Cinnamon, sodium benzoate and the brain

[Alchemica]

Recent animal studies have shown that some of the constituents of cinnamon and the active metabolite sodium benzoate may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of Parkinson's disease ['Cinnamon may be used to halt progression of Parkinson's disease, study suggests]. Sodium benzoate has been studied in other diseases and may be an effective compound. Cinnamaldehyde itself is a known sensitiser and should be used with caution.

Cinnamon contains three major compounds—cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate and cinnamyl alcohol. After intake, these three active compounds are converted into cinnamic acid by oxidation and hydrolysis, respectively. Then cinnamic acid is β-oxidized to benzoate in the liver - existing as the sodium salt (NaB) or benzoyl-CoA.

Both cinnamon and NaB may be of benefit for various neurodegenerative disorders:

'...oral administration of ground cinnamon increased the level of sodium benzoate [NaB] in serum and brain and upregulated the levels of neurotrophic factors in vivo in the mouse CNS. Accordingly, oral feeding of NaB, also increased the level of these neurotrophic factors in vivo in the CNS of mice.' [Study]

With regard to the therapeutic potential of sodium benzoate for Alzheimer's disease in humans, a recent study is promising.

DAAO inhibition (via sodium benzoate) also shows promise in: the treatment of schizophrenia in humans [1,2], animal models of Parkinson's disease [3,4], modulating CNS immune signaling pathways in diseased states [5] and increasing volumes of the thalamus, amygdala and brainstem in a drug-naïve patient with major depression [6]

A basic literature review can be found here

[Dreamwalker.]

Preventing foodborne illness, naturally—with cinnamon

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-07-foodborne-illness-naturallywith-cinnamon.html

[AndyAmine.]

I take Cinnamon to help with the hyperhidrosis I suffer from Methadone.

[doxneed2c-me]

I use cinnamon to fight fungus gnats and mold in my pots.

[Dreamwalker.]

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-07-natural-products-skin-cancer-radiotherapy.html

"organic, antioxidant compounds caffeic acid (CA), rosmarinic acid (RA) and trans-cinnamic acid (TCA) used at non-toxic concentrations. They tested the radio protective effect of these compounds against gamma-radiation in terms of reducing levels of reactive oxygen species generated in skin cells by clinical relevance dose of gamma ray in the laboratory and in terms of the damage to the genetic material DNA, specifically double strand breaks in laboratory samples of human skin cells (keratinocytes). They found that treating the human skin cells with CA, RA and TCA can protected the cells by 40, 20 and 15 percent respectively from gamma ray toxicity."

Edited July 25, 2014 by Dreamwalker