Scientists determine that cinnamon helps reduce visible signs of aging

For most undergraduate students, worrying about skin elasticity is a bit premature. In fact, this science writer is tempted to argue that worrying about skin elasticity at any point is probably not the best use of one’s time. Setting aside my own personal gripes about the cosmetics industry, however, researchers have determined that cinnamon could actually be used as an anti-aging skin care product.

In this study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers looked at the effect of seven different types of herbs and spices including saffron, turmeric, paprika, garlic and black pepper, on the production of type I collagen in human skin cells. Collagen, and more specifically type I collagen, is a protein found in skin that reduces and degrades as we age, causing a loss of skin elasticity and strength.

Cinnamon quickly became the focus of their study as the extract appeared to be a powerful inducer of type I collagen, increasing the collagen level in the cell for a period of six hours after treatment.

There are many different species of cinnamon and their chemical composition varies from plant to plant, so the researchers narrowed their research to three common types of cinnamon. They used cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum), the type of cinnamon one usually finds at the super market; true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum); and an unknown cinnamon. Surprisingly, they found that all the extracts more than doubled the production of collagen in the skin cells, indicating that the active component is a general cinnamon constituent.

The researchers, led by Dr. Naoko Takasao of Osaka Prefecture University in Japan, used high-performance liquid chromatography in order to identify the active component. They determined that cinnamaldehyde is the major active component in cinnamon. It activates the Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) signaling pathway independently from IGF-I, thereby enhancing the expression of collagen in the skin.  

Thus, cinnamon extract facilitates the synthesis of collagen in the skin, the breakdown of which is responsible, along with elastic fiber breakdown, for the skin’s aged appearance in our later years.

Readers are cautioned that ingesting more cinnamon, although delicious, will not improve the overall look of your skin. If you wish to try a cinnamon-based skin care treatment, the best way would be rub it directly onto the skin. Previous studies have also shown that cinnamon, when applied topically, will penetrate the skin over a period of 24 hours. This method, however, has not yet been tested in relation to topical skin care, so you might want to hold off on raiding your spice rack.

The benefits of cinnamon do not stop there. Cinnamon is already an important component of Chinese medicine. It has been used to treat blood circulation problems and inflammation. Most recently, true cinnamon has been credited with being able to mimic the benefits of insulin, demonstrating potential as a treatment for diabetes.

 

Arielle blogs about science at www.salamanderhours.com

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