Cassia Oil  

As a traditional Chinese medicine Cinnamomum cassia Presl has a wide range of pharmacological activities and a long history of use as a drug. The earliest medicinal history of this plant was recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing, which is the earliest and most important encyclopaedia of traditional Chinese medicine in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD). In this classic, C. cassia was used for treating arthritis. In Mingyi Bielu, the function of C. cassia was analgesic. In Yaoxing Lun, which is another known traditional Chinese medicine classic, C. cassia was used for treating bellyaches and dysmenorrhea. In addition, C. cassia was also recorded in other famous traditional Chinese medicine books, such as Tangye Bencao, Bencao Gangmu, Bencao Jingshu, Bencao Huiyan, etc. Nowadays, C. cassia has become a common traditional Chinese medicine for treating nephropathy, dysmenorrhea, menoxenia and diabetes . In order to be applied to clinic better, various dosage forms, such as pills, capsules, granules, oral liquid and so on, have been developed

Cassia Oil in Pharma

The aroma and the flavor of Chinese Cinnamon comes from an essentialoil extracted from the bark, which contains the compound cinnamaldehyde. In low dosages, cinnamaldehyde is a central nervous system stimulant and alleviates spasms. Melilotic acid, also found in Chinese Cinammon, has anti-ulcerogenic properties.

Key therapeutic benefits:

·        The herb is used in gastrointestinal disorders such as mild stomach spasms, bloating and flatulence.

·        Because of its strong aroma, it stimulates the central nervous system.

·        Chinese Cinnamon is also used to treat ulcers.

Essence of Cassia Oil

Essential oils of cinnamon bark and leaf are widely used in food flavours, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Cinnamon is mainly used in the aroma and essence industries due to its fragrance, which can be incorporated into different varieties of foodstuffs, perfumes, and medicinal products. The Oil is rich in monoterpenoids and phenyl propanoids. (E)-Cinnamaldehyde is the main component of cinnamon oil and eugenol the main component of the leaf oil. The scent of cinnamon is spicy, sweet, and for many, filled with happy memories of delicious food and cozy days. Cinnamon oil is prized for its lush fragrance. It’s also linked to several health and beauty benefits.

COMMON USAGE

·        Antibacterial properties

·        Antifungal properties

·        Antidiabetic properties

·        Antioxidant properties

Ingredients:

TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Safety Summary

·        Hazardous: contain methyl-eugenol, Drug interaction, may inhibit blood clotting, Embryo-toxicity, skin sensitization, mucous membrane irritation

·        Contraindications: pregnancy, breastfeeding

·        Cautions (oral): diabetes medication, anticoagulant medication, major surgery, peptic ulcer, hemophilia, other bleeding disorders.

·        Cautions: hypersensitive, diseased or damaged skin, children under 2 years of age.

Organ Specific Effects

·        Adverse skin reactions: cassia oil is non-phototoxic. The undiluted oil was severely irritating to rabbits, and was mildly irritating to mice. Tested at 4% on 25% volunteers for 48 hour it was not irritating, but when patch tested at 100% for 24 hours there were two positive reactions of 24 test subjects. In a maximation test at 4%, cassia oil produced positive reaction in two out of 25 test subjects. A girl employed in dipping toothpicks in cassia oil had a skin reaction affecting her hands, face and abdomen. In a study of 200 consecutive dermatitis patients, two were sensitive to 2% cassia oil on patch testing. Of 750 consecutive dermatitis patients, five were sensitive to 2% cassia oil.

·        Cardiovascular effects: Cinnamaldehyde inhibits platelet aggregation, an essential step in the blood clotting cascade. Cinnamaldehyde, at oral doses of 5,10 or 20 mg/kg/day for 45 days, dose-dependently decreased plasm glucose concentrations in streptozotocin-diabetic male rats.

·        Reproductive toxicity: In tests using cinnamaldehyde, there are inconclusive signs of reproductive toxicity. When cinnamon bark oil was fed to pregnant mice for two weeks it significantly reduced the number of nuclei and altered the distribution of embryos according to nucleus number.

·        Hepatotoxicity: At 25 or 50 mg/kg ip in rats, both cinnamaldehyde and cassia oil reduced the activity of glutathione S-transferase, but did not deplete glutathione, which slightly increased.

Systemic Effects

·        Acute toxicity cassia oil acute oral LD50 in rats 2.8 mL/kg; acute dermal LD50 in rabbits 0.32

·        Carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic potential cassia oil was significantly cytotoxic to 3LL mouse Lewis lung cancer cells. Both glutathione depleting and anticarcinogenic actions are due to conjugation with sulfhydryl biomolecules.

·        Drug interactions antidiabetic or anticoagulant medication.   

·        NTP: No component of this product present at levels greater than or equal to 0.1% is identified as probable, possible or confirmed human carcinogen by IARC.

·        OSHA: No component of this product present at levels greater than or equal to 0.1% is identified as probable, possible or confirmed human carcinogen by IARC.

·        STOT-single exposure: Not specified

·        STOT-related exposure: Not specified

·        Aspiration hazard: Not specified

ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

·        Toxicity
Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. The product must not be allowed to run into drains or waterways.

·        Substances classified as category 1 Acute toxicity

·        Crustacean toxicity: Duration of exposure : 48 h CE50 = 1.61 mg/l Species: Daphnia sp. OECD Guideline 202 (Daphnia sp. Acute Immobilisation Test)

·        Persistence and degradability Biodegradation is expected

·        Bio-accumulative potential Bioaccumulation is unlikely

·        Mobility in soil Unknown