Cinnamon, one of the most widely consumed spices around the world, and its active components may prevent prostate cancer, a latest study has found.

Research conducted by Hyderabad-based ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) demonstrated that cinnamon and its active components -- cinnamaldehyde and procyanidin B2-- administered orally to rats had an inhibitory effect on early-stage prostate cancer.

The study titled "Chemopreventive effect of cinnamon and its bioactive compounds in a rat model of premalignant prostate carcinogenesis” was published in the international peer reviewed journal 'Cancer Prevention Research'.

It aimed to assess the chemopreventive efficacy of cinnamon (CN) and its bioactive compounds (cinnamaldehyde or procyanidin B2) in vivo in male rats, the NIN has said in a release.

As part of this study, adult rats were given cinnamon or its bioactive compounds through the diet before induction of cancer and the rats were fed for 16 weeks.

It was observed that feeding cinnamon or its active compounds resulted in 60-70 per cent of rats showing normal prostate histologically.

“We tried to decipher the probable mechanism(s) for the chemopreventive effect and observed that cinnamon and its active components could mitigate oxidative stress, decrease spread of cancer cells in the prostate gland," said Ayesha Ismail, Head of Endocrinology Division, who led the study.

"Interestingly, we also observed beneficial effect on bone mineral content and decrease in bone degeneration in these rats,” she said.

Director of ICMR-NIN, Hemalatha R noted that it was encouraging to see these results about cinnamon, the humble Indian spice, which is commonly used in our cuisine.

"However, these outcomes warrant more detailed studies before any dietary recommendation can be made," she said.

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