Abstract

Background and Objective:  Cinnamon  is one  of the most important spices that are highly valued for their health benefits. Thus, the study  aimed  at  determining  the  effect  of  cinnamon   on  blood  sugar,  lipid  profile  and  liver  function   of   male   wistar  rats. Materials and Methods: Cinnamon sticks were sorted, washed, dried at 60EC and milled to powdery form. Fifteen male wistar rats were grouped into three. Group A (control) was fed regular rat feed, while group B was fed regular rat feed with 5% concentration of cinnamon and group C was given regular rat feed with 2.5% cinnamon. The weight and fasting blood sugar level of the rats were taken at baseline. Weekly weight gain, daily feed and water intake were recorded. Fasting blood sugar was determined every two weeks during the experiment. At the end of the experiment at fourth week, blood samples were collected for determination of the plasma glucose concentration, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), liver function and for lipid profile test. Liver samples were harvested for histopathology. Results: Cinnamon had blood sugar lowering effect at both concentrations of 2.5 and 5%. However, there was no significant difference in glycosylated haemoglobin, while plasma glucose concentration was lower in rats fed cinnamon. Cinnamon increased the high density lipoprotein (HDL) level but had negligible effect on other lipid profile parameters. There was no significant effect on aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Also the liver histopathology of rats fed 2.5% cinnamon and that of the control were comparable while that of rats fed 5% cinnamon revealed a deposition of plagues, enlarged sinusoids and hepatocyte with mild necrotic features. Conclusion: Cinnamon powder at the concentrations used, had lowering effect on the blood sugar with positive effect on the lipid profile and mild to adverse effect on the liver of normal wistar rats.