Antioxidant profile of essential oils and extracts of cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum cassia)

Nowadays, more and more interest is focused on compounds that inhibit reactions promoted by free radicals. The study shows the antioxidant activity of essential oils isolated from Cinnamomum cassia. The methanolic extracts were also obtained and its scavenging ability investigated. The IC₅₀ value, defined as the concentration of the sample required for 50% scavenging of DPPH free radicals, was  also estimated. DPPH and ABTS assay indicated that lower IC₅₀ value for cinnamon extracts corresponds to its higher radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 42.03 µg/L and IC₅₀ = 5.13 µg/L, respectively). Thus, extracts are considered to be better radical scavengers than essential oils (IC_{50 DPPH} = 147.23 µg/L and IC_{50 ABTS} = 64.51 µg/L).