Home › Research › Disease mechanisms
Cinnamon Bud Extract Is a Source of Biomolecules Active against the Aggregation and Condensation of Alzheimer′s-Associated Tau Protein
Giovanna Viola, Andrea Sperotto, Alessandro Palmioli, Roberto Tira, Francesca Munari, Michael Assfalg, Cristina Airoldi, Mariapina D’Onofrio. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2026-04-02
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Abnormal accumulation of tau fibrillar aggregates is a hallmark of tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease. Targeting tau aggregation represents a promising strategy for preventing and treating neurological disorders, especially using natural compounds with favorable safety profiles. In this study, we investigated a hydroalcoholic extract of Cinnamomum cassia buds (BCHE) and its major components, cinnamaldehyde and shikimic acid, for their effects in modulating tau repeat domain aggregation and liquid–liquid phase separation. In vitro results show that BCHE and cinnamaldehyde inhibit tau aggregate maturation, promoting the formation of nonfibrillar, off-pathway species and modulating condensate formation. These alternative aggregates exhibit reduced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and lower seeding capacity than canonical fibrils. BCHE also contains compounds capable of binding preformed tau fibrils. Overall, these findings suggest a novel mechanism by which cinnamon-derived bioactive molecules mitigate tau aggregation and reduce its cellular toxicity, highlighting their potential as neuroprotective agents.
Key findings
- In vitro results show that BCHE and cinnamaldehyde inhibit tau aggregate maturation, promoting the formation of nonfibrillar, off-pathway species and modulating condensate formation.
- Overall, these findings suggest a novel mechanism by which cinnamon-derived bioactive molecules mitigate tau aggregation and reduce its cellular toxicity, highlighting their potential as neuroprotective agents.
Why it matters
In laboratory experiments, a cinnamon bud extract and cinnamaldehyde inhibited tau aggregate maturation, promoted nonfibrillar off-pathway species and produced aggregates with reduced cytotoxicity and lower seeding capacity. These are in vitro findings, so no conclusion can be drawn about treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease in people.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 38/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry: journal h-index 419 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Mariapina D’Onofrio: h-index 27 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Verona: institution h-index 763 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41925203) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 38 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c17659
- PubMed: 41925203
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Viola, G., Sperotto, A., Palmioli, A., Tira, R., Munari, F., Assfalg, M., et al. (2026). Cinnamon Bud Extract Is a Source of Biomolecules Active against the Aggregation and Condensation of Alzheimer′s-Associated Tau Protein. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c17659
Vancouver
Viola G, Sperotto A, Palmioli A, Tira R, Munari F, Assfalg M, et al. Cinnamon Bud Extract Is a Source of Biomolecules Active against the Aggregation and Condensation of Alzheimer′s-Associated Tau Protein. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2026. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.5c17659. PMID: 41925203.
BibTeX
@article{viola2026-41925203,
author = {Viola, Giovanna and Sperotto, Andrea and Palmioli, Alessandro and Tira, Roberto and Munari, Francesca and Assfalg, Michael and Airoldi, Cristina and D’Onofrio, Mariapina},
title = {{Cinnamon Bud Extract Is a Source of Biomolecules Active against the Aggregation and Condensation of Alzheimer′s-Associated Tau Protein}},
journal = {Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c17659},
pmid = {41925203},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c17659}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Related studies in Disease mechanisms
Also tagged “mice”
1,150 studies in the library carry the topic tag “mice”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,150 tagged studies.