Protective Effects of Aqueous Extract of Cinnamon on Diabetes-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder with multi-systemic adverse effects on the body. Cinnamon is atraditional folk herbsused for treatment of diseases and was popularas an embalming agent. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of crude aqueous extract of Cinnamon for its protective activities on diabetes-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistarrats. Twenty-four adult Wistar rats of both sexes were assigned to three groups containing eight rats (n=8). Group A was the control group, group B was the streptozotocin-treated group, and group C was the streptozotocin followed by crude aqueous extract of Cinnamon treated group. Group B received 50mg/kg of STZ by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Group C received 50 mg/kg of STZ i.p. and 300 mg/kg/day of the aqueous extract of Cinnamon for 21 days. All the rats including the control group were fed with commercially formulated feeds and water ad`libidum for the same number of days.Effect of concurrent oral administration of crudeaqueous extract of Cinnamon at a dose of 300 mg/kg/day on the renal integrity was determined using serum creatinine, blood urea as indicators of kidney damage supporting histopathological findings. It was observed that the crude aqueous extract of Cinnamon significantly protect rat kidneys from diabetes-induced histopathological changes. This extract also normalized the increase in serumcreatinine and blood urea that characterized the diabetic group of rats.In conclusion, administration of aqueous extract of Cinnamon protects the kidneys of adult Wistar rats against diabetes-induced nephrotoxicity.