The present investigation was carried out in an attempt to assess the effect of cinnamon and ginger on serum glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol fractions levels. Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 120±5 g and divided into two groups. The first groups negative control group consisted of (10) rats fed on basal diet. The second main group consisted of (80) rats were injected intraperitoneal with alloxan monhydratein single dose (150 mg / kg) body weight and reclassified into eight sub groups (10 rats each). Subgroup (1), diabetic group was fed on basal diet only control positive group, subgroup (2), diabetic group was fed on basal diet plus 5% cinnamon, subgroup (3), diabetic group was fed on basal diet plus 10% cinnamon, subgroup (4), diabetic group was fed on basal diet plus 5% ginger, subgroup (5), diabetic group was fed on basal diet plus 10% ginger, subgroup (6), diabetic group was fed on basal diet plus 5% of both cinnamon and ginger, subgroup (7) diabetic group was fed on basal diet plus 10% of both cinnamon and ginger, subgroup (8) diabetic group was fed on basal diet plus (10 mg Atorvastatin + 30 mg Gliclagide). The study was assigned for six weeks.
At the end of the experimental period rats were fasted over night before sacrificing, blood was collected then centrifuged to separate the serum. The results revealed that feeding rats on cinnamon, ginger and their combinations led to significant decreased in serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and increased HDL-cholesterol.
The best improvement was subgroup (8) diabetic group was fed on basal diet plus (10 mg Atorvastatin + 30 mg Gliclagide) followed by subgroup (7) diabetic group was fed on basal diet plus 10% of both cinnamon and ginger, then subgroups (3) and (5) namely diabetic group was fed on basal diet plus 10% cinnamon and diabetic group was fed on basal diet plus 10% ginger.
Therefore, this study recommended that the daily intake of cinnamon and ginger as a drink may be useful in the management of diabetes and improve serum levels of glucose and lipid profile.