Polypharmacy (herbal and synthetic drug combination): a novel approach in the treatment of type-2 diabetes and its complications in rats

J Nat Med. 2013 Jul;67(3):662-71. doi: 10.1007/s11418-012-0720-5. Epub 2012 Nov 15.

Abstract

The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Annona squamosa with Glipizide in a high fat diet and streptozocin-induced type-2 diabetes. Nine groups (n = 6) of male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the study, with. Basal blood glucose, urine volume, and body weights were measured and the rate were kept on a high fat diet. After 15 days, streptozocin in sub-diabetic dose (35 mg/kg) was administered to the animals to induce diabetes. With 1 week of consistent hyperglycemia, treatment was initiated. Aqueous extract of Annona squamosa was administered orally at 350 mg/kg body weight alone and in combination with reduced and reducing dose combinations of Glipizide. Blood glucose, body weight, urine volume were measured every 10th day. The elevated blood-glucose level in diabetic rats was controlled better with combination therapy compared with the synthetic drug alone or the herbal stand-alone drug. All the results were statistically significant (P < 0.001). A combination of Annona squamosa along with Glipizide may be helpful in dose reduction of Glipizide up to 50%, reducing the risk of the onset of insulin therapy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Annona / chemistry*
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Diabetes Complications / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / urine
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / urine
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Glipizide / administration & dosage
  • Glipizide / therapeutic use*
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Insulin / blood
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Plant Extracts
  • Catalase
  • Glutathione
  • Glipizide