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Biodeterioration is a significant problem in the conservation of stone heritage buildings. In this study, 10 plant essential oils were assessed for their effectiveness in biofilm inhibition on stone heritage building surfaces under laboratory and in situ conditions, and were compared with traditional biocides such as benzalkonium chloride. The plant extracts were tested against algae and mosses. The effect on algae removal was evaluated by measuring the color of the surface before treatment, after 24 h and after 1 month of treatment. The effect on mosses was assessed by measuring the photosynthetic pigment content of mosses after 24 h of treatment. The results showed that the different plant extracts exhibited different levels of antibiotic activity. Benzalkonium chloride, S. aromaticum and C. cassia extracts showed strong antibiotic activity against all algae and mosses tested. T. mongolicus extracts showed antibiotic activity against only some of the algae and mosses, while the application of P. cablin extracts increased chlorophyll b content in the mosses. The other plant extracts were less effective at inhibiting the growth of algae and mosses. GC–MS compositional analysis further indicated that the higher antibiotic activity of S. aromaticum and C. cassia extracts was related to the high content of eugenol and cinnamaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of cinnamon bark from commercial sources has raised concerns globally, as it is widely adulterated with Cinnamomum cassia which possesses coumarin that is established as a hepatotoxic chemical in animal trials. The current study reveals the availability of C. cassia trees with high levels of cinnamaldehyde but low in coumarin. The estimated level of coumarin in three trees by HPLC analysis was found to be <100 mg kg-1 of dry bark which is below the stipulated upper levels put forth by the European Food Safety Authority and Food Safety Standards Authority of India. Considering the internationally accepted flavor of cassia oleoresin and the low coumarin levels, the C. cassia of Indian origin can be widely propagated and may be popularized along with C. verum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to explore the traditional use of Cinnamomum cassia against depression. The standardised methanolic extract of the bark of C. cassia was evaluated for antidepressant activity using various behavioural tests, i.e. tail suspension test (TST), forced swim test (FST) and locomotor activity test. The serotonergic and noradrenergic modulation was assessed using 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)-induced head twitches and yohimbine potentiation tests, respectively. The fluoxetine and phenelzine were used as positive controls in the study. The C. cassia extract significantly decreased the immobility time in TST (maximum effective dose tested was 50 mg/kg) while no effect was observed in FST and locomotor activity test. The extract significantly increased the 5-HTP-induced head twitches while yohimbine-induced lethality remained unaltered. The aforementioned results are similar to that caused by fluoxetine. The standardised methanolic extract of C. cassia demonstrated antidepressant activity that can be attributed to rise in serotonin levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]