Abstract:
Background: Hyperglycemia is a serious health crisis worldwide, and
more than 90% of the Sri Lankan patients effected with the condition
have diabetes mellitus type 2. Natural therapeutic agents can manage the
progression of the disease. Objectives: To investigate the hypoglycemic and
antilipidemic effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (“Sri Wijaya” accession)
water‑soluble nutraceuticals in diabetic‑induced and healthy Wistar rats.
Materials and Methods: The diabetic and nondiabetic Wistar rats were
treated with Cinnamon pressured water, Cinnamon decoction, pretreated
pressured water Cinnamon extract for 1 month. The results were compared
with the group treated with the positive control, Acarbose untreated normal
group. Blood glucose and other biochemical parameters were estimated
using commercial test kits. Results: There was a significant difference in the
fasting serum glucose, food consumption, and water consumption in rats with
induced diabetes. The total cholesterol level was significantly decreased in the
normal groups treated with Cinnamon extracts, compared with the untreated
groups. There was a significant increase in high‑density lipoprotein cholesterol
levels in the normal group treated with pressured water Cinnamon extract
and decoction when compared with the Acarbose‑treated diabetic group.
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly higher in the diabetic
group treated with Acarbose than in all Cinnamon‑treated groups. However,
no significant difference was shown in normal rat groups for aspartate
aminotransferase and ALT. Conclusion: Cinnamon nutraceuticals have the
potential to reduce hyperglycemia in diabetic rats. Cinnamon extracts may
inhibit α‑amylase and α‑glucosidase enzymes in rat pancreatic tissues.