🏺 傳統功效(《神農本草經》)

《神農本草經》上品記載:「牡桂,味辛溫。主治上氣咳逆、結氣,喉痹吐吸,利關節,補中益氣。久服通神,輕身不老。生山谷。」短短二十餘字,展開是四組方向清楚的主治:上氣咳逆與吐吸是「降」,結氣與喉痹是「散」,利關節是「通」,補中益氣是「補」。一味辛溫之品能同時具備降、散、通、補四種作用,關鍵在它與眾不同的質地——《本經》把「牡桂」與「菌桂」分列上品兩條,後世醫家則在兩條之間反覆辨析,最終分出了桂枝、肉桂、桂心三個層次,也分出中醫兩千年來最常用的一張方。

補充說明(名實之辨):《神農本草經》桂類原只有「牡桂」與「菌桂」兩條,《名醫別錄》另出「桂」一條,於是後世長期三條並存。李時珍《本草綱目》在「桂」條下直言:「桂即牡桂之厚而辛烈者,牡桂即桂之薄而味淡者,《別錄》不當重出」,主張三條實為一物,遂併為一條。這個判斷影響深遠:今天藥典所收的「肉桂」(樟科植物肉桂 Cinnamomum cassia Presl 的乾燥樹皮)與「桂枝」(同植物嫩枝),正是從「牡桂」這一條分化出來的兩種藥材——厚而味烈者入裡,薄而氣清者走表。因此閱讀古籍時須留意:不同朝代「牡桂」所指的規格並不完全相同,本文引文一律照錄原文,比對時應以朝代與出處為準。

《證類本草》「桂」條錄《名醫別錄》補出的功效相當完整:「主溫中,利肝肺氣,心腹寒熱,冷疾,霍亂轉筋,頭痛腰痛,出汗,止煩止唾,咳嗽鼻齆,能墮胎,堅骨節,通血脈,理疏不足,宣導百藥,無所畏。」這一串幾乎把桂的功能網全部列出:溫中、通血脈、止吐唾、利肝肺氣;末兩句「宣導百藥,無所畏」尤其重要——《本經》說菌桂「為諸藥先娉通使」,《別錄》說桂「宣導百藥」,講的是同一件事:桂在本草體系裡不只是治療藥,更是諸藥的嚮導。《藥對》也因此將牡桂列入補虛勞諸藥(對應「補中益氣」),同時在石膽條注明「水英、陸英為之使。畏牡桂、菌桂、辛夷、白薇、芫花」——相畏相使的紀錄,古人是用來安排複方結構的。

歷代對牡桂一物的辨析,本身就是一部藥材分化史。《本草綱目》集解引陶弘景云:桂生桂陽、牡桂生南海山谷,「南海即是廣州」,《神農本經》惟有牡桂、菌桂,而「俗用牡桂,扁廣殊薄,皮黃,脂肉甚少,氣如木蘭,味亦類桂」。唐代蘇恭的觀察更細:單名桂者即是牡桂,即《爾雅》所謂「梫,木桂」;大枝皮「肉理粗虛如木而肉少味薄,名曰木桂,亦云大桂」,不及小嫩枝皮「肉多而半卷,中必皺起,其味辛美,一名肉桂,亦名桂枝,一名桂心」,出融州、桂州、交州者良。到了清代鄒澍《本經疏證》,這條線索被收束成一句可操作的結論——引東垣「氣之薄者,桂枝也;氣之厚者,桂肉也」,並申論「氣薄則發洩,桂枝上行而發表;氣厚則發熱,桂肉下行而補腎」。

鄒澍的體用分析,是理解《本經》主治的鑰匙。他先辨字義:「按『菌,大竹也』,桂之本根,去心而畱皮者象之,今所謂肉桂是也……箘桂去心,而卷似牝。則桂之尖,但去麤皮而不去心者,象牡矣,今所謂桂枝是也。」再論體用:「凡藥,須究其體用。桂枝色赤,條理縱橫,宛如經衇系絡。色赤屬心,縱橫通衇絡,故能利關節、溫經通衇,此其體也。」他最後把功效歸為六用:「曰和營、曰通陽、曰利水、曰下氣、曰行瘀、曰補中」,並指出「其功之最大,施之最廣,無如桂枝湯」,和營為其首功。回看《本經》原文:上氣咳逆、結氣、吐吸是下氣,喉痹是散結,利關節是通陽行瘀,補中益氣是補中——六用之中《本經》已含其五,唯獨「和營」一項,要等張仲景的桂枝湯才被徹底展開。這也解釋了《本經疏證》的另一個判斷:《本經》凡著「上氣」之功者(菖蒲、五味子、牡桂、射干、芫花、杏核仁),其下幾乎都連著「欬逆」,可見牡桂治上氣,走的是「使逆氣自上焦而降」之路,與半夏等「下氣」藥僅能使氣不自中焦上逆者不同。

《本草彙言》另收繆希雍對牡桂的專論,把臨床定位說得極清楚:「治癰疽,排潰瘍,化膿血(《別錄》),止疼痛,利筋骨血脈(馬志)之藥也。」繆氏先引《說韻》解字:「牡,陽象也」,並以「有花無子,較枝稍強也」說明牡桂之所以名「牡」,因此「能行皮腠血肉之內,治癰疽已潰未潰,護心托裡,或筋骨痠疼,肌肉頑麻,或惡露不行,上攻心嘔,或跌撲損傷,瘀血積滯,藉此辛甘溫熱之用,善行血脈以通筋骨,去陳以致新也」。同書論肉桂則是「去陰寒,止腹痛,通經脈,化冷痰,散奔豚,定寒疝,固泄瀉,斂虛汗,暖腰膝,安蛔逆,治沉寒痼冷之藥也」,取「味厚、甘辛、大熱、下行、走里之物」,用以「壯命門之陽,植心腎之氣」。表證用桂枝、裡寒用肉桂,分工到此定型。

最後回到產地與性狀。《本草彙言》錄李瀕湖所述:「牡桂,出合浦、交趾、廣州、象州、湘州、桂嶺諸處,生必高山之巔,旁無雜樹,自為林類,葉色四時常青,凌冬不凋,如枇杷葉,邊有鋸齒,中心有縱紋兩道,宛如圭形。四月放花無實。木皮紫赤堅厚,臭香,氣烈味重者為最。」釋名亦有據:《桂海志》云「凡諸術類葉中心皆一道縱理,獨桂葉有兩道、三道如圭形,故字從圭」;陸佃《埤雅》云「桂猶圭也。宣導百藥,為之先聘通使,如執圭之使也」;古名「梫」,取「能侵害他木」之義,《炮炙論》甚至記「以桂木削釘,釘樹根,其節即死」。今日藥材基原為樟科(Lauraceae)植物肉桂 Cinnamomum cassia Presl,主產越南清化(Thanh Hóa)、廣西、廣東,秋季剝取樹皮陰乾;商品依去皮與否、部位與厚度分為桂通(官桂)、桂心、板桂、煙桂等規格。同書早已提醒「市中偽充肉桂,不可不辨」,現代採購仍應以學名與產地核對,並留意桂皮(cassia)與錫蘭肉桂(C. zeylanicum)在香豆素含量上的巨大差異。

🔬 現代藥理學研究

牡桂與肉桂的現代研究,主要圍繞肉桂醛(cinnamaldehyde)、肉桂酸、多酚與二萜類展開。揮發油含量約 1–2%,其中肉桂醛可佔 60–85%,是香氣與多數活性的主要來源;此外尚含香豆素(coumarin)、肉桂醇、丁香酚與多醣。綜合性回顧〈PMID: 31557828〉系統整理了肉桂的傳統用途、化學成分、藥理與毒理;2026 年《J Agric Food Chem》的整合分析更以 Q-Marker 預測方式,把肉桂醛、肉桂酸等成分與抗發炎、降血糖、抗菌等藥效逐一對應,是目前最新的整體性文獻〈PMID: 42677641〉。

血糖與代謝:多篇系統性回顧與統合分析支持肉桂補充對第 2 型糖尿病患者的空腹血糖與 HbA1c 有小幅改善,其中劑量—反應統合分析〈PMID: 37818728〉與代謝指標統合分析〈PMID: 38917435〉結論一致;統合迴歸亦顯示效果與劑量、基線血糖相關〈PMID: 31425768〉。針對糖尿病前期族群的隨機對照試驗發現對血糖控制影響有限〈PMID: 33123653〉,而水萃取物對餐後血糖的隨機對照試驗則見正向結果〈PMID: 35458138〉。機制層面包括抑制 α-葡萄糖苷酶與 α-澱粉酶、促進胰島素受體訊號、增加 GLUT4 轉位,以及活化 GLP-1 分泌——後者已在帕金森氏症小鼠模型中被證實肉桂醛具 GLP1 secretagogue 作用〈PMID: 40615002〉。

血脂、血壓與心血管:傘狀統合分析顯示肉桂可降低三酸甘油脂與總膽固醇並提升抗氧化與抗發炎指標〈PMID: 37500345〉,血脂統合分析〈PMID: 28887086〉與血壓統合分析〈PMID: 32727334〉亦見正向趨勢,2025 年以 GRADE 評估的心血管風險因子系統性回顧與劑量—反應統合分析則給出較保守的證據等級〈PMID: 40611215〉。肉桂醛對心血管系統的多重作用,已有專文回顧〈PMID: 36254234〉。

抗發炎與神經保護:肉桂醛在永久性腦缺血小鼠模型中抑制發炎並減少腦損傷〈PMID: 26234631〉,在腦出血模型中與 deferoxamine 併用可改善發炎、鐵死亡與血腫擴大〈PMID: 39985048〉,並透過阻斷 TLR4/MyD88/MAPKs 路徑改善全腦缺血後的突觸可塑性與記憶〈PMID: 40633695〉;神經發炎路徑的整體調控已有專文彙整〈PMID: 33274192〉。情緒相關研究方面,反式肉桂醛在強迫游泳試驗中顯示抗憂鬱效果並涉及內生性大麻素系統〈PMID: 31421826〉,可緩解 IFN-α 誘發的類憂鬱行為並恢復星形膠質細胞 Cx43 間隙連接〈PMID: 41160920〉,亦可經 GR/miR-190b/BDNF 路徑預防父代憂鬱的跨世代影響〈PMID: 34983931〉。

抗菌、抗生物膜與抗病毒:肉桂精油與肉桂醛對多種臨床菌株具抗菌與抗生物膜活性〈PMID: 29977171〉,並可干擾綠膿桿菌的群體感應、提高其對抗生素的敏感性〈PMID: 32210139〉;針對變異鏈球菌(Streptococcus mutans)的抗菌應用已有專文評估〈PMID: 38258123〉,與 imipenem 併用對鮑氏不動桿菌呈現加成效果〈PMID: 40673148〉,葉部精油的成分與活性則存在明顯季節變異〈PMID: 39795342〉。抗病毒方面,肉桂水萃取物可阻斷呼吸道融合病毒的吸附、內吞與融合〈PMID: 23518419〉,其製劑對 H7N3 流感病毒亦見體外抑制活性〈PMID: 26403820〉。

抗腫瘤(細胞與動物階段):肉桂精油與肉桂醛可致人類口腔鱗狀細胞癌 HSC-3 細胞週期停滯與凋亡〈PMID: 26919256〉,萃取物降低骨肉瘤細胞侵襲與幹性並誘導凋亡〈PMID: 35146896〉,亦可逆轉 TGF-β1 誘導的肺腺癌上皮—間質轉化,並在體內抑制腫瘤生長〈PMID: 28258635〉。

心血管與血小板、感覺神經:肉桂醛可降低齧齒類的血小板凝集與血栓形成〈PMID: 16626787〉,香料活性成分亦抑制人類血小板凝集與血栓素生成〈PMID: 19501497〉——這兩篇既是「桂類活血」的現代註腳,也是出血風險的機制解釋。肉桂醛同時是 TRPA1 促效劑,在人體可經 NOS 路徑引起皮膚血管擴張〈PMID: 34983913〉,並可促腎上腺素分泌〈PMID: 18838811〉。

腸道菌相與代謝性疾病:肉桂醛可促進早期離乳大鼠腸道屏障功能並重塑菌相〈PMID: 34712688〉、改善鏈佐黴素誘導糖尿病小鼠的代謝功能〈PMID: 34103897〉、經菌相與代謝物途徑發揮降脂作用〈PMID: 40341264〉,並以 SIRT1/FOXO1 誘導自噬協同調節菌相改善代謝功能障礙相關脂肪性肝病〈PMID: 41957048〉;高脂飲食小鼠中則見抑制禁食誘發的過食、脂質堆積與發炎〈PMID: 26893251〉。

藥物動力學與交互作用:肉桂會影響 pioglitazone 的藥動與藥效〈PMID: 28176623〉;肉桂醛的生物可及性、代謝清除與對 PXR、AhR 等異生物質受體的交互作用已有評估〈PMID: 39845339〉,體外試驗亦顯示含肉桂製劑對細胞色素 P450 具抑制作用〈PMID: 29542427〉。

⚠️ 安全性與注意事項

香豆素(coumarin)與肝毒性:桂皮(cassia)類肉桂的香豆素含量差異極大,德國零售市場樣本測定為 0.7–12.9 g/kg〈PMID: 20853872〉;香豆素的人類風險評估以每日耐受攝取量 0.1 mg/kg 體重為基準,兒童與高攝取族群容易超標〈PMID: 20024932〉。日本含桂皮漢方藥的累積香豆素攝取與肝毒性關聯已有專文分析〈PMID: 27378929〉,臨床上亦有肉桂補充劑引起急性肝炎的病例報告〈PMID: 25923145〉。實務結論:作為香料烹調用量安全;作為保健補充劑長期服用時,應選錫蘭肉桂或確認產品標示的香豆素含量,並避免高劑量長期使用。

出血風險與抗凝血藥物:肉桂醛與相關成分具抑制血小板凝集與血栓素生成的作用〈PMID: 16626787〉〈PMID: 19501497〉,與 warfarin、直接口服抗凝血劑或抗血小板藥物併用時須提高警覺,圍手術期應停用。《名醫別錄》明確記載桂「能墮胎」,孕婦列為禁忌。

古籍禁忌(繆希雍三十餘證):《本草彙言》引繆仲醇告誡肉桂「大忌於血崩,血淋,尿血,陰虛吐血,咯血,鼻衄,齒衄,汗血,小便因熱不利,大便因熱燥結,肺熱咳嗽,或產後去血過多,及產後血虛發熱,小產後血虛內熱,陰虛五心煩熱,陰虛小腹作疼,血熱經行先期,血虛內熱經閉,陰虛寒熱往來,血虛經行作痛,男婦陰虛內熱外寒,口苦舌燥,或中暑昏暈,中熱腹痛,中暑瀉利,暴注如湯,或一切滯下純血,由於內臟伏熱,或腸風下血,臟毒便血,酒後失血,或陽厥似陰,夢遺精滑,虛陽數舉,脫陰目盲,或一切溫病熱病,頭疼口渴,陽證發狂,陽毒發斑,或小兒痧疹,腹疼作瀉,痘瘡血熱,乾枯黑陷等三十餘證,法並忌之。誤投則禍不旋踵。」簡言之:一切熱證、血證、陰虛火旺之證皆不可用。

藥物交互作用:體外試驗顯示對 CYP450 有抑制作用〈PMID: 29542427〉,與經該酵素代謝的藥物(如 pioglitazone〈PMID: 28176623〉)併用宜監測;與降血糖藥併用須注意低血糖;與抗凝血、抗血小板藥併用須注意出血。

刺激性與致敏:肉桂醛為 TRPA1 促效劑,可致皮膚血管擴張與灼熱感〈PMID: 34983913〉;吸入型肉桂香料在人類支氣管上皮細胞已見毒性與發炎反應,並與 TRPA1 活化相關〈PMID: 37595738〉。肉桂精油不可原液內服或大面積塗抹。

劑量:《中國藥典》2020 年版一部記載肉桂 1–5 g、桂枝 3–10 g,台灣中藥典肉桂亦為 1–5 g。不宜長期大劑量服用;陰虛火旺、裡有實熱、血熱妄行及孕婦忌用。

📋 臨床應用建議

中醫辨證應用:桂枝長於解肌發表、溫通經脈、助陽化氣,典型用於太陽表虛中風(桂枝湯)、痰飲水氣(苓桂朮甘湯、五苓散)、血痹肌膚麻木(黃耆桂枝五物湯)、胸陽不振(桂枝甘草湯、枳實薤白桂枝湯)。肉桂長於補火助陽、散寒止痛、溫通血脈,用於命門火衰(右歸丸、桂附地黃類方)、寒凝血瘀(少腹逐瘀湯)、寒疝奔豚(桂枝加桂湯)。鄒澍所歸納的六用——「曰和營、曰通陽、曰利水、曰下氣、曰行瘀、曰補中」——至今仍是桂枝類方最實用的操作綱領。

現代輔助應用:在飲食與補充劑層級,肉桂可作為血糖、血脂與血壓的代謝症候群輔助,但必須理解其效果幅度有限,不能取代降血糖、降血脂與降血壓藥物。口腔保健方面,肉桂醛對變異鏈球菌的抗菌與抗生物膜作用已有研究基礎〈PMID: 38258123〉。與抗生素的加成效果目前僅屬實驗室證據〈PMID: 40673148〉,不可自行以肉桂替代抗生素治療。

使用與選購實務:越南清化肉桂是當地著名特產,作為日常香料使用安全無虞;若作為保健用途長期服用,應以香豆素總量而非「肉桂」二字選購,優先選擇錫蘭肉桂或標示香豆素含量的產品。煎劑處方須由合格中醫師辨證;寒證用桂效專,熱證、血證、陰虛火旺與孕婦一律不用。

📚 參考文獻

  1. Zhang C, Fan L, Fan S. Cinnamomum cassia Presl: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology. Molecules. 2019;24(19). PMID: 31557828
  2. Wang Q, Feng N, Zhang Y. Comprehensive Analysis of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl.: Chemical Composition, Pharmacological Effects, Q-Marker Prediction, and Therapeutic Mechanism Exploration. J Agric Food Chem. 2026;74(33):25804-25848. PMID: 42677641
  3. Moridpour AH, Kavyani Z, Khosravi S. The effect of cinnamon supplementation on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: An updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2024;38(1):117-130. PMID: 37818728
  4. de Moura SL, Gomes BGR, Guilarducci MJ. Effects of cinnamon supplementation on metabolic biomarkers in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Rev. 2025;83(2):249-279. PMID: 38917435
  5. Deyno S, Eneyew K, Seyfe S. Efficacy and safety of cinnamon in type 2 diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes patients: A meta-analysis and meta-regression. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2019;156:107815. PMID: 31425768
  6. Romeo GR, Lee J, Mulla CM. Influence of Cinnamon on Glycemic Control in Individuals With Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Endocr Soc. 2020;4(11):bvaa094. PMID: 33123653
  7. Rachid AP, Moncada M, Mesquita MF. Effect of Aqueous Cinnamon Extract on the Postprandial Glycemia Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2022;14(8). PMID: 35458138
  8. Sarmadi B, Musazadeh V, Dehghan P. The effect of cinnamon consumption on lipid profile, oxidative stress, and inflammation biomarkers in adults: An umbrella meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2023;33(10):1821-1835. PMID: 37500345
  9. Maierean SM, Serban MC, Sahebkar A. The effects of cinnamon supplementation on blood lipid concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Lipidol. 2017;11(6):1393-1406. PMID: 28887086
  10. Ghavami A, Haghighian HK, Roshanravan N. What is the Impact of Cinnamon Supplementation on Blood Pressure? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2021;21(5):956-965. PMID: 32727334
  11. Jafari A, Mardani H, Faghfouri AH. The effect of cinnamon supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in adults: a GRADE assessed systematic review, dose-response and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Health Popul Nutr. 2025;44(1):233. PMID: 40611215
  12. Lu L, Xiong Y, Zhou J. The Therapeutic Roles of Cinnamaldehyde against Cardiovascular Diseases. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2022;2022:9177108. PMID: 36254234
  13. Zhao J, Zhang X, Dong L. Cinnamaldehyde inhibits inflammation and brain damage in a mouse model of permanent cerebral ischaemia. Br J Pharmacol. 2015;172(20):5009-5023. PMID: 26234631
  14. Liu Y, Yang G, Liu M. Cinnamaldehyde and its combination with deferoxamine ameliorate inflammation, ferroptosis and hematoma expansion after intracerebral hemorrhage in mice. J Neuroinflammation. 2025;22(1):45. PMID: 39985048
  15. Liu X, Lu Z, He G. Trans-cinnamaldehyde ameliorates neuroinflammation-mediated synaptic plasticity and memory impairment by blocking TLR4/MyD88/MAPKs pathway in global cerebral ischemia. Brain Res Bull. 2025;229:111456. PMID: 40633695
  16. Hajinejad M, Ghaddaripouri M, Dabzadeh M. Natural Cinnamaldehyde and Its Derivatives Ameliorate Neuroinflammatory Pathways in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:1034325. PMID: 33274192
  17. Mathur K, Soni R, Yadav R. GLP1 secretagogue cinnamaldehyde upregulates GLP1/PI3K/AKT and Nrf2 pathways to exert neuroprotection in a rotenone induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025;320(Pt 1):145733. PMID: 40615002
  18. Lin J, Song Z, Chen X. Trans-cinnamaldehyde shows anti-depression effect in the forced swimming test and possible involvement of the endocannabinoid system. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2019;518(2):351-356. PMID: 31421826
  19. Zhou R, Yuan R, Ye J. Trans-cinnamaldehyde alleviates IFN-α-induced depressive-like behaviors by restoring astrocytic Cx43 gap junction. Int Immunopharmacol. 2025;167:115741. PMID: 41160920
  20. Gao ZY, Chen TY, Yu TT. Cinnamaldehyde prevents intergenerational effect of paternal depression in mice via regulating GR/miR-190b/BDNF pathway. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2022;43(8):1955-1969. PMID: 34983931
  21. Firmino DF, Cavalcante TTA, Gomes GA. Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities of Cinnamomum Sp. Essential Oil and Cinnamaldehyde: Antimicrobial Activities. ScientificWorldJournal. 2018;2018:7405736. PMID: 29977171
  22. Topa SH, Palombo EA, Kingshott P. Activity of Cinnamaldehyde on Quorum Sensing and Biofilm Susceptibility to Antibiotics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microorganisms. 2020;8(3). PMID: 32210139
  23. Ngokwe ZB, Wolfoviz-Zilberman A, Sharon E. Trans-Cinnamaldehyde—Fighting Streptococcus mutans Using Nature. Pharmaceutics. 2024;16(1). PMID: 38258123
  24. Lu Y, Xu W, Xue J. Exploring the additive antibacterial potential of Cinnamomum cassia volatile oil and imipenem against Acinetobacter baumannii: a multi-omics investigation. Front Microbiol. 2025;16:1578322. PMID: 40673148
  25. Cheng Y, Fu Y, Gu D. Seasonal Variation in Chemical Composition and Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oil from Cinnamomum cassia Leaves. Plants (Basel). 2024;14(1). PMID: 39795342
  26. Yeh CF, Chang JS, Wang KC. Water extract of Cinnamomum cassia Blume inhibited human respiratory syncytial virus by preventing viral attachment, internalization, and syncytium formation. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013;147(2):321-326. PMID: 23518419
  27. Fatima M, Zaidi NU, Amraiz D. In Vitro Antiviral Activity of Cinnamomum cassia and Its Nanoparticles Against H7N3 Influenza A Virus. J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2016;26(1):151-159. PMID: 26403820
  28. Chang WL, Cheng FC, Wang SP. Cinnamomum cassia essential oil and its major constituent cinnamaldehyde induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human oral squamous cell carcinoma HSC-3 cells. Environ Toxicol. 2017;32(2):456-468. PMID: 26919256
  29. Lin CY, Hsieh YS, Chu SC. Reduction of invasion and cell stemness and induction of apoptotic cell death by Cinnamomum cassia extracts on human osteosarcoma cells. Environ Toxicol. 2022;37(6):1261-1274. PMID: 35146896
  30. Lin CY, Hsieh YH, Yang SF. Cinnamomum cassia extracts reverses TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human lung adenocarcinoma cells and suppresses tumor growth in vivo. Environ Toxicol. 2017;32(7):1878-1887. PMID: 28258635
  31. Huang J, Wang S, Luo X. Cinnamaldehyde reduction of platelet aggregation and thrombosis in rodents. Thromb Res. 2007;119(3):337-342. PMID: 16626787
  32. Raghavendra RH, Naidu KA. Spice active principles as the inhibitors of human platelet aggregation and thromboxane biosynthesis. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2009;81(1):73-78. PMID: 19501497
  33. Kataoka Y, Kenny GP, Nishiyasu T. TRPA1 Channel Activation With Cinnamaldehyde Induces Cutaneous Vasodilation Through NOS, but Not COX and KCa Channel, Mechanisms in Humans. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2022;79(3):375-382. PMID: 34983913
  34. Iwasaki Y, Tanabe M, Kobata K. TRPA1 agonists—allyl isothiocyanate and cinnamaldehyde—induce adrenaline secretion. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2008;72(10):2608-2614. PMID: 18838811
  35. Qi L, Mao H, Lu X. Cinnamaldehyde Promotes the Intestinal Barrier Functions and Reshapes Gut Microbiome in Early Weaned Rats. Front Nutr. 2021;8:748503. PMID: 34712688
  36. Zhao H, Wu H, Duan M. Cinnamaldehyde Improves Metabolic Functions in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice by Regulating Gut Microbiota. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2021;15:2339-2355. PMID: 34103897
  37. Wang X, Li T, Dong L. Exploring the lipid-lowering effects of cinnamic acid and cinnamaldehyde from the perspective of the gut microbiota and metabolites. Food Funct. 2025;16(11):4399-4414. PMID: 40341264
  38. Wang X, Song Y, Zhao W. Cinnamaldehyde mitigates MASLD through SIRT1/FOXO1-induced autophagy and synergistic gut microbiota modulation. NPJ Sci Food. 2026;10(1). PMID: 41957048
  39. Khare P, Jagtap S, Jain Y. Cinnamaldehyde supplementation prevents fasting-induced hyperphagia, lipid accumulation, and inflammation in high-fat diet-fed mice. Biofactors. 2016;42(2):201-211. PMID: 26893251
  40. Mamindla S, Koganti VSRGP, Ravouru N. Effect of Cinnamomum cassia on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Pioglitazone. Curr Clin Pharmacol. 2017;12(1):41-49. PMID: 28176623
  41. Husain I, Gurley BJ, Kothapalli HB. Evaluation of bioaccessibility, metabolic clearance and interaction with xenobiotic receptors (PXR and AhR) of cinnamaldehyde. Food Chem (Oxf). 2025;10:100237. PMID: 39845339
  42. Ab Rahman NS, Abd Majid FA, Abd Wahid ME. Evaluation of Herb-Drug Interaction of Synacinn™ and Individual Biomarker through Cytochrome 450 Inhibition Assay. Drug Metab Lett. 2018;12(1):62-67. PMID: 29542427
  43. Woehrlin F, Fry H, Abraham K. Quantification of flavoring constituents in cinnamon: high variation of coumarin in cassia bark from the German retail market and in authentic samples from Indonesia. J Agric Food Chem. 2010;58(19):10568-10575. PMID: 20853872
  44. Abraham K, Wöhrlin F, Lindtner O. Toxicology and risk assessment of coumarin: focus on human data. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2010;54(2):228-239. PMID: 20024932
  45. Iwata N, Kainuma M, Kobayashi D. The Relation between Hepatotoxicity and the Total Coumarin Intake from Traditional Japanese Medicines Containing Cinnamon Bark. Front Pharmacol. 2016;7:174. PMID: 27378929
  46. Brancheau D, Patel B, Zughaib M. Do cinnamon supplements cause acute hepatitis? Am J Case Rep. 2015;16:250-254. PMID: 25923145
  47. Effah F, Elzein A, Taiwo B. In Vitro high-throughput toxicological assessment of E-cigarette flavors on human bronchial epithelial cells and the potential involvement of TRPA1 in cinnamon flavor-induced toxicity. Toxicology. 2023;496:153617. PMID: 37595738
  48. 古籍引用:《神農本草經》(漢)、《名醫別錄》(漢)、《本草經集注》(陶弘景·梁)、《新修本草》(蘇敬等·唐)、《藥對》(北齊)、《炮炙論》(雷斅·劉宋)、《證類本草》(唐慎微·宋)、《本草綱目》(李時珍·明)、《本草品彙精要》(劉文泰等·明)、《本草彙言》(倪朱謨·明,引繆希雍論)、《本經疏證》(鄒澍·清)、《傷寒論》《金匱要略》(張仲景·漢)、《桂海志》(范成大·宋)、《埤雅》(陸佃·宋)
  49. 現代藥典與英譯資料:《中華人民共和國藥典》2020 年版一部「肉桂」「桂枝」;台灣中藥典(衛生福利部)「肉桂」;TCM Wiki·Cortex Cinnamomi(tcmwiki.com)
免責聲明:本文整理《神農本草經》原文與歷代本草文獻,並彙整現代藥理研究現況,僅供中醫藥學術與教育參考,不構成任何醫療建議。桂類藥材辛溫而走,孕婦禁用;一切熱證、血證、陰虛火旺之證及正在使用抗凝血、抗血小板或降血糖藥物者,使用前必須諮詢合格中醫師或醫師。桂皮(cassia)含香豆素,長期高劑量服用有肝毒性風險,選購保健產品時應確認香豆素含量。本文所述現代藥理多屬細胞與動物實驗階段,不可直接外推為人體療效,亦不可依本文自行採藥、服用或外敷。