Antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant influences of the spice cinnamon ( Cinnamomum zeylanicumon ) in experimental rats

ABSTRACT The present study investigates the effect of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicumon) powder supplementation on glucose levels, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in adult male Wistar rats via a single subcutaneous alloxan injection (15 mg/kg). Cinnamon powder was mixed with the standard feed of the rats in an amount of 5% for 28 consecutive days. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were assayed at the end of the experimental period in all investigated groups. Anti-oxidative enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were sought in the serum and pancreas. Alloxan caused the fasting blood sugar level to increase. The administration of cinnamon blocked the increase of blood glucose. There was also a significant difference in the TG and TC levels between control and treated diabetic rats. In diabetic rats, cinnamon treatment restored the activities of SOD, CAT and GPx. These findings suggested that cinnamon has an anti-hyperglycemic effect, improves lipid profiles, and protect against damage induced by oxidative stress in the diabetic state.

摘要 本研究探讨锡兰肉桂（Cinnamomum zeylanicumon）粉补充剂对四氧嘧啶（alloxan）诱导糖尿病大鼠血糖水平、脂质谱及氧化应激参数的影响。通过单次皮下注射四氧嘧啶（15 mg/kg）构建成年雄性Wistar大鼠糖尿病模型。将肉桂粉以5%的比例混入大鼠标准饲料中，连续干预28天。实验结束时，检测所有受试组大鼠血清总胆固醇（total cholesterol, TC）、甘油三酯（triglycerides, TG）浓度。在血清与胰腺组织中检测谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（glutathione peroxidase, GPx）、过氧化氢酶（catalase, CAT）、超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase, SOD）等抗氧化酶的活性。四氧嘧啶造模可升高大鼠空腹血糖水平，而肉桂粉干预可阻断血糖升高。对照组与糖尿病干预组大鼠的TG、TC水平存在显著差异。在糖尿病大鼠中，肉桂治疗可恢复SOD、CAT及GPx的活性。本研究结果表明，肉桂具有抗高血糖作用，可改善脂质谱，并缓解糖尿病状态下氧化应激介导的组织损伤。