ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to determine whether the extract of Ceylon cinnamon, Cinnamomum Zeyanicums, improves fasting blood glucose [FBG], total cholesterol [TC], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-cholesterol], low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-cholesterol] and triglyceride [TG] in addition to body weight gain, food intake and food efficiency ratio [FER] in male Alloxan-diabetic rats. Cinnamon extract was administered at different dosages [200, 400, 600 and 1200 mg/kg body weight] for thirty days [first period, period I] followed by a fifteen day wash-out period [second period, period II]. After thirty days of cinnamon extract administration in the diabetic rat groups, the concentration of FBG, TC, LDL-cholesterol and TG were significantly [P < 0.05] decreased with the most in Group 3 [rats fed 200 mg cinnamon extract/kg body weight] compared with the diabetic control group [positive control]. The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Ceylon cinnamon administration in diabetic rats were associated with significant increases in body weight gain, food intake and food efficiency ratios. Whereas, after the fifteen day wash-out period, the concentration of FBG, TC, LDL-cholesterol and TG gradually increased but were still lower than that in the diabetic control group [positive control]. The maintenance of lower blood glucose and lipid profiles, even when the diabetic rats were fed the cinnamon extract or during the wash-out period indicates a sustained effect of cinnamon extract which suggests that cinnamon extract has a regulatory role in blood glucose and lipid profile levels