Abstract

The purpose of this study is to show the effects of crude cinnamon extract on the diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus manifests itself in a wide variety of complications and the symptoms of the disease are multifactorial. The sugar level and lipid profile were investigated in plasma of normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with cinnamon for four weeks. Diabetic rats exhibited an increase in the levels of sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL), and a decrease in the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL). The administration of cinnamon showed a decrease of 29% in sugar level, 24% in cholesterol, 19% in triglycerides, 26% in LDL, and increase of 20% in (HDL). In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that the administration of cinnamon showed better lipid profile as well as decreases in the sugar level in both normal and diabetic rats.

Key words: Cinnamon, diabetes, lipid profile.