Phytochemical Profiling, Quantification of Bioactive Compounds, and Antioxidant Evaluation of Cinnamon Extract Using HPLC and UV Spectroscopy

Title

Phytochemical Profiling, Quantification of Bioactive Compounds, and Antioxidant Evaluation of Cinnamon Extract Using HPLC and UV Spectroscopy

Authors

1. DEVESH KASHYAP, KALINGA UNIVERSITY, Other, India
2. MUSKAN SHRESTHA, KALINGA UNIVERSITY, Other, India
3. SONALI BISWASH, KALINGA UNIVERSITY, Assistant Professor, India
4. SHILPI SHRIVASTAVA, KALINGA UNIVERSITY, Professor, India

Abstract

Cinnamon is a spice used worldwide and is recognized as a functional food, historically valued across the globe for its health benefits. . UV spectroscopy was used for the preliminary identification of bioactive classes, and HPLC was used to measure their quantity. The study focused on the bioactive compounds in cinnamon and reported on its antioxidant properties to illustrate how it can be used for health benefits.

 Analysis of this extract by UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed the presence of a high amount of UV-absorbing compounds (showing strong absorption below 400 nm, likely with λ_max ~280 nm), which strongly suggests the presence of cinnamaldehyde and other phenolic compounds.

 HPLC was used. The results identified a major compound, Peak 5, at retention time (R.T.) of 3.073 min, constituting 43.99% of the total extract composition. The second most abundant compound was Peak 1 (R.T. = 0.882 min), which comprised 28.26% of the total extract.

Keywords

Bioactive compounds Uv-vis Spectroscopy HPLC Quantification Antioxidant activity Phytochemical profiling. Bioactive compounds Uv-vis Spectroscopy HPLC Quantification Antioxidant activity Phytochemical profiling.

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Conclusion

This study conclusively identified and quantified the key bioactive compounds in aqueous cinnamon extract. HPLC analysis revealed cinnamaldehyde as the predominant component (43.99%), followed by significant levels of polar phenolic antioxidants (28.26%). UV-Vis spectroscopy further confirmed the presence of these compounds, showing a characteristic absorption peak at ~280 nm.

The high concentration of these potent antioxidants underscores the scientific relevance of cinnamon extract. It validates its traditional use as a functional food and highlights its strong potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, particularly in managing oxidative stress-related diseases.

Future research should focus on isolating individual compounds for detailed bioactivity assays, evaluating in vivo efficacy in disease models, and developing standardized formulations for commercial use in food preservation and healthcare products.

Reference

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Author Contribution

I designed the study and wrote the initial draft. Muskan conducted the literature review and contributed to data analysis. Sonali assisted in data collection and manuscript editing. Shipi supervised the project and provided critical revisions.

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Software Information

Graphs were generated using the default software provided with the UV-Vis spectrophotometer and HPLC system. The data were analyzed and saved using the respective instrument software on the connected computer.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledge

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Kalinga university ,Department of chemistry , Guide Shilpi Shrivastava , for their valuable support and guidance throughout the course of this research. We also thank our peers and colleagues for their constructive feedback and encouragement. Special thanks to our families and friends for their constant motivation and understanding during the research process.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.