INFLUENCE OF TAMARINDUS INDICA ON PHARMACODYNAMICS AND PHARMACOKINETICS OF GLICLAZIDE IN RATS / RABBITS

Eswar Kumar Kilari*, Swathi Putta, Namratha Kotagiri and Neelakantam Nagireddy

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted in rats and rabbits with selected oral doses of gliclazide, Tamarindus indica and their combination to evaluate the safety of gliclazide therapy in the presence of Tamarindus indica. Blood samples were collected from rats/rabbits by retro orbital/marginal ear vein puncture respectively at regular intervals of time. The blood glucose was estimated by GOD/POD method and serum gliclazide levels by HPLC method. Tamarindus indica alone reduced blood glucose levels in rats/rabbits and has slightly altered the hypoglycaemic effect of gliclazide when administered together. The serum gliclazide levels were reduced significantly and pharmacokinetic parameters of gliclazide were altered significantly in presence of Tamarindus indica, but did not result in the significant change in blood glucose levels, indicating that the reduction in the absorption of Tamarindus itself along with absorption of gliclazide. The decrease in the pharmacokinetic parameters like AUC, Cmax, Ka, Cl and increase in the T1/2 indicate the decrease in the absorption and elimination of gliclazide, which might be due to laxative property of Tamarindus. In conclusion, the combination might not be safe with respect to its hypoglycaemic effect, but care should be taken when gliclazide is administered with multiple doses of Tamarindus indica in a clinical situation.

Keywords: Gliclazide, Tamarindus indica, Blood Glucose.