Abstract

Cinnamon is used in traditional medicine and foods. In this study the protective effects of cinnamaldehyde, one of the most abundant compound of cinnamon against metabolic syndrome induced by high fat diet, were investigated. To induce metabolic syndrome, male Wistar rats were given high fat diet for 16 weeks. Cinnamaldehyde was administrated orally (143.8 mu mol/kg body weight) concomitant with high fat feed. Changes in islet morphology, lipid profile, TNF-alpha, TBARS, insulin resistance were analyzed. Metabolic syndrome was induced by high fat diet. Cinnamaldehyde reversed this process and significantly reduced insulin secretion and content in isolated islets of high fat diet. Beta cell enlargement, TNF-alpha and TBARS significantly increased with high fat diet, cinnamaldehyde restored both to the control level. Cinnamaldehyde prevented all symptoms of metabolic syndrome by improving oxidative and inflammatory conditions in pancreatic islets with no effect on insulin secretion but by enhancing insulin reserve and preventing beta cell damage. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.