Neuroprotective effect of cinnamic alcohol: A bioactive compound of Cinnamomum spp. essential oil

• Published in: Neurochemistry international 2024-10, Vol.179, p.105807, Article 105807
• Main Authors: Monteiro, Álefe Brito, Nunes de Andrade, Humberto Hugo, da Cruz Guedes, Erika, Ribeiro Portela, Anne Caroline, Oliveira Pires, Hugo Fernandes, Pereira Lopes, Maria Janice, Medeiros Vilar Barbosa, Nayana Maria, Alves, Adriano Francisco, Fernandes de Oliveira Golzio, Adriana Maria, Pergentino de Sousa, Damião, Bezerra Felipe, Cícero Francisco, Nóbrega de Almeida, Reinaldo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidant; Cinnamic alcohol; Cinnamon; Epilepsy; GABAA receptor; Neuroprotection
• ISSN: 0197-0186; 1872-9754; 1872-9754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105807

Cinnamic alcohol (CA) is a phenylpropanoid found in the essential oil of the bark of the genus Cinnamomum spp. Schaeff. (Lauraceae Juss.), known as cinnamon. To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of CA and its possible mechanism of action on mice submitted to the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced epileptic seizures model. Behavioral, neurochemical, histomorphometric and immunohistochemistry analysis were carried out. The administration of CA (50–200 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min prior to PTZ and 0.7–25 mg/kg, i.p., 60 min prior to PTZ) increased the latency to seizure onset and the latency to death. The effects observed with CA treatment at 60 min were partially reversed by pretreatment with flumazenil. Furthermore, neurochemical assays indicated that CA reduced the concentration of malondialdehyde and nitrite, while increasing the concentration of reduced glutathione. Finally, histomorphometric and immunohistochemistry analysis revealed a reduction in inflammation and an increase in neuronal preservation in the hippocampi of CA pre-treated mice. Taken together, the results suggest that CA seems to modulate the GABAA receptor, decrease oxidative stress, mitigate neuroinflammation, and reduce cell death processes. •The neuroprotective effect of the cinnamic alcohol is reported.•Cinnamic alcohol increases GABAergic effects in mice.•Cinnamic alcohol presents antioxidant activity.•Cinnamic alcohol prevents neuroinflammation.•Cinnamic alcohol reduces excitotoxic processes induced by PTZ.