Cinnamaldehyde is an organic compound, the essential oil of cinnamon bark is about 90% cinnamaldehyde, gives cinnamon its flavor and odor.

Cinnamaldehyde has antimicrobial properties, it is believed that the antimicrobial properties arise from the aldehyde group on Cinnamaldehyde.

Cinnamaldehyde is also a TRPA1 activator, and can excite a subset of sensory neurons that are mainly cold-sensitive neurons, to cause nociceptive behavior in mice –
Explanation: Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) A1 channels are expressed on airway sensory nerves and are linked to the initiation of respiratory symptoms and disease pathogenesis. TRPA1 is believed to be an oxidative stress sensor and is triggered by a range of stimuli.
(Oxidative stress is a phenomenon caused by an imbalance between production and accumulation of oxygen reactive species (ROS) in cells and tissues and the ability of a biological system to detoxify these reactive products.
Nociceptors are specific receptors within the skin, muscle, skeletal structures, and viscera that detect potentially damaging stimuli.)

Cinnamaldehyde has been found to improve metabolic health by acting directly on adipocytes (also known as lipocytes and fat cells) and inducing them to start burning energy through a process called thermogenesis (the production of heat, especially in a human or animal body).

Cinnamaldehyde has been studied as a food preservative; although Cinnamaldehyde does kill certain bacteria, it is less effective than other man-made preservatives. 

Scientists had previously observed that cinnamaldehyde appeared to protect mice against obesity and hyperglycemia (an excess of glucose in the bloodstream, often associated with diabetes mellitus), but the mechanisms underlying these effects were not well understood. Researchers are currently investigating cinnamaldehyde as a potential anti-obesity drug.

Cinnamaldehyde is currently being investigated for prevention against COVID-19.

(Sources of Information: erj.ersjournals.com, sciencedirect.com, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Oxford Languages & Wikipedia)

Cinnamon in Food – RECIPES