Chemical Composition of Cinnamon Oil

1. Cinnamon Oil
(Chemical Composition)
by
Mehnaz Akbar

2. Cinnamon
Synonyms;
Cinnamon Bark
Kalmi Dal chini
Celon Cinnamon
Biological source;
Genus Cinnamomum
Family Lauraceae
Species 250-350
Biologically important species;
Cinnamomum verum /
Cinnamomum zeylanicum

3. Cinnamon (Chemical Composition)
The term cinnamon commonly refers to the dried bark of C.
zeylanicum and C. aromaticum. Cinnamon consist of a variety of
resinous compounds , including
– cinnamaldehyde ,
– trans-cinnamaldehyde,
– cinnamyl acetate ,
– caryophyllene,
– cinnamate ,
– cinnamic acid ,
– ethyl cinnamate
– eugenol and
– The flavour of Cinnamon is due
– to aromatic essential oil that

4. Major constituents of Cinnamon
Oil
Cinnamon oil contains 15 chemical constituents that
contribute to its distinct aroma, remedial values,
consistency and superiority of this splendid oil.
Bark Oil Leaf Oil
(E)-Cinnamaldehyde Eugenyl Acetate
Eugenol Eugenol
(E)-Cinnamyl acetate (E)-Cinnamyl acetate
Linalool Linalool
B-Caryophyllene Benzyl Benzoate
p-Cymene
as major compounds

5. Active Ingredients of Cinnamomum
barks
Constituents Cinnamomum
Zeylanicum
Cinnamomum Cassia
Volatile Oils % Upto 4% Upto 2%
Cinnamic Aldhyde
(Irritant)
65% 80%
Eugenol 10% Absent
Mucilage 2% 10%
Mono and
Sesqueterpens
Present Absent
Tennins Present Present
Coumarins Absent Present

6. Cinnamon Oil
(Active component)
– Composition of the Cinnamon oil depends on the source, cultivation,
vegetative stage and the growing season of the plant of Cinnamon.
– The bark oil is generally preferred over Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil.
– "Ground Cinnamon" that we purchase in grocery stores, and even
most of the "Cinnamon Sticks" that are sold are not true cinnamon,
but are really its more affordable cousin, Cassia, (Cinnamomum
cassia).
– Cinnamaldehyde is responsible for spicy taste and odor and occur due
to the absorption of oxygen . As cinnamon ages, it darkness in color,
improving the resinous compound
– (E)-Cinnamaldehyde has the highest area
with a proportion of about 76.8% of
Cinnamon oil components.

7. Chemical constituent of different
parts of Cinnamon Plant
Part of the plant
– Leaves
– Bark
– Fruit & Flower
– Root bark
Compound
– Cinnamaldehyde : 1 to 5 %
– Eugenol : 70 to 95%
– Cinnamaldehyde : 65 to 80 %
– Eugenol : 5 to 10 %
– (E)-cinnamyl acetate 42 to 54%
– caryophyllene 9 to 14 %
– Camphor : 60 %