An Investigation of the Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of Cinnamon Oil on Streptozocin-induced Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Baronner, Ashley

An Investigation of the Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of Cinnamon Oil on Streptozocin-induced Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Persistent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10456/34293

Author(s)

Baronner, Ashley

Date Issued

April 1, 2013

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is defined by impaired insulin action, insulin secretory dysfunction, increased glucose output, and obesity. The disease leads to chronic hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Cinnamon oil has been shown to improve glucose and lipid regulation in a mechanism similar to that of insulin and drug treatments. This study used male Sprague-Dawley Rats (n=15) treated with low-dose streptozotocin (45 mg/kg bw) and a two-week high-fat diet (75.1% fat) to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties of cinnamon oil on type 2 diabetes. A non-diabetic control group (n=3) provided a baseline for the experiment. Cinnamon oil (0, 50, 100 mg/kg bw) was administered in peanut butter for 30 days to identify the maximum efficacy of this natural treatment. Weight was monitored throughout the experiment, fasting plasma glucose levels were tested weekly, and total serum cholesterol was analyzed at the end of the experimental period. The groups that received 50 and 100 mg/kg bw cinnamon oil experienced weight loss (P=0.0006, P<0.0001) and the group receiving 100 mg/kg bw had increases in plasma glucose levels compared to all other groups (P<0.0001). The total cholesterol measurements did not differ between groups. These results can be attributed to the challenges of producing a type 2 diabetic model with a high fat diet and STZ administration, which outweighed the potential benefits provided by cinnamon oil administration.

Honors

Biology, 2013

First Reader(s)

Rankin, Susan