Because cinnamon is orally ingested, its biological activity is likely to influence the small intestinal epithelium and the microbiota along the intestinal tract. We investigated small intestinal epithelial gene expression associated with immunity and lipid metabolism and measured IgA level in the small intestines and sera of mice fed cinnamon. We also analyzed microbial changes in the small and large intestines and feces using pyrosequencing of the 16 s rRNA gene. Cinnamon increased the gene expression of Muc2, RegIIIγ, and Pigr, which are necessary for defense against gut bacteria. It also increased the gene expression of GATA4 and Slc27a2, which are implicated in lipid absorption. Cinnamon increased luminal IgA level but not serum IgA and decreased the class Gammaproteobacteria (classified within the phylum Proteobacteria), particularly the genus Pseudomonas, in the large intestine. Cinnamon thus affected immunity and lipid absorption in the small intestinal epithelium and microbial composition in the intestines.

由于肉桂是经口摄入的，因此其生物学活性可能会影响小肠​​上皮和肠道菌群。我们调查了与免疫力和脂质代谢有关的小肠上皮基因表达，并测定了饲喂肉桂的小鼠小肠和血清中的IgA水平。我们还使用焦磷酸测序的16 s rRNA基因分析了大肠和粪便中的微生物变化。肉桂增加了Muc2，RegIIIγ和Pigr的基因表达，这是防御肠道细菌所必需的。它还增加了GATA4和Slc27a2的基因表达，这与脂质吸收有关。肉桂在大肠中增加了腔内IgA水平，但没有增加血清IgA，并降低了Gammaproteobacteria类（属于Proteobacteria类），特别是Pseudomonas属。肉桂因此影响小肠上皮的免疫力和脂质吸收以及肠中的微生物组成。