Cinnamaldehyde microcapsules enhance bioavailability and regulate intestinal flora in mice

The effects of cinnamaldehyde microcapsules on the concentration of cinnamaldehyde and its metabolites in plasma, urine, and feces, the antioxidant capacity, and the intestinal flora in male C57/BL6 mice were evaluated by oral administration for 7 weeks. Microencapsulation significantly increased the contents of cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol, and methyl cinnamate in plasma and decreased those in urine and feces excretion (p < 0.05). In addition, microencapsulated cinnamaldehyde improved antioxidant capacity in liver, duodenum, and colon. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing data suggested that microencapsulated cinnamaldehyde significantly improved the gut microbial richness and diversity, increased the abundance of Bacteroides, Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes, unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae, Lactobacillus, and Blautia genera, and decreased in Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Faecalibaculum, norank_f_Muribaculaceae, and Gordonibacter genera, which was accompanied by the increased contents of butyric acid in feces. Therefore, microencapsulated cinnamaldehyde may increase its bioavailability and regulate the balance of intestinal flora.