Cinnamon May Help Parkinson's Patients

Cinnamon is a popular spice obtained from the inner bark of trees. With a captivating aroma, it is often added to desserts and curries to enhance the flavours. Besides this, it has been known to control blood sugar levels and lower bad cholesterol. A recent study reveals something new. It was found that cinnamon may be capable of slowing down the progression of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder which affects the motor actions initially, with behavioral problems and dementia occurring in the later stages. It is known to affect about seven to ten million people worldwide.The study found that after oral feeding, ground cinnamon is metabolized in the liver into sodium benzoate. It then enters into the brain, stops the loss of important proteins Parkin and DJ-1, protects neurons, normalizes neurotransmitter levels and improves motor functions in mice with PD."Cinnamon has been used widely as a spice throughout the world for centuries. The spice can reverse the biomechanical, cellular and anatomical changes that occur in the brains of mice with Parkinson's disease," said Kalipada Pahan, a Floyd A Davis Professor of Neurology at Illinois-based Rush University.Understanding how the disease works is important in developing effective drugs that protect the brain and stop the progression of the disease. "Now we need to translate this finding to the clinic and test ground cinnamon in patients with PD," Pahan added.Cinnamon is also widely used as a food preservative due to its microbiocidal effect. The study was published in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology.With inputs from IANS