Variation of bioactive secondary metabolites in Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) in different climatic conditions, maturity status and propagation types

This paper presents the variation of phytochemical quantities of leaves and bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (Ceylon cinnamon) under different conditions such as ecological variation, maturity and physical state of the tree, and the propagation type. Among 49 climatic zones in Sri Lanka, six cinnamon growing zones including three wet zones (WL 1a, WL 2a, and WU 2b), two intermediate zones (IL 1a, IL 1b) and one dry zone (DL5) were selected for collecting cinnamon leaves and bark samples. The quantities of phytochemicals in leaves and bark extracts of Ceylon cinnamon according to the climatic difference, maturity stages (1-3, 3-5 and >5 y) and physical stage (flowering, fruiting, flushing), and seed and vegetative propagates (Sri Gamunu and Sri Wijaya) were evaluated. The results showed that climatic zones of WL 1a and IL 1a were the best climatic zones for obtaining high quantities of phytochemical classes in seeding and vegetative propagation types, respectively. Besides, the best phytochemical composition was observed in the leaves with >5 y and the bark of 3-5 y maturity of seed propagation varieties. Comparatively, bark from Sri Wijaya and leaves from Sri Gamunu which belonged to >5 y maturity contained better phytochemical composition in vegetative propagated varieties. According to the physical variations, the best phytochemical composition was observed in the bark samples which were collected in the flowering season, and the leaves samples collected in the fruiting season. Therefore, leaves in >5 y matured stage and bark in 3-5 y matured stage of seed propagation varieties of Ceylon cinnamon which are grown in WL 1a climatic zone are the best Cinnamon cultivar for the purpose of enhancing value chain and development cinnamon into different value adduct products.