From spice to mind: How Cinnamon supports women's mental health

Authors

  • Eashwatha Ramachandran
  • Saravanan Dhanapal
  • U Gopika Gopika
  • Rajabhuvaneswari Ariyamuthu Karpaga Vinayage college of Engineering and Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70066/jahm.v13i6.1898

Keywords:

Cognitive Health, Anti-inflammatory, Spice, Cinnamon

Abstract

Cinnamon, popularly used as a spice with abundant history in traditional medicine, has got scientific attention for its therapeutic potential beyond its culinary application. This review aims in exploring the relevance of Cinnamon in supporting Women’ Mental and Cognitive health while addressing the  challenges such as depression, anxiety, cognitive decline and menopause related symptoms. The paper outlines the Bioactive compounds of cinnamon by pointing up cinnamaldehyde, polyphenols and flavonoids. It analyzes their pharmacokinetics and neuroprotective properties. The mechanistic insights reveal cinnamon’s antioxidant, and inflammatory

come on neuro protection properties, all of which are essential for mental and cognitive health. Even though being limited and liking women specific studies, the pre clinical and clinical evidence suggest Cinnamon’s role in mood regulation, neuro degenerative risk mitigation and cognition is promising. In addition to this, practical considerations of cinnamon's dosage, safety and accessibility are discussed, along with the delivery methods and cultural significance. The review underline the need for more long- term and targeted research to evaluate cinnamon as an accessible and a complementary intervention in women's Mental Health and uphold for its intelligent interpretation into clinical and lifestyle practice.

Author Biographies

Eashwatha Ramachandran

Professor, Department of Chemistry, Karpaga Vinayaga College of Engineering and Technology, Chennai, TN

Saravanan Dhanapal

Professor, Department of Science and Humanities, Karpaga Vinayaga College of Engineering and Technology, Chennai, TN

U Gopika Gopika

Research Scholar, Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, TN, INDIA

Rajabhuvaneswari Ariyamuthu, Karpaga Vinayage college of Engineering and Technology

Professor, Department of Chemistry, Karpaga Vinayaga College of Engineering and Technology, Chennai, TN

References

Brinton RD, Yao J, Yin F, Mack WJ, Cadenas E. Perimenopause as a neurological transition state. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2015;11:393–405. https://doi.org/10.1038/NRENDO.2015.82

Yonkers KA, Simone MD, Lori FRCPC, Ross E. Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, and Management of Mood Disorders in Pregnant and Postpartum Women. 2012;10:51–66. https://doi.org/10.1176/APPI.FOCUS.10.1.51

Ranasinghe P, Pigera S, Premakumara GS, Galappaththy P, Constantine GR, Katulanda P. Medicinal properties of “true” cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): A systematic review. BMC Complement Altern Med 2013;13:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-275/TABLES/1

Rao PV, Gan SH. Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2014;2014:642942. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/642942

Albert PR. Why is depression more prevalent in women? Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 2015;40:219–21. https://doi.org/10.1503/JPN.150205

Abraham K, Wöhrlin F, Lindtner O, Heinemeyer G, Lampen A. Toxicology and risk assessment of coumarin: Focus on human data. Mol Nutr Food Res 2010;54:228–39. https://doi.org/10.1002/MNFR.200900281

Jayaprakasha GK, Rao LJM. Chemistry, Biogenesis, and Biological Activities of Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2011;51:547–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408391003699550

Woehrlin F, Fry H, Abraham K, Preiss-Weigert A. Quantification of flavoring constituents in cinnamon: High variation of coumarin in cassia bark from the German retail market and in authentic samples from Indonesia. J Agric Food Chem 2010;58:10568–75. https://doi.org/10.1021/JF102112P/SUPPL_FILE/JF102112P_SI_001

Aggarwal BB, Harikumar KB. Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2009;41:40–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIOCEL.2008.06.010

Vauzour D, Camprubi-Robles M, Miquel-Kergoat S, Andres-Lacueva C, Bánáti D, Barberger-Gateau P, Bowman GL, Caberlotto L, Clarke R, Hogervorst E, Kiliaan AJ, Lucca U, Manach C, Minihane AM, Mitchell ES, Perneczky R, Perry H, Roussel AM, Schuermans J, Sijben J, Spencer JPE, Thuret S, van de Rest O, Vandewoude M, Wesnes K, Williams RJ, Williams RSB, Ramirez M. Nutrition for the ageing brain: Towards evidence for an optimal diet. Ageing Res Rev 2017;35:222–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ARR.2016.09.010

Ouzzine M, Barré L, Netter P, Magdalou J, Fournel-Gigleux S. The Human UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases: Structural Aspects and Drug Glucuronidation. Drug Metab Rev 2003;35:287–303. https://doi.org/10.1081/DMR-120026397

Kowalska J, Tyburski J, Matysiak K, Jakubowska M, Łukaszyk J, Krzymińska J. Cinnamon as a Useful Preventive Substance for the Care of Human and Plant Health. Molecules 2021, Vol 26, Page 5299 2021;26:5299. https://doi.org/10.3390/MOLECULES26175299

Halliwell B. Oxidative stress and neurodegeneration: Where are we now? J Neurochem 2006;97:1634–58. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1471-4159.2006.03907

Nakhaee S, Kooshki A, Hormozi A, Akbari A, Mehrpour O, Farrokhfall K. Cinnamon and cognitive function: a systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies. Nutr Neurosci 2024;27:132–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415X.2023.2166436

Dantzer R, O’Connor JC, Freund GG, Johnson RW, Kelley KW. From inflammation to sickness and depression: When the immune system subjugates the brain. Nat Rev Neurosci 2008;9:46–56. https://doi.org/10.1038/NRN2297

Chen YF, Wang YW, Huang WS, Lee MM, Wood WG, Leung YM, Tsai HY. Trans-Cinnamaldehyde, An Essential Oil in Cinnamon Powder, Ameliorates Cerebral Ischemia-Induced Brain Injury via Inhibition of Neuroinflammation Through Attenuation of iNOS, COX-2 Expression and NFκ-B Signaling Pathway. Neuromolecular Med 2016;18:322–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12017-016-8395-9

Cao H, Polansky MM, Anderson RA. Cinnamon extract and polyphenols affect the expression of tristetraprolin, insulin receptor, and glucose transporter 4 in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Arch Biochem Biophys 2007;459:214–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ABB.2006.12.034

McEwen BS. Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Central role of the brain. Physiol Rev 2007;87:873–904. https://doi.org/10.1152/PHYSREV.00041.2006/ASSET/IMAGES/LARGE/Z9J0030724460008

Momtaz S, Hassani S, Khan F, Ziaee M, Abdollahi M. Cinnamon, a promising prospect towards Alzheimer’s disease. Pharmacol Res 2018;130:241–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHRS.2017.12.011

Sohrabi R, Pazgoohan N, Seresht HR, Amin B. Repeated systemic administration of the cinnamon essential oil possesses anti-anxiety and anti-depressant activities in mice. Iran J Basic Med Sci 2017;20:708. https://doi.org/10.22038/IJBMS.2017.8841

Anderson RA, Anderson R. Chromium and polyphenols from cinnamon improve insulin sensitivity: Plenary Lecture. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 2008;67:48–53. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665108006010

Peterson DW, George RC, Scaramozzino F, Lapointe NE, Anderson RA, Graves DJ, Lew J. Cinnamon extract inhibits tau aggregation associated with alzheimer’s disease in vitro. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 2009;17:585–97. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-2009-10

Abraham K, Wöhrlin F, Lindtner O, Heinemeyer G, Lampen A. Toxicology and risk assessment of coumarin: Focus on human data. Mol Nutr Food Res 2010;54:228–39. https://doi.org/10.1002/MNFR.200900281

Dugoua JJ, Seely D, Perri D, Cooley K, Forelli T, Mills E, Koren G. From type 2 diabetes to antioxidant activity: A systematic review of the safety and efficacy of common and cassia cinnamon bark. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2007;85:837–47. https://doi.org/10.1139/Y07-080

Allen RW, Schwartzman E, Baker WL, Coleman CI, Phung OJ. Cinnamon Use in Type 2 Diabetes: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Annals of Family Medicine 2013;11:452–9. https://doi.org/10.1370/AFM.1517

Mang B, Wolters M, Schmitt B, Kelb K, Lichtinghagen R, Stichtenoth DO, Hahn A. Effects of a cinnamon extract on plasma glucose, HbA1c, and serum lipids in diabetes mellitus type 2. Eur J Clin Invest 2006;36:340–4. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2362.2006.01629

Ulbricht C, Seamon E, Windsor RC, Armbruester N, Bryan JK, Costa D, Giese N, Gruenwald J, Iovin R, Isaac R, Grimes Serrano JM, Tanguay-Colucci S, Weissner W, Yoon H, Zhang J. An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. J Diet Suppl 2011;8:378–454. https://doi.org/10.3109/19390211.2011.627783

Lu J, Zhang K, Nam S, Anderson RA, Jove R, Wen W. Novel angiogenesis inhibitory activity in cinnamon extract blocks VEGFR2 kinase and downstream signaling. Carcinogenesis 2010;31:481–8. https://doi.org/10.1093/CARCIN/BGP292

Aggarwal BB, Sundaram C, Malani N, Ichikawa H. CURCUMIN: THE INDIAN SOLID GOLD. Adv Exp Med Biol 2007;595:1–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-46401-5

Clayton JA, Collins FS. NIH to balance sex in cell and animal studies. Nature 2014;509:282–3. https://doi.org/10.1038/509282A

Freeman EW. Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: definitions and diagnosis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2003;28:25–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0306-4530(03)00099-4

Additional Files

Published

2025-07-17

How to Cite

Ramachandran, . E. ., Dhanapal, . S. ., Gopika, U. G., & Ariyamuthu, R. . (2025). From spice to mind: How Cinnamon supports women’s mental health. Journal of Ayurveda and Holistic Medicine (JAHM), 13(6), 94-104. https://doi.org/10.70066/jahm.v13i6.1898