Food-drug interaction and pharmacokinetic study between fruit extract of Capsicum frutescens L. and glimepiride in diabetic rats

Abstract

Abstract Background The present study was designed to explore the food-drug and pharmacokinetic interaction between C.frutescens, a culinary herb on hypoglycemic activity of glimepiride, a sulfonyl urea derivative used in the treatment of type-2 diabetes) in diabetic rats in combination of each as single doses for one day. Further it is also aimed to study the effect of AQEFCF on antidiabetic effect of glimepiride by repeated dose treatment of AQEFCF for 8 days followed by single dose of Glimepiride in diabetic rats and also with repeated dose treatment of both drugs for 8 days in diabetic rats. Methods Acute toxicity study was conducted as per OECD guidelines 425, as per this study maximum 2000 mg/kg dose was given to albino mice as observed for mortality of the aqueous extract of C.frutescens. Later in order to know the dose dependent action three doses were selected (1/5th,1/10th and 1/20th) for antidiabetic study. Before treatment with either AQEFCF or Glimepiride fasting ‘0’ blood samples were collected and serum glucose levels were analysed by GOD-POD method using semi-auto analyser. AQEFCF (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o) glimepiride 1/2TD, TD and 2TD (0.036, 0.072 and 0.144 mg/200 g p.o) were administered orally alone as well as in combination i.e. AQEFCF as single dose followed by a single dose of glimepiride 30 min later in Phase I. In II Phase repeated doses of AQEFCF for 8 days followed by a single dose of glimepiride (30 min later) on 8th day. In Phase III both the drugs are administered as single doses for 8 days in the same group of diabetic rats. After the treatment serum glucose levels were determined in all the groups of rats at prefixed time intervals i.e.; 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 24 h. Results Both AQEFCF and glimepiride when administered as single doses produced a dose dependent antidiabetic activity in diabetic rats. The combination of AQEFCF and glimepiride at the different dose levels has shown an better antidiabetic effect. AQEFCF augmented the effect of glimepiride in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Conclusion It has been concluded that no significant food drug interaction occurred between AQEFCF of C. frutescence and glimepiride either single dose or combination of repeated doses. Empirical evidences clears that there is also no pharmacokinetic interaction also observed.