Constituents of the essential oil of the Cinnamomum cassia stem bark and the biological properties.

GC-MS analysis on the essential oil (CC-oil) of Cinnamomum cassia stem bark led to the identification of cinnamaldehyde (CNA, 1), 2-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (2-CNA), coumarin (2), and cinnamyl acetate. The major volatile flavor in CC-oil was found to be 2-CNA. Coumarin was first isolated from this plant by phytochemical isolation and spectroscopic analysis. CNA and CC-oil showed potent cytotoxicity, which was effectively prevented by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treatment. Intraperitoneal administration with CNA considerably decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and glutathione S-transferase activity in rats. These results suggest that CC-oil and CNA can regulate the triggering of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes by the formation of a glutathione-conjugate.