Herb Profile
Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum
Cinnamon is the aromatic bark of Cinnamomum trees; this profile covers Cinnamomum verum, the Ceylon or 'true' cinnamon, which is low in coumarin compared with the more common cassia types.
Last reviewed: •3 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·B Moderate
Use extra caution — Hepatotoxicity risk lower than cassia Details
- Evidence
- Moderate Evidence
- Typical onset
- Varies by prep
- Safety rating
- Moderate caution
- Best for
- Metabolic
- Avoid / review if
- Antidiabetic Drugs (Additive Hypoglycemia)
Safety
Safety & Cautions
Hepatotoxicity risk lower than cassia
Elevated caution
Caution level: Elevated. One caution category applies — read it before use.
- Liver-SensitiveLiver-related caution language appears in the profile.
Detailed safety fields
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications
- Antidiabetic Drugs (Additive Hypoglycemia)
Safety classifications
- Liver-Sensitive: Liver-related caution language appears in the profile.
Full safety note
- Hepatotoxicity risk lower than cassia
Safety labels
- Liver-Sensitive
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.
Moderate Caution
110 flagged pairingsBlood-sugar lowering
Moderate Caution
110 flagged pairingsBlood-sugar lowering
Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.
Blood-sugar loweringCertainty: Theoretical
Data provenance recorded for 110 of 110 pairings in this mechanism group.
- Acarbose — Theoretical interaction certainty
- ajoene — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Allicin — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Aloe Vera — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Alpha-Lipoic Acid — Theoretical interaction certainty
- American Ginseng Extract — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Andrographis — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Anemarrhena Asphodeloides — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Tarragon — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Ashoka — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Astragalus — Theoretical interaction certainty
- Astragalus Membranaceus — Theoretical interaction certainty
+98 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.
Evidence
Evidence Summary
Evidence lens
Useful signal, but study design, dose, and population still matter.
ModerateModerate Evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Metabolic Regulation · Glucose Metabolism Support
Research maturity: Established research — Long Term Human Evidence May Be Limited.
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Hepatotoxicity risk lower than cassia
This profile cites 3 human studies.
Study design details
Evidence Grade
Grade B: Moderate Evidence
Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.
- Design Match
- Meta-analysis
- Risk of Bias
- Low
- Consistency
- Consistent
Strongest recorded design is a meta-analysis, drawn from 9 recorded studies, 7 in people. No disagreement is recorded across them.
How evidence grades work
Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.
- Strong
- Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
- Moderate
- Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
- Preliminary / Mixed
- Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
- Traditional / Theoretical
- Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (8)4 human evidence sources · 0 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable
Filter by study class
Showing 8 of 8 studies.
What the evidence actually shows
This table contains 8 structured sources, including 4 human evidence sources; 0 are human trials.
| Study | Design | N | Dose | Duration | Population | Outcome | Result & magnitude | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moridpour AH et al. · Phytother Res · 2024 Background | Meta-analysis Statistically combines results from multiple eligible studies; confidence still depends on the quality, consistency, and directness of those studies. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Background | Meta-analysis Statistically combines results from multiple eligible studies; confidence still depends on the quality, consistency, and directness of those studies. | — | — | — | — | — | Pooled RCT evidence showed reductions across waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, CRP, LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and MDA. | PubMed → |
Background | Meta-analysis Statistically combines results from multiple eligible studies; confidence still depends on the quality, consistency, and directness of those studies. | — | — | — | — | — | Updated pooled evidence supports favorable changes in selected lipid-profile measures with cinnamon supplementation. | PubMed → |
Background | Meta-analysis Statistically combines results from multiple eligible studies; confidence still depends on the quality, consistency, and directness of those studies. | — | — | — | — | — | Cinnamon modestly reduced weight and improved HOMA-IR, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, and LDL in women with PCOS. | PubMed → |
Antibacterial mechanisms of cinnamon and its constituents: A review Vasconcelos NG et al. · Microb Pathog · 2018 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Silva ML et al. · Nutrients · 2022 Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | — | PubMed → |
Show 2 more studies
Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | Cinnamon was associated with improvements in fasting glucose and lipid profiles, with stronger effects in diabetes/metabolic-syndrome populations. | PubMed → |
Background | Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review. | — | — | — | — | — | Higher-level evidence suggests possible improvements in blood pressure, oxidative-stress markers, and some inflammatory markers. | PubMed → |
Dosing & Timing
- Dose guidance
- 1 3 g/day powder or equivalent extract
How Cinnamon works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Cinnamon Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & biological pathways (preclinical)
- Metabolic Regulation
- Glucose Metabolism Support
Active Compounds
Key constituents studied in Cinnamon, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.
Compare related active botanicals
Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Review available sources for Cinnamon
Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.
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Safety first · Harm reduction
This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.
Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.
Founder & Head Researcher · Oak Ridge, TN · Last reviewed August 2026
Editorial Review
Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.
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