Biochemical impacts of treating diabetic rats with irradiated cinnamon

T HE OBJECTIVES of the present study are to evaluate the effect of γ-radiation on total phenolic contents of cinnamon dried powder (CDP) and also to investigate the role of raw and γ-irradiated cinnamon extract (CE) in ameliorating biological disturbances in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The results obtained show that γ-irradiation (10kGy) increases the total phenolic contents of CDP by percent change 6.39%. The results revealed also that alloxan administration to rats (150mg/kg B.WT) showed a significant increase in the levels of serum glucose, urea, creatinine, uric acidconcomitant with a significant decrease in the levels of insulin, testosterone (T), serum total thyroid hormones triiodothyronin (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Furtherer more, alloxan induced asignificant elevation in lipid peroxidation and a reduction in glutathione content and antioxidant enzyme activities in the renal and testicular tissues of diabetic rats. Treatment of diabetic rats with either raw or γ-irradiated CE has significantly ameliorated the alteration in the antioxidant/oxidant status and improved hyperglycemia, renal, and endocrine abnormalities. In conclusion, the study indicated that cinnamon, in addition to being hypoglycaemic, is effective in reducing oxidative stress caused by alloxan-induceddiabetes and the γ-irradiation of CPE increased its hygienic quality and significantly its total phenolic content without a significant loss in its quality attributes.