Abstract
To get better control in disease conditions, many people take herbs with conventional medicines, therefore, posing a risk of potential pharmacokinetic interactions between herbs and conventional drugs. The aqueous extract of the fresh leaves of Abroma augusta L. (Family: Sterculiaceae, Bengali name: Ulatkambal, English name: Devil's cotton, DC) is viscous and used traditionally to treat diabetes mellitus. This study was done to investigate the probable mechanism by which the aqueous extract of Abroma augusta L. is beneficial in managing type 2 DM and to observe the effects of this extract on absorption of metformin hydrochloride from the gastrointestinal tract. Studies were conducted in healthy Long Evans rats using Na-carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as positive control. Both Na-CMC and WSF of DC significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the absorption of glucose administered orally in fasted rats. On the other hand, WSF of DC significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the absorption of metformin hydrochloride in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The results of this study suggest that WSF of DC may be beneficial in diabetic patients to improve glycemic control but should not be coadministered with metformin HCl for management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Highlights
Traditional herbal medicines have been attracting a great deal of attention as alternative and supplemental medicines
We have reported that the viscous WSF of Abelmoschus esculentus L. interacts with both glucose and metformin hydrochloride and reduces their absorption from gastrointestinal tract when co-administered orally in rats. From these observations we suggested that lady’s fingers are beneficial in type 2 Diabetes mellitus diabetic with metformin hydrochloride and CMC (DMC) (DM) patients in improving glucose tolerance, they should not be taken with metformin at the same time [4]
On the other hand, when same amount of glucose was administered with 0.5 mL WSF of A. augusta L., blood glucose level rather decreased to about 49.26% at 4 hrs, and the same trend continued afterwards
Summary
Traditional herbal medicines have been attracting a great deal of attention as alternative and supplemental medicines. They are frequently prescribed with western drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases in many developed countries like Japan [1]. WHO states that traditional medicines are not as always safe as many people believe; they may cause harmful, adverse reactions if the product or therapy is of poor quality, or it is taken inappropriately or in conjunction with other medicines. Potential herb-drug interactions occur with drugs metabolized by CYP1 and CYP2 enzymes. Garlic (Allium sativum), for instance, inhibits CYP enzyme; the metabolism of several drugs is reduced causing toxicity [3]. Physical interaction of herbs and drugs results in reduced and delayed absorption
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