The Effect of Cinnamomum Cassia on the Heart Rate of Daphnia Magna
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Physiology and Health
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Written Paper Award
2nd Place
Abstract
Certain styrene-producing molds have been found to grow on Cinnamomum cassia, a type of cinnamon bark that is the most used cinnamon bark for household use. Styrene is a known cause of cardiac arrhythmia and ischemic heart disease in humans. In this experiment, various styrene producing molds were grown on the commercially available Cinnamomum cassia in order to observe its effect on the heart rate of Daphnia magna colonies. It was hypothesized that the addition of Cinnamomum cassia and its naturally occurring molds would cause cardiac arrhythmia of some kind in the Daphnia magna starting at 3 mg of ground cinnamon added. Experimentation was conducted by growing the molds on the Cinnamomum cassia over a two week period. The moldy cinnamon was ground and 20 Daphnia magna were exposed to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 mg of the ground Cinnamomum cassia for two hours. The heart rate and consistency of beats were observed and recorded. It was found that starting at 3 mg, the Daphnia magna began experiencing a significant amount of cardiac arrhythmia in the form of an elevated heart beat. Based on this experiment, there is a certain level of danger associated with handling moldy or aged cinnamon, which could be due to production of styrene which poses a risk to any individual who uses cinnamon frequently.
Recommended Citation
Lobitz, Carl E., "The Effect of Cinnamomum Cassia on the Heart Rate of Daphnia Magna" (2015). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 197.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2015/all/197
Start Date
4-11-2015 11:30 AM
End Date
4-11-2015 11:45 AM
The Effect of Cinnamomum Cassia on the Heart Rate of Daphnia Magna
Certain styrene-producing molds have been found to grow on Cinnamomum cassia, a type of cinnamon bark that is the most used cinnamon bark for household use. Styrene is a known cause of cardiac arrhythmia and ischemic heart disease in humans. In this experiment, various styrene producing molds were grown on the commercially available Cinnamomum cassia in order to observe its effect on the heart rate of Daphnia magna colonies. It was hypothesized that the addition of Cinnamomum cassia and its naturally occurring molds would cause cardiac arrhythmia of some kind in the Daphnia magna starting at 3 mg of ground cinnamon added. Experimentation was conducted by growing the molds on the Cinnamomum cassia over a two week period. The moldy cinnamon was ground and 20 Daphnia magna were exposed to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 mg of the ground Cinnamomum cassia for two hours. The heart rate and consistency of beats were observed and recorded. It was found that starting at 3 mg, the Daphnia magna began experiencing a significant amount of cardiac arrhythmia in the form of an elevated heart beat. Based on this experiment, there is a certain level of danger associated with handling moldy or aged cinnamon, which could be due to production of styrene which poses a risk to any individual who uses cinnamon frequently.
