An experimental study of a novel combination of a herbal drug with an allopathic drug to evaluate the antihyperglycemic effect of irbesartan plus curcumin and comparison with glibenclamide.

ABSTRACT

Background: Curcumin has been used as a traditional remedy for many diseases in Ayurveda. Many studies have proved antidiabetic and antihyperlipidimic effects of curcumin. The present study was conducted to evaluate antihyperglycemic actions of Irbesartan in combination with Curcumin. Methods: After baseline sampling, 18 rats of diabetic groups i.e. Group 1 to Group 3, were started with exclusive high fat diet and water ad libitum for next 4 weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, each rat was given Inj. Streptozotocin in a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight, dissolved in 0.2 ml of citrate buffer (pH 4.5) intraperitoneally. Drugs were given orally in normal saline by gastric gavage with the help of rat feeding cannula. Results: Rats of diabetic group 2, receiving combination of Irbesartan 20mg/kg and Curcumin 200mg/kg body weight for 6 weeks, have shown significant decrease is mean FPG level (FPG- 29.69% reduction, p<0.001). Irbesartan+Curcumin had no any hypoglycemic effect in normoglycemic rats as well as diabetic rats. Conclusions: Irbesartan in combination with Curcumin has significant antihyperglycemic effects. At the same time, Irbesartan combined with Curcumin, does not produce hypoglycemia in normal as well as diabetic rats.