Cinnamon gets its powerful flavor and aroma from a variety of compound that the tree uses specifically for the intent of resist off fire from insect and fungi . These versatile chemicals are fairly harmless to most mammals but spell certain last for many germ , fungi and bacteria .

Cinnamon Oil Production

Cinnamon Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree come in four basic varieties : Cinnamonium verum ( " true cinnamon " in latin ) grow in Sri Lanka , and Burmanni ( Indonesian ) , Loureiroi ( Saigon ) and Aromaticum ( Chinese ) cinnamon grow all over southeast Asia and the side by side islands . Cinnamon oil can come from the bark of any of these Tree , but the leave of absence of osmophloeum ( Taiwan ) cinnamon contain most of the same insect - repelling chemicals .

Cinnamaldehyde

This is the principal insect - controlling compound contained in cinnamon oil , and it comprises about 90 percent of the cinnamon oil colour by volume . Like some of the other compound , this chemical compound is highly mortal to most insects , fungus and bacterium but fairly harmless for most mammals and Pisces . The powdered cinnamon bark that you buy in stores is generally beechnut husk impregnated with cinnamaldehyde . This stiff - smelling compound also burns the anterior naris of most animals , which makes it a useful quat and heel repellant .

Euganol

If this chemical fathom vaguely familiar , it ’s because it ’s commonly sell as an over - the - replication local anesthetic agent for use on sore tooth . While not always extracted from cloves , this chemical is what gives cloves their touch flavor . Euganol is more toxic than cinnamaldehyde , but it only comprises a small per centum of the cinnamon crude by volume . By contrast , Eugenia aromaticum oil is about 90 per centum euganol .

Anethole

Anethole ( C10 - H12 - O2 ) is an ether chemical compound in the same class and is only one C mote off of cinnamaldehyde . This chemical substance gives anise , star anise and fennel their signature flavor and is the principal flavoring ingredient in grim liquorice . This chemical compound is a hefty antibacterial and fungicidal agentive role . It ’s realise as good for humans within the prescribed dosages , but in high dosages it can make a lowering of consistency temperature , reduced motor activity and mesmeric , anticonvulsant and analgesic ( painkilling ) effect .

Treatment

Cinnamon oil and its constituent chemicals kill many insect on striking and continue to act as a repellant for long afterward . It ’s especially in force against mosquitoes and bug in their larval form , before they evolve heavy shells . Bugs wo n’t feed from any food source impregnated with cinnamon oil , which is the primary reason that cinnamon trees evolved it in the first post . This include human skin , which makes cinnamon oil a delicious - smell out alternative to commercial-grade bug repellents . Because the quintessence in cinnamon oil are hydrocarbons , they ’ll burn just like petrol or kerosene ; however , combust these ether compounds turns them into carbon dioxide and water vapour , rendering them useless as an insect repellant . So if you ’re look for an oil to keep mosquitoes out at nighttime , stick with citronella .

References

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