Attenuation of TNF-α Induced Liver Injury by Cinnamon Extract in Rats

Background: Nowadays, alternative medicinal therapy is recommended for protection and management liver diseases. Cinnamon is popular flavoring ingredient, widely used in as additive worldwide.

Objective: The mechanism of hepato-protective activity of water (WE) or ethanolic extracts (EE) of cinnamon against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced lipid peroxidation and the hepatic injury was investigated in rats.

Materials and Methods: Four groups of male rats were included in this study, Group1: control, Group II; CCl4 intoxicated, Group III (CCl4+ WE) and Group IV (CCl4+ EE) of cinnamon.

Results and Discussion: Serum AST and ALT were elevated in rats induced by CCl4 while oral administrated with 100 mg/kg of either (WE or EE), daily showed improvement in these enzymes. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), IL-6 and TNF-α (P<0.001) were elevated in response to CCl4, while the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly decreased (P<0.001). Results showed that WE or EE improved liver functions and lower hydroxyproline content. The results obtained indicated that EE has potent hepatoprotective action more than water extract against CCl4 by inhibiting release of inflammatory cytokines that enhance release of proteases and neutrophil that cause liver injury. In addition, these extracts exert a protective effect by lowering MDA level and induce the antioxidants capacity.

Conclusion: It is concluded that free radical-scavenging polyphenols contents inhibit production of inflammatory mediators and enhancing antioxidant capacity.