Cinnamon May Ease Brain Swelling

WASHINGTONCompounds in cinnamon extract might prevent brain cells from swelling, say scientists from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Brain swelling, a result of traumatic brain injury and stroke, is a condition in which fluid either accumulates within brain cells or is retained in blood vessels that form around brain cells.

The scientists used isolated glial cellscells that support essential elements of neural tissue found in the brain and spinal cordand put them in a culture solution. When the cell cultures were deprived of oxygen and glucose for five hours, the researchers measured the function of the mitochondrial inner membrane in the glial cells. They found a nearly 40 percent decline in the mitochondrial membrane potential due to the lack of oxygen and glucose.

The researchers then exposed some of the cells to a cinnamon extract, while other cells served as nonexposed controls. The reduction in the membrane potential was alleviated in the presence of the cinnamon extract.

Ninety minutes later, the researchers measured volume of the glial cells. They found that cell volume among the oxygen- and glucose-deprived cells had increased by more than 34 percent. But this increased swelling was absent in the presence of cinnamon polyphenol extract at the highest level tested.