CINNAMON OR TRUE CINNAMON - Intercom Exports

of Herisset et al (1972). This approach has been extended by Lawrence who distinguished
cinnamonum sps., on the basis of presence or absence of eugenol, coumerin and orthemethoxy-cinnamaldehyde
in a distilled bark oils. A major problem with this method is to
distinguish between C.burmanii and C.loureirii where the eugenol content of the latter’s
oil does not exceed 0.5%. it has been claimed that as little as 10% C.verum in
C.burmanii can be detected by this method, and the presence of C. cassia can be detected
in other sps., by the ortho-methoxy cinnamaldehyde spot.
T.L.C. differenciation of the bark oils from the cinnamonum sps., of commerce
Cinnamonum sps., Ortho-methoxy
cinnamaldehyde
C. verum
C. cassia
C. burmanii
C. loureirii
Absent
Present
Absent
Absent
Eugenol
Present
Absent
Absent
Trace
Coumarin
Trace-absent
Present
Present
present
Slazer has pointed out that the abundence of coumarin in the steam-distilled bark
oil is not an accurate indication of its abundance in the spice since the compound does
not readily distilled steam. A more accurate determination can only be achieved by
examining the solvent extracts of the spices.
Earlier Voelkar et al (1967) had demonstrated a two dimensional t.l.c. technique
that produced a fingerprint for each cinnamon and cassia bark extract. It is claimed that
this technique permitted distinction of within plus or minus 20% of one type in a ground
spice mixture. The absolute reliability of this method has, however, become questioned.