A B S T R A C TPlants are an important source of traditional medicines that can be used to improvehealth. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) has long been recognized to have manybenefits. Cinnamon was used traditionally as a remedy for arthritis, diarrhea, allergiesand ulcers. This literature review aimed to identify the bioactive compounds andbioactivity of cinnamon. Literature searches used PubMed and Google Scholar. A totalof 55 full text articles met the inclusion criteria of the review. The extract or essentialoil of cinnamon contains many bioactive compounds, such as eugenol, cinnamic acid,linalool, β-caryophyllene, coumarin, trans cinnamyl acetate, and 1.8 cineole. Thesecompounds have several bioactivities including anti-cancer, anti-arrhythmia, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-cholinesterase, and anti-lipidoxidation. Cinnamon extract has an excellent potential as an antioxidant andantidiabetic agent. Its potential and unique taste has contributed to its wide use inherbal remedies.