Ameliorative impact of cinnamon against high blood pressure; an updated review

Introduction Blood pressure (BP) is controlled, moment by moment, by the balance between heart outputs against total peripheral resistance and alters depending on position, activity, emotional state, and relative health/disease conditions. It is controlled by the brain through both the endocrine and nervous systems (1). On the other hand, BP is not stable and spontaneous variations in BP exist (2). Disorders of BP control include; low BP, high BP and BP that exhibits in excessive or in abnormal fluctuation (1). In 1987, Parati et al provided the first data of an association between 24 hours BP variability (BPV) and the intensity of organ injury (3). Lastly, it was discovered that, an optimum level of BP is associated with less organ injury than patients in with high BP (3). Over the past 20 years dietary fiber has appeared as a leading dietary influence in the inhibition and treatment of chronic diseases. High fiber consumptions are related to, decreased risk of certain forms of cancer, lower risk of coronary heart disease, lower serum cholesterol concentrations, decreased BP, better glycemic control, increased weight control and recovered gastrointestinal function (4). As a matter of fact, herbal medicines with high quantities of phytochemicals have been emerged to have beneficial influences on BP, anthropometric measures and endothelial function (5). Equally important, cinnamon has been consumed in several cultures for periods as a spice and also as a traditional herbal medicine (6). In other words, cinnamon, a plant of the laurel species Lauraceae, as a spice in numerous cultures for centuries (6), has been consumed in China for thousands of years against many diseases, for instance the “thirsty disease,” which was an old expression for diabetes in China before the expression Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: Cinnamon and constituents of cinnamon have been presented to have helpful effects on essentially all of the agents related to metabolic syndrome, containing blood glucose regulation, insulin sensitivity, lipids, inflammation subsiding, antioxidant property, high blood pressure and body weight reduction efficacy. Please cite this paper as: Mahmoodnia L, Aghadavod E, Rafieian-Kopaei M. Ameliorative impact of cinnamon against high blood pressure; an updated review. J Renal Inj Prev. 2017;6(3):171-176. DOI: 10.15171/jrip.2017.33. High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is a vital people health challenge in both developed countries and economically developing ones. By commencing a few novel food habits, containing counting calories and observing portion sizes, individuals can lower their BPs and modulate administered drugs to regulator high BP better. Additionally, some herbal drugs may be able to lower BP. Over the past centuries, cinnamon has been consumed as a traditional remedy in China. Cinnamon, the everlasting tree of tropical medication, belongs to the Lauraceae clan. In fact, cinnamon is one of the most main spices consumed daily by people globally. The accessible in vitro and preclinical data suggest that cinnamon has anti-antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial, cholesterol-lowering, cardiovascular protecting, and immuno-modulatory effects. Likewise, numerous researches have demonstrated its beneficial effects on BP. In this review, therapeutic effects of cinnamon particularly on BP and on patients having type II diabetes mellitus will be reviewed. A R T I C L E I N F O