Bioassay-guided purification and characterization of anti-inflammatory components in Cinnamomum burmannii

Abstract

Excessive inflammatory response is implicated in many diseases such as arthritis, atherosclerosis, and cardiomyopathy. Previous studies have found that several cinnamon species could exhibit anti-inflammatory activities. Adopting the bioassay-guided purification technique, trans-cinnamaldehyde was identified to be the principle active component in Cinnamomum burmannii. At a dosage of 50 muM, trans-cinnamaldehyde could inhibit 50% production of nitric oxide by down-regulating the expression of iNOS. It also inhibited 75% of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production without changing cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression. It was concluded that trans-cinnamaldehyde was the major component in C. burmannii responsible for its anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of NO and PGE2 production.