Pharmacological Studies on Chinese Cinnamon. II. Effects of Cinnamaldehyde on the Cardiovascular and Digestive Systems

Abstract

Effects of cinnamaldehyde (CA) on the cardiovascular and digestive systems were examined. CA produced a hypotensive effect in anesthetized dogs and guinea pigs, which seemed to be due mainly to its peripheral vasodilatation. The vasodilatation induced by CA in dogs lasted and remained over the recovery period of the fall in blood pressure to its original level. A papaverine-like musculotropic activity of CA, which was shown in the isolated ileum from the guinea pig and the mouse, seemed to participate in the vasodilatation. CA exerted an increase in cardiac contractile force and beating rate in the isolated guinea pig heart preparations, that is, isolated atria and perfusing heart. The actions were distinct from those of adrenaline as a lag time was needed for the appearance of positive inotropic and chronotropic effects. The repeated applications of CA, however, decreased such effects and led to a cardiac inhibition. Coronary flow was increased. CA moderately inhibited both the rat stomach movement and the mouse intestinal propulsion. Gastric erosions produced in stressed mice were protected by oral administration of CA. In rats, CA increased biliary excretion. Some discussions were made upon the relation between pharmacological effects of CA and therapeutic effects of chinese cinnamon.