Cinnamon Mitigates Gentamicin-Triggered Lipid Metabolic Disruptions: An Experimental Study in Male Rabbits

Abstract

Gentamicin is a potent aminoglycoside antibiotic commonly used in clinical settings, yet it is associated with nephrotoxicity and disturbances in lipid metabolism. Previous studies have reported that gentamicin administration can significantly elevate serum lipid levels, while cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) has been shown to possess lipid-lowering and antioxidant effects in experimental models. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of cinnamon on gentamicin-induced alterations in the blood plasma lipid profile in male rabbits. Twenty healthy male rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: control (distilled water), gentamicin (50 mg/kg orally, every other day for 14 days), cinnamon (200 mg/kg orally, every other day for 10 weeks), and a combined treatment group receiving both agents. Blood samples were collected at the end of the treatment period via cardiac puncture. Plasma was separated by centrifugation and analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) using enzymatic colorimetric methods. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test (p < 0.05). Results showed that gentamicin significantly increased TC (124.82±1.23 mg/dl), TG (65.41±2.58 mg/dl), and LDL (67.71±2.48 mg/dl), while decreasing HDL (40.90±1.66 mg/dl) compared to the control group. Cinnamon administration alone significantly reduced TC (109.07±4.52 mg/dl), TG (46.26±1.38 mg/dl), and LDL (59.15±1.37 mg/dl), and increased HDL (50.08±1.95 mg/dl). In the combined group, cinnamon partially mitigated gentamicin-induced lipid abnormalities, with values approaching those of the control group. These findings suggest that cinnamon may offer a protective effect against gentamicin-induced dyslipidemia, likely due to its antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties