Evaluation of therapeutic effects of aqueous cinnamon extract against obesity associated dysregulation of pituitary-adrenal axis

Abstract

Obesity is distinguished by unwanted and surplus accumulation of lipids in body principally in adipocytes. Inactive lifestyle and dietary irregularities are considered as premiers among a variety of obesogenic risk factors. Obesity is associated with variations in the concentration of trophic and tropic hormones from pituitary gland affecting different body parts and other endocrine glands including adrenal gland. Current study was design to explore the anti-obesity potential of cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) against high sugar and high fat induced hyper-activity of pituitary-adrenal (PA) axis and obesity. Twenty-five healthy Wistar albino female rats were selected as model animal. Body weight, oral glucose tolerance test, serum cortisol, hematology and histopathological analysis were performed. The high sugar and high fat induced increase in body eight was decline by cinnamon administration. Hematological analysis revealed a significant decreased concentration of RBCs and hemoglobin and increased WBCs and platelet count following sub-acute exposure of high sugar and high fat changes were attenuated by cinnamon. High sugar and fat associated elevated serum cortisol was normalized after cinnamon exposure. Moreover, cinnamon protected the histopathological alterations following high sugar and fat administration, showed protective effects of Cinnamon against obesity associated dysregulation of PA axis and metabolic impairment.