Malaria remains one of the prominent public health problems that lead to severe morbidity and mortality
in many developing countries around the globe. New antimalarial drugs are urgently needed due to the
emergence of antimalarial-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. In previous studies, we tested
several plants extracts that are capable of inhibiting β-hematin formation, with efficiency similar to
chloroquine. In the current study, the effect of cinnamon ethanol and water extracts on inhibiting β-
hematin formation was studied. Powdered cinnamon extracts and bark in a stick form were investigated
using various extraction methods. A semi-quantitative in vitro method, based on the inhibition of
ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FP) bio-crystallization developed by Deharo et al. (2002) was utilized. Water
extracts of cinnamon revealed potential activity even at low concentration of infusions, which was
manifested by a high capability to inhibit β-hematin formation in vitro.