Abstract

A REVIEW ON AROMA PROFILE OF CINNAMOMUM SPECIES IN NORTH AND NORTH EAST INDIA

Akanksha Rani, Chitra Pande, Geeta Tewari* and Kiran Patni

ABSTRACT

Cinnamomum genus belonging to the family Lauraceace comprises of
evergreen trees and shrubs. Over 250 species of Cinnamomum have
been reported all over the world which are distributed in tropical and
subtropical regions of North America, Central America, South
America, Asia, Oceania, and Australia. Cinnamomum species have
been mentioned in the Bible and have been used in Ayurvedic
medicine since time immemorial. Most of the Cinnamomum species
are aromatic and many of them are used as spices and herbal drugs
daily by people all over the world. Cinnamomum oils contain
cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and cinnamate as major constituents.
The oil shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer activity
and reported to have been used for lipid-lowering, and cardiovascular-diseases. Twenty six
species of Cinnamomum are found in India, out of which 12 are from north east and south
India. The leaves, panicle and bark of Cinnamomum species have aromatic oils. In north
India, the important Cinnamomum species are C. tamala, C. verum, C. glanduliferum, C.
sulphuratum, C. bejolghota, C. camphora, C. impressinervium, C. glaucescens, C.
champokianum and C. pauciflorum. The present review highlights the various species of
Cinnamomum found in north and north east India with their distribution and aroma profile.

Keywords: Cinnamomum species, distribution, essential oil profile, north India