Cinnamic Acid and Cinnamaldehyde Ameliorate Cisplatin-Induced Splenotoxicity in Rats

ABSTRACT Cinnamic acid (CA) and cinnamaldehyde (CD) are major constituents of cinnamon species. They possess various pharmacological properties of which their antioxidant activity is a prime one. This study aims to investigate potential protective effects against cisplatin (CP)‐induced splenotoxicity in rats. A single dose of CP (5 mg/kg) injected i.p. caused a significant decrease in hemoglobin content (18%), total leucocytic count (46%), neutrophils (78%), and catalase (CAT) splenic activity (64%) with a marked increase in lymphocytes (26%) and splenic content of malondialdehyde (68%) and TNF‐α (69%) as compared with the control group. Contrarily, CA (50 mg/kg, p.o.) or CD (40 mg/kg, p.o.) administration for 7 days before CP ameliorated CP‐induced splenotoxicity as indicated by mitigation of the biochemical parameters and histopathological changes. These results revealed the promising protective effects of CA and CD on CP‐induced splenotoxicity in rats; an effect that might be attributed to antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities.