Cinnamon as a Multitarget Anti-Diabetic Phytotherapy: Phytochemical Profiling, Mechanistic Interaction, and Clinical Trials

The escalating global burden of diabetes mellitus underscores the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches based on the phytochemical complexity of medicinal plants. Cinnamon, a member of the Lauraceae family, is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and as a culinary ingredient. Accumulating preclinical evidence has demonstrated its pleiotropic anti-diabetic properties, including enhanced insulin secretion and sensitivity, regulation of glucose metabolism in tissues, reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress, modulation of glucose-metabolizing enzymes, and amelioration of diabetic complications. However, critical research gaps remain, particularly regarding the precise mechanisms of cinnamon’s anti-diabetic effects and optimal administration parameters. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advances in the use of cinnamon and its bioactive compounds for diabetes treatment. It examines multi-target mechanisms of action and translational clinical studies, while also exploring cinnamon’s synergistic potential in combination therapies and its role in mitigating diabetic complications. The limitations of current research are discussed to inform future development and utilization of cinnamon-based interventions. • The anti-diabetic components of cinnamon were summarized. • The anti-diabetic mechanism of cinnamon was summarized in detail. • Human trials of cinnamon for diabetes management since 2016 were summarized. • The prospect of cinnamon in treating diabetes was discussed.