Cinnamaldehyde Inhibits Visceral Fat Accumulation and the levels of Glucose, Insulin, Leptin in Serum of rats fed with High Fat Diet (HFD)

Abstract

The current study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of Cinnamaldehyde (CA) supplemented diet in management of obesity in HFD fed rats. 30 adult male rats were assigned to five group of 6 rats each; the standard diet group I (N); the HFD group II; HFD supplemented with Orlistat (OR) III; group IV and V animals received CA at a dose level of 40, 80 mg/Kg body weight (CA-I, CA-II) along with HFD for 8 weeks. Weights of the animals were monitored every week and the serum parameters like glucose, insulin, leptin levels were analyzed. Insulin resistance were estimated by using Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Thoracic circumference (TC), Abdominal circumference (AC), BMI and weight of Internal organs and fat pad was carried out after 8 weeks. The results revealed that there was a significant increase in body weight, TC (p< 0.05), AC (p< 0.05), and BMI (p< 0.001) in HFD fed rats. Hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia and hyperleptinemia has been observed in HFD fed rats. Treatment with CA, reduced the body weight (p< 0.001), anthropometrical parameters (p< 0.05), serum glucose (p< 0.001), insulin (p< 0.001), leptin (p< 0.001) levels and weight of internal organs, visceral fat pad (p<0.05) were decreased, when compared with HFD induced rats. The results demonstrate clearly that repeated oral administration of CA treatment prevented the rats from becoming obese and the bio chemical, physical parameters were maintained to near normal levels. All the results were compared with Orlistat, a standard anti-obesity drug. Hence, Cinnamaldehyde may be taken up for further studies leading to a novel therapeutic drug for obesity.