Possible radio-protective effects of cinnamon on induced mucositis in buccal mucosa of albino rats subjected to gamma radiation

Abstract

Objectives: Radiation-induced oral mucositis (OM) is one of the cell damages. This necessitates to search for innovative materials to eliminate or decrease mucositis. Cinnamon is one of the health-promoting agents for the treatment of inflammation. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cinnamon on induced mucositis in rats subjected to gamma radiation. Methods: 75 rats were divided into 5 groups: C1 ‘no intervention’, C2 ‘induced mucositis’, R1, R2 and R3: irradiated with 2, 4, and 6 Gray (Gy) respectively after mucositis induction. Each irradiation group was subdivided into 2 subgroups, A and B (with or without cinnamon treatment). Buccal mucosa were examined histologically and by Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen. Results: Induced mucositis showed distorted keratin and degeneration in epithelial and connective tissues. Irradiated rats with no cinnamon treatment had dose dependent exaggerated mucositis. The irradiated rats with cinnamon treatment showed improved histological and immunohistochemical results regarding epithelial thickness, mitotic figures, and connective tissue integrity. Conclusions: There are gamma radiation dose related histological changes in the buccal mucosa. The cell proliferation and epithelial thickness had inverse relation with irradiation dose. Cinnamon presented a promising radio-protective effect histologically and in the cell proliferation potential.