Aim: The aim was to assess the pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction of curcumin and glibenclamide (GL) in diabetic rats.
Materials and methods: Sprague-Dawley rats induced with diabetes were divided into 2 groups of six rats in each. Group I: GL (6 mg/kg po once daily) treatment in diabetic rats and group 2: Curcumin (50 mg/Kg po once daily) + GL (dose as above) in diabetic rats. Blood samples were collected at pre-determined time intervals for kinetic analysis after the first and last oral dosing of GL for single and multiple dose studies, respectively. Plasma samples were assayed for GL concentration by high-performance liquid chromatography and PK parameters were analyzed.
Results: The half-life (t1/2) and mean residence time (MRT) of GL were significantly increased in curcumin pre-treated rats as compared to GL alone in single and multiple dose studies. Similarly, the Vdss was significantly increased in curcumin pre-treated rats in single dose study as compared to GL alone treated group, but no significant difference was observed in multiple dose kinetics.
Conclusion: The study revealed higher values (t1/2, MRT and Vdss) of GL in curcumin pre-treated group due to the inhibitory effect of curcumin on intestinal CYP3A4.
Keywords: CYP3A4; curcumin; glibenclamide; pharmacokinetics.