Cinnamaldehyde induces endothelium-dependent and -independent vasorelaxant action on isolated rat aorta.

The vasorelaxant effect of cinnamaldehyde, one of the major oil components in Cinnamomi Cortex, was studied using isolated rat aorta. Cinnamaldehyde at final concentrations of 1 microM to 1 mM showed dose-dependent relaxation of the rat aorta contracted by treatment with prostaglandin F2alpha, norepinephrine or KCl. In addition, cinnamaldehyde relaxed prostaglandin F2alpha-precontracted aortic rings with endothelium and without endothelium, with the latter being significantly less sensitive than the former.