Influence of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Cinnamomum Cassia on AntiDiabetic Effect of Glibenclamide, Metformin Alone and Their Combination

Summary Cinnamomum cassia is commonly known as cinnamon and it has anti"diabetic activity, but its influence in diabetic patients under treatment is not clear. Hence aim of this work is to find out the influence of hydroalcoholic stem bark extract of Cinnamomum cassia (HAECC) on anti"diabetic effect of Glibenclamide, Metformin alone and their combination. The influence of HAECC (285.71 & 666.66 mg/kg), Glibenclamide (1 mg/kg), Metformin (300 mg/kg) and their combinations (2"12 groups, n=6) were evaluated diabetic rats by estimating fasting blood glucose levels on initial, 1 st , 3 rd , 7 th , 14 th and 21 st day of the treatment. On 21 st day blood and liver samples were collected and other parameters were estimated. Combination therapy does not produce any synergistic effect but blood glucose level was very significantly ( p < 0.01) reduced from 1 st day, came to normal on 21 st day of the treatment. In addition, significant reduction was observed in cholesterol (27.1"47.4%), SGOT (38.8"63.6%) and SGPT (7.6" 40%). Significant increase in protein (13.7"30.4%) and HDL cholesterol (44.4"108.3%) indicates reduction in drug treated rats. The HAECC has potential anti"diabetic action in alloxan induc ed diabetic rats. Combination of HAECC with anti"diabetic drugs does not produce any significant hypoglycaemic effects.