trigonella foenum‐graecum (seed) (25.42%), Myristica fragrans (seed) (22.70%), and Cuminum cyminum (seed) (19.17%) showed significantly (p < 0.05) a higher lipase inhibitory activity than their respective boiled extracts (20.23%, 15.74%, and 12.57%). Unboiled extracts of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (stem bark) (−16.98%) and Foeniculum officinale (seed) (−16.05%) showed an activation of lipase enzyme, and boiling significantly (p < 0.05) changed the activity into lipase inhibition as 8.47% and 9.54%, respectively. Unboiled extracts of Coriandrm sativum (seed), C. cyminum, and Elettaria cardamomum (seed) showed an activation of amylase enzyme, and boiling these extracts significantly reduced the enzyme activation. The other unboiled extracts showed a higher amylase inhibition than the boiled extracts, whereas the boiled extracts of C.longa (rhizome) and Syzygium aromaticum (flower) exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) lower values. Unboiled extracts of C. zeylanicum, M. fragrans, and S. aromaticum showed an insignificantly higher glucosidase inhibitory activity than the boiled extracts. Inhibition of digestive enzymes by nutritional intervention is one avenue to be considered in treating diet‐induced obesity and in the management of postprandial hyperglycemia. Spices, used as food additives, could be a potential source of digestive enzyme inhibitors. The current study revealed that unboiled extracts of T. foenum‐graecum (seed), C. cyminum (seed), and M. fragrans (seed) are more effective than the boiled extracts as an antiobesity therapy. Moreover, it endorses the use of infusion of T. foenum‐graecum seeds as an antiobesity therapy.

EFEITO INIBITÓRIO &lt;i&gt;in vitro &lt;/i&gt; DE EXTRATOS DE &lt;i&gt;Cinnamomum zeylanicum &lt;/i&gt; BLUME NO CONTROLE DE &lt;i&gt;Cylindrocladium candelabrum&lt;/i&gt;

A incidência do fungo Cylindrocladium candelabrum, agente causal de doenças em cultivo de eucalipto no Brasil, tem aumentado significativamente, sendo necessário o uso de fungicidas para controle do mesmo. Porém, os agrotóxicos ocasionam contaminação ambiental e danos à saúde dos seres vivos. Assim, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar a ação inibitória in vitro dos extratos de Cinnamomum zeylanicum sobre o crescimento micelial de Cylindrocladium candelabrum. Os extratos brutos foram obtidos pelo método de percolação com os solventes hexano (EBH), acetato de etila (EBAcoEt) e metanol (EBM). As análises fitoquímicas foram baseadas nas condições estabelecidas no Manual para Análise Fitoquímica e Cromatográfica de Extratos Vegetais. Para avaliar o efeito dos extratos na inibição do crescimento micelial, foram utilizados como tratamentos: Testemunha, constituída apenas de meio de cultura (controle negativo); concentrações de 5, 10 e 20 mg.mL-1 dos extratos brutos de canela; e 5 mL do fungicida Clorotalonil (controle positivo), todos incorporados ao meio de cultura BDA (Batata-Destrose-Ágar). O resultado do estudo fitoquímico identificou açúcares redutores, fenóis, taninos, esteroides, triterpenoides, alcaloides para os extratos EBH e EBAcoEt. Já o extrato EBM diferenciou-se pela presença de antraquinonas, saponinas espumídicas e flavonoides. Constatou-se que os extratos brutos de Cinnamomum zeylanicum apresentaram diferenças significativas com relação aos tratamentos controles. Quanto maior a concentração dos extratos brutos, maior foi a atividade antifúngica sobre o fitopatógeno, sendo que o tratamento com EBM obteve maior eficiência na inibição do crescimento micelial do fitopatógeno. Desta forma fica evidenciada a ação inibitória dos extratos brutos de Cinnamomum zeylanicum sobre o crescimento micelial de Cylindrocladium candelabrum, entretanto, etapas seguintes deverão ser realizadas, como o teste avaliativo in vivo, para melhor constatação da eficiência desses extratos.

Inhibition activity of Zingiber offcinale. and Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum

Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of ginger )Zingier officinale) and (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) were used to investigate an antifungal activity against food spoilage fungal pathogens. Study of the inhibitory effect of these extract was done separately against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum isolated from (tomato pasts, cheese) the samples were cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA) at pH 5.6 and 28°C. In this study, results had shown that the extracts of Both plant demonstrated antifungal activity. When compare extracts of the two plants, C. zeylanicum extracts showed higher inhibition activity than (Zingiber officinale) extracts significantly. Ethanolic extracts of these tow plants gives significantly inhabitation in the mycelia growth of fungi more than their aqueous extracts (16-22), (19-25)mm, P. noitatum and A. niger respectively while the inhibitory observed by the aqueous extract (5-6) mm against A. niger for (6-8) mm. Against P. notatum was the most affected by all extracts while A. niger was the least susceptible. There was a significant difference (P=0.05) between groups in the antifungal activities of tested fungi, and the effectiveness of ethanolic extracts was increased with increase in their concentrations. The ability of these extracts to inhibit the growth of the two fungi must take into consideration an indication of the antifungal potency of cinnamon and Zingiber officinale, that makes them the candidate for the production of antifungal agents.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Extract on Cariogenic Microorganisms of the Dental Plaque In-Vitro Study and Scanning Electron Microscopic Assessment

The present study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Cinnamomum zeylanicum aqueous extracts and ethanol extracts on different type of dental plaque microorganisms. Screening study was performed to detect the potential antibacterial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, S. mutans, Lactobacillus and dental plaque pool samples. From the screening test, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values were determined. The lowest MIC value was 25 mg/ml of aqueous and 12.5 mg/ml of ethanol extract for S. aureus. The highest MIC values were seen in dental plaque anaerobic pool samples with 300 mg/ml of aqueous extract and 150 mg/ml of ethanol extract. The MIC values for aqueous extracts ranged from 25 to 300 mg/ml where as ethanol extract ranged from 12.5 to 150 mg/ml. The high concentration of ethanol extract, 100 mg/ml in the fixed plant concentration test showed the most inhibition effect for all the organisms tested. Generally, the Cinnamomum zeylanicum ethanol extracts demonstrated a stronger antibacterial activity compared to the aqueous extract. This study also compares the antibacterial activity of chlorhexidine with the plant extracts but chlorhexidine showed a higher antibacterial effect on the microorganisms where almost all organisms inhibited The morphological structures of S. mutans Lactobacillus were observed under SEM before and after treatment with Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts and chlorhexidine digluconate mouthwash. This study did not detect any physical changes occurring in shapes and structures of the bacteria after treatment with Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts. The scanning electron micrograph of bacteria after treatment with chlorhexidine digluconate mouthwash showed visible changes in the shapes and structures of the bacteria. Cinnamomum zeylanicum present promising antibacterial properties which could be used to inhibit dental plaque formation

Phytochemical characterization and biological activity evaluation of ethanolic extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIndia being a multicultural nation, every region of the country offers a distinct culinary flavor and taste. These flavors are attributed to spices and condiments which form the mainstay of Indian cuisine. Most of these spices and condiments are derived from various biodiversity hotspots in India and form the crux of India's multidiverse and multicultural cuisine. Apart from their varying aromas, flavors and tastes, these spices and condiments are known to possess several medicinal properties also. Most of these spices find considerable mention in Ayurveda, the indigenous system of medicine, as panaceas for several aliments. Cinnamomum zeylanicum (CZ), belonging to family Lauraceae and commonly known as cinnamon is one such spice known to have diverse medicinal properties since time immemorial. Aim of the studyIn the present study, apoptotic and anti-microbial activity of ethanolic extract of CZ was evaluated against human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and compared for its effect on normal kidney epithelial cell line Vero. Materials and methodsEthanolic extract of tree bark of CZ was used to determine the cytotoxic effect on MDA-MB-231 using Trypan blue dye exclusion method and cytometry. The tested dose of the extract was 10–100 µg/mL. Antibacterial activity was determined using disc diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in the range 2–10 mg/mL. Apoptotic activity was determined using DNA fragmentation assay. ResultsEthanolic extract of CZ was found to have an IC50 value of 25 µg/mL against MDA cell line. On the other hand, CZ extract did not have any significant effect on Vero cells even at 100 µg/mL (IC50 > 100 µg/mL). The ethanolic extract of CZ bark showed significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus at 10 mg/mL while no appreciable activity was detected against E. coli. DNA isolated from extract treated cancer cells showed a fragmentation pattern characteristic of apoptosis. However, no DNA fragmentation was observed in DNA isolated from extract treated Vero cells. ConclusionEthanolic bark extract of CZ could be potentially beneficial in treating breast cancer and may be of interest for future studies in developing integrative cancer therapy against proliferation, metastasis, and migration of breast cancer cells.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ceylon cinnamon) as a potential pharmaceutical agent for type-2 diabetes mellitus: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPrevious studies have explored the anti-diabetic effects of Cinnamomum cassia extract in vivo and in vitro. However, there are no studies at present exploring the effects of the indigenous species of Sri Lankan cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) in patients with diabetes mellitus. The present study aims to evaluate the potential effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract as a pharmaceutical agent in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus.Methods/designThe study will be conducted as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial for a period of 4 months at the Medical Clinic, University Medical Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka. A total of 210 subjects with diabetes, in three equal groups, will be recruited for the study. The patients will be randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio according to the method of block randomization and the subjects will be randomly and equally assigned into two test groups (n = 70 each) and one placebo group (n = 70). The population will be stratified at randomization based on age, gender and disease severity. The treatment drug is a capsule containing Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract as the active ingredient and the placebo capsule will contain lactose monohydrate. Two doses of Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts (250 mg and 500 mg of the cinnamon extract) will be used. The study drugs will be double blinded to both investigators and participants. The visits and the evaluations will be done as follows: screening (visit 0), 1 month (visit 1), 2 months (visit 2), 3 months (visit 3) and 4 months (visit 4). The following primary outcome measures will be evaluated: glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and serum insulin. Secondary outcome measures include: Body Mass Index (BMI) and other anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and triglycerides (TAG). Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 14.DiscussionWe describe the protocol for a clinical trial design evaluating the effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ceylon cinnamon) in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus. The result of the present study, positive or negative, should provide a step change in the evidence guiding current and future policies regarding the use of cinnamon dietary supplementation in patients with diabetes.Trial registrationSri Lanka Clinical Trials Registry (SLCTR), identifier: SLCTR/2017/010 (http://slctr.lk/trials/714). Registered on 5 April 2017; study protocol version 3.1 21 March 2017.

EXTRACTION OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS AS ANTIOXIDANTS FROM SOME PLANTS AND THEIR CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY AGAINST BREAST CANCER CELL LINE

Objective: The objective of the study was to study the antioxidants and cytotoxic activities of phenolic extracts of some plants against breast cancer and normal cell lines.Methods: Phenolics were extracted from different parts of some plants (15) such as seeds, fruits, leaves, and rhizomes using methanol: ethanol: HCl: Distilled water at a ratio 50:29:1:20 (v:v:v:v). The contents of phenolics and flavonoids were estimated using gallic acid and quercetin as standards, respectively. The antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2ˋ-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assay. Phenolic flavonoids were partially purified by adsorption chromatography using a silica gel column from selected plants and assayed their cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cell line Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) and a normal cell line of non-tumorigenic fetal hepatic cell line (WRL-68).Results: The Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract had the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents were followed by Lawsonia inermis, Citrullus colocynthis, Syzygium aromaticum, Peganum nigrum, and Phoenix dactylifera. The antioxidant activity of Curcuma longa, P. dactylifera, C. colocynthis, Solanum melongena, and C. zeylanicum extracts had the highest ability to scavenge the free radicals. The acetone fraction of P. dactylifera and C. colocynthis extracts had the minimum inhibition dose that kills 50% of cells inhibitory concentration 50 values 156.91 μg and 1055.06 μg against MCF-7 and 372.86 μg and 153.8 μg against WRL-68, respectively. While the S. melongena extract had less effect on both cell lines.Conclusions: Phenolics as antioxidant substances had moderate or variable effectiveness on normal and cancer cell lines, and the highest concentrations were cancerous poison impact may be on normal cells over than cancer cells.

Composição Fitoquímica e Ação Fungicida de Extratos Brutos de Cinnamomum zeylanicum Sobre Quambalaria eucalypti

Given the importance of natural products for alternative control of plant diseases, the aim of this work was to determine the chemical composition and evaluate the fungitoxic effects of extracts of Cinnamomum zeylanicum on isolated Q1 and Q2 pathogen Quambalaria eucalypti Crude extracts obtained by percolation with hexane solvent method (EBH), ethyl acetate (EBAcoEt) and methanol (EBM). The phytochemical analysis were based on the conditions set out in the Manual for Phytochemistry and Chromatographic Analysis of Plant Extracts, resulting in the identification of reducing sugars, phenols, tannins, steroids, triterpenoids, alkaloids for EBH and EBAcoEt extracts. EBM extract distinguished by the presence of anthraquinones, espumidica saponins and flavonoids. To evaluate the effect of extracts on inhibition of mycelial growth of phytopathogenic fungus, we used concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 mg.mL-1 crude extracts of cinnamon incorporated into PDA culture medium. The results showed statistically significant differences compared to the control (control), the higher the concentration of the crude extract of C. zeylanicum most used was their antifungal activity against isolates Quambalaria eucalypti. In Q1 isolated extract, more inhibited mycelial growth was the EBM and isolated Q2 EBAcoEt. Keywords: cinnamon; alternative control; plant pathogens.

Inhibitory effect of Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira ethanol extracts on melanin synthesis via repression of tyrosinase expression

Melanin contributes to skin color, and tyrosinase is the enzyme that catalyzes the initial steps of melanin formation. Therefore, tyrosinase inhibitors may contribute to the control of skin hyperpigmentation. The inhibition of tyrosinase activity by Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts was previously reported. In this report, we test the hypothesis that Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira, an endemic plant to Taiwan, contains compounds that inhibit tyrosinase activity, similar to C.zeylanicum. The cytotoxicity of three sources of C.osmophloeum Kanehira ethanol extracts was measured in B16-F10cells using a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. At concentrations greater than 21.25μg/mL, the ethanol extracts were toxic to the cells; therefore, 21.25μg/mL was selected to test the tyrosinase activities. At this concentration, all three ethanol extracts decreased the melanin content by 50% in IBMX-induced B16-F10cells. In addition to the melanin content, greater than 20% of the tyrosinase activity was inhibited by these ethanol extracts. The RT-PCR results showed that tyrosinase and transcription factor MITF mRNAs expression were down-regulated. Consistent with the mRNA results, greater than 40% of the human tyrosinase promoter activity was inhibited based on the reporter assay. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the ethanol extracts protect cells from UV exposure. C.osmophloeum Kanehira neutralized the IBMX-induced increase in melanin content in B16-F10cells by inhibiting tyrosinase gene expression at the level of transcription. Moreover, the ethanol extracts also partially inhibited UV-induced cell damage and prevented cell death. Taken together, we conclude that C.osmophloeum Kanehira is a potential skin-whitening and protective agent.

Effects of the polyphenol content on the anti-diabetic activity of Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum is a popular kitchen spice widely investigated for insulin potentiating effects. Though a group of water soluble polyphenols belonging to the oligomeric procyanidins has been identified as the bioactive principle, the lack of systematic information on the effect of the polyphenol content on safety and anti-diabetic efficacy remains as a major limitation for the development of optimized and standardized cinnamon extracts for functional use. In the present paper, water soluble extracts of Cinnamomum zeylanicum containing 45 and 75% gallic acid equivalents (GAE) of polyphenol content were prepared by a novel process and characterized by tandem mass spectrometry. The polyphenol enhanced extracts were shown to be safe and offered better antioxidant potential, hypoglycemic effect, hypolipidimic effect, and significant decrease in other biochemical parameters as compared to the standard aqueous extract containing 15% GAE, when administered to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at 200 mg per kg b.w. for 30 days. The efficacy of polyphenol extracts in lowering blood glucose levels and ameliorating oxidative stress was further demonstrated in humans by administrating 'procynZ-45' containing 45% GAE polyphenols at a relatively low dosage of (125 mg × 2) per day for 30 days to 15 volunteers who had elevated fasting blood glucose levels; but not involved in any medication.

Restriction Inhibition Assay: A Qualitative and Quantitative Method to Screen Sequence Specific DNA Binder from Herbal Plants

Purpose: To employ restriction inhibition assay (RIA) to screen phytochemical-rich fractions (PRFs) with high affinity for EcoRI and HindIII restriction sequences and correlate their interaction to an anticancer activity.Methods: pBR322 linear plasmid DNA was used as a template to screen the sequence-selective inhibition of aqueous extracts of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Picrorhiza kurroa, respectively. The template was further incubated with different concentrations of PRFs prior to digestion with restriction endonucleases HindIII and EcoRI. The Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) and Sequence Tag Sites (STS) of oncogenes were screened for the presence of EcoRI and HindIII restriction sequences to associate an anticancer property to PRF.Results: The inhibitory concentrations of Cinnamomum zeylanicum aqueous extract against HindIII and EcoRI endonucleases were approximately 2.5 and 5 μg/μl, respectively. No binding was observed for Picrorhiza kurroa at both HindIII and EcoRI restriction sites. The saponin-rich fractions of Cinnamomum zeylanicum showed significant (p &lt; 0.001) inhibition as compared to control at concentrations of 0.28±1.45 μg/μl for EcoRI and 0.11±2.68 μg/μl for HindIII endonucleases. Both EcoRI and HindIII restriction sites were found repeatedly in the STS and ESTs of BRCA2, the early onset oncogene.Conclusion: The inhibition of endonucleases by phytochemical-rich fractions provides direct evidence of the use of RIA for screening as well as demonstrating the binding specificity of these PRFs. The presence of 5’-AAGCTT-3’ &amp; 5’-GAATTC-3’ in the ESTs of BRAC2 provides an insight into the use of screened components as leads in the search for novel anticancer compounds.Keywords: Restriction endonucleases, Restriction sites, Phytochemicals, Restriction inhibition assay (RIA), Binding specificity, Oncogenes, Sequence tag sites, Expressed sequence tag, Anticancer.

Effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment and oxidative stress in rats

ObjectiveCinnamomum zeylanicum (CZ) is commonly known as cinnamon in traditional system of medicine having antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and other activities. The present study was designed to assess the effect of extract of CZ bark on cognitive performance of scopolamine (SCOP)-treated rats and on associated altered oxidative stress markers in the brain of rats.MethodsThe extract was administered orally in three doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) for a period of 21 days. SCOP was administered in the dose of 1.0 mg/kg intraperitoneally. The Morris water maze and passive avoidance step-down tasks were performed to assess cognitive functions. At the end of the study, oxidative stress parameters namely, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were also analyzed in the brain tissue of rats.ResultsSCOP-treated group showed significantly impaired acquisition and retention of memory as compared to the saline- and vehicle-treated groups. Pretreatment with CZ extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 21 days significantly reversed SCOP-induced amnesia as evidenced by increased step-down latency in passive avoidance and decreased latency in Morris water maze test compared to the SCOP-treated group. SCOP administration also caused the increase of MDA and reduction of GSH levels. Pretreatment with CZ extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) resulted in a significant decrease in MDA levels and increase in GSH levels as compared to the SCOP-treated animals.DiscussionThe results suggest that CZ can induce cognitive improvement in SCOP-treated rats and this effect can be attributed to a certain extent to decreased oxidative stress.

Inhibitory activity of Indian spice plant Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts against Alternaria solani and Curvularia lunata, the pathogenic dematiaceous moulds

BackgroundDematiaceous moulds are pathogenic microorganisms and act as etiological agents of mycoses with different degrees of severity in humans and animals. These moulds also cause loss of food crops and storage food products. The information regarding antimicrobial efficacy of the plant preparations on these moulds is scanty. The present study reveals phytochemical characterization and the effect of bark and leaf extracts of Indian spice plant, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cz), against the growth of two species of dematiaceous moulds, Alternaria solani and Curvularia lunata.MethodsCz bark and leaf samples were sequentially extracted in different solvents using Soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical analyses of extracts were done as per standard protocols. The antifungal bioassay of extracts was done by hanging drop technique. The inhibition of fungal spore germination was monitored under influence of three different concentrations of extracts.ResultsThe lowest test concentration (50 μg/ml) of extracts of Cz bark prepared into acetone and that of Cz leaf into petroleum ether and ethanol exhibited complete inhibition (100%) of spore germination in both the moulds. At 100 μg/ml concentration all the extracts showed about 50 to 100% inhibition. However, the treatment of the spores of the two fungal species with highest concentration (500 μg/ml) of bark and leaf extracts in all the solvents showed 100% fungicidal activity as it completely arrested the germination of spores. Relatively lower activity of aqueous extracts at 50 and 100 μg/ml concentrations suggests that the antifungal ingredients present in Cz bark and leaf are more soluble in organic solvents than water.ConclusionThe results demonstrated that the Cz bark and leaves contain certain fungicidal constituents exhibiting potential antimould activity against A. solani and C. lunata.

Evaluation of In-Vitro Antibacterial Acitivity of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Extract on Different Microorganisms of the Dental Plaque

The present study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Cinnaomum zeylanicum on different types of dental plaque microorganisms. Screening study was perforned to detect the potential antibacterial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, S. mutans, L. casei, B. fragilis, A. actinomycemtemcomitans and dental plaque pool samples. From the screening test, values of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) were determined. The lowest MIC value was 25 mg/ml of aqueous and 12.5 mg/ml of ethanol extract for S. aureus. The highest MIC values were seen in A. actinomycetemcomitans and dental plaque aerobic pool samples with 300 mg/ml of aqueous extract and 150 mg/ml of ethanol extract. The MIC values for aqueous extracts ranged from 25 to 300 mg/ml whereas for fixed plant concentration test, showed the strongest inhibition effect for all the organisms tested. Generally, the ethanol extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum demonstrated a stronger antibacterial activity compared to the aqueous extract. This study also compared the antibacterial activity of chlorhexidine with that of the plant extracts. Chlorhexidine showed a higher antibacterial effect on the microorganisms, with almost all organisms inhibited.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract on the radiolabelling of blood constituents and the morphometry of red blood cells: In vitro assay

Effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon) on the labelling of blood constituents with technetium-99 m( 99mTc) and on the morphology of red blood cells were studied. Blood samples from Wistar rats were incubated with cinnamon extract for 1hour or with 0.9% NaCl, as control. Labelling of blood constituents with 99mTc was performed. Plasma (P) and blood cells (BC), soluble (SF-P and SF-BC) and insoluble (IF-P and IF-BC) fractions were separated. The radioactivity in each fraction was counted and the percentage of radioactivity incorporated (%ATI) was calculated. Blood smears were prepared, fixed, stained and the qualitative and quantitative morphological analysis of the red blood cells was evaluated. The data showed that the cinnamon extract decreased significantly ( p<0.05) the %ATI on BC, IF-P and IF-BC. No modifications were verified on shape of red blood cells. Cinnamon extracts could alter the labelling of blood constituents with 99mTc, and although our results were obtained with animals, precaution is suggested in interpretations of nuclear medicine examinations involving the labelling of blood constituents in patients who are using cinnamon.