Alteration of glucose lowering effect of glibenclamide on single and multiple treatments with fenofibrate in experimental rats and rabbit models

Mayuren C; asamy; Talasila Eswara Gopala Krishna Murthy; Kumar Shiva Gubiyappa; Dinesh Kumar Chellappan; Gaurav Gupta

Mayuren Candasamy^*, Talasila Eswara Gopala Krishna Murthy¹, Kumar Shiva Gubiyappa, Dinesh Kumar Chellappan, Gaurav Gupta

Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
¹Department of Pharmaceutics, Bapatla College of Pharmacy, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh, India

*Corresponding Author:: Dr. Mayuren Candasamy
Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, No. 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
E-mail: myn_5@yahoo.com

citation: Candasamy M, Murthy TG, Gubiyappa KS, Chellappan DK, Gupta G. Alteration of glucose lowering effect of glibenclamide on single and multiple treatments with fenofibrate in experimental rats and rabbit models. J Basic Clin Pharma 2014;5:62-7.

Abstract

Objective: Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome of multiple etiologies. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes lead to multiple abnormalities of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. The aim of this investigation was to study the influence of fenofibrate on the blood glucose lowering effect of glibenclamide. Materials and Methods: Glibenclamide (0.45, 0.23 mg/kg) and fenofibrate (18.1, 9.38 mg/kg) was treated to normal, diabetic rats, and normal rabbits. Blood samples were collected at various time intervals and were analyzed for blood glucose levels using a glucometer. Results: Coâadministration of fenofibrate with glibenclamide significantly elevated the blood glucose reduction exhibited by glibenclamide. Conclusion: The results obtained from single and multiple dose treatments clearly demonstrated the existence of drugâdrug interaction at the dose tested in animal models. Hence, this investigation would serve as a preclinical evidence for the effect of fenofibrate on the therapeutic efficacy of glibenclamide.

Key words

Blood glucose, diabetes, drug interaction

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia along with alterations of carbohydrate, fat, lipid metabolism resulting from defective insulin secretion or action leading to microvascular and macrovascular complications.[1-3] Diabetes mellitus affects multiple organ systems, and the allied vascular complications are considered as the major cause of death around the world. Patients suffering from diabetes are at high risk of accelerated progression of atherosclerosis due to dyslipidemia and oxidative stress.[4,5] Although, sulfonylureas fail to control hyperglycemia in long term therapy, they are still widely used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.[6]

Glibenclamide is a potent sulfonylurea which is administered orally in small doses in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. It causes stimulation of pancreatic beta cells leading to the release of insulin and causes hypoglycemia.[7] Dyslipidemia associated with diabetes is most frequently treated with fibric acid derivatives. Fibric acid derivatives have played a major role in the treatment of hyperlipidemia for more than two decades.[8] The third generation fibric acid derivative, fenofibrate is an analogue of clofibrate and is most commonly used as a lipid-lowering agent.[9]

The metabolic isoenzymes responsible for the metabolism of glibenclamide are well reported. The cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A4 is reported to be the major enzyme involved in the metabolism of glibenclamide. Enzymes CYP2C9 and 2C19 are also involved partly.[10] Fenofibrate exhibits a moderate inhibition of CYP2C9.[11] Diabetes is a debilitating disease where the resulting complications can be treated only to prevent or delay progression. However, the treatment itself cannot restore the normal function.[12] The objective of this investigation is to study the alterations in blood glucose lowering exhibited by glibenclamide in rats and rabbit models on acute and chronic exposure to fenofibrate.

Materials and Methods

Drugs and chemicals

Glibenclamide and fenofibrate were obtained as gratis samples from Zydus Cadilla, Ahmedabad, India. Alloxan monohydrate was purchased from Sigma Aldrich, USA.

Animals

Adult Wistar rats (either sex) of weight 150-260 g and albino rabbits weighing 1.3-1.5 kg were obtained from the animal house of Bapatla College of Pharmacy (1032/ac/07/ CPCSEA); Bapatla. The animals were maintained at a constant temperature of 26 ± 2°C and humidity 30-40% with 12 h light/dark cycle, throughout the experiments. The rats and rabbits were fed with commercial animal feed (Rayan’s Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, India) and had free access to sterile drinking water. The rats were maintained in polypropylene cages with husk as the bedding material, and the rabbits were kept in stainless steel cages. The animals were accustomed to experimental laboratory conditions before the conduct of the research. The proposal was approved by Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) of Bapatla College of Pharmacy; Bapatla, bearing the number IAEC/III/07/BCOP/2011, before the conduct of the research.

Effect of fenofibrate and glibenclamide co-administration on the blood glucose levels in normal rats

A single-dose interaction study was carried in adult Wistar rats. The animals were divided into four groups of six normal rats each. The animals were fasted for a period of 12 h prior to the experimentation and were supplied with water ad libitum. Glibenclamide and fenofibrate were administered through oral route through the experiment. Group I served as control and received distilled water, group II received glibenclamide 0.45 mg/kg, group III received fenofibrate 18.1 mg/kg, and group IV received a combination of glibenclamide 0.45 mg/kg and fenofibrate 18.1 mg/kg. The blood samples were collected before and after drug treatments at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 16 h by tail vein puncture and the blood glucose levels were estimated using an “Accu-Chek Active” glucometer (Roche Diagnostics, Germany).

The multiple dose interaction study in normal rats were performed with animals of group IV that were administered with fenofibrate 18.1 mg/kg for the following 7 consecutive days, postsingle-dose interaction. During this period, the animals had free access to food and water. On the 7^th day, 8 h postfenofibrate administrations; the animals were deprived of food and had access to water ad libitum. On the 8th day, half-an-hour after administration of fenofibrate 18.1 mg/kg the animals were administered with glibenclamide 0.45 mg/kg.[13] The sampling and analysis were performed as mentioned in single dose interaction study.

Effect of fenofibrate and glibenclamide coadministration on the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats

Experimental diabetes in rats was induced by injecting alloxan monohydrate (Sigma Aldrich, USA) at a single dose of 150 mg/kg, i.p. in ice-cold normal saline. After 72 h, glucose levels were recorded using a glucometer. Rats with blood glucose levels of 200 mg/dL and above were considered as diabetic and were selected for the study.[13] An experimental protocol similar to that of normal rats was followed.

Effect of fenofibrate and glibenclamide coadministration on the blood glucose levels in normal rabbits

The single and multiple dose interaction study were performed in normal rabbits and were divided into four groups of five normal rabbits each. The animals were fasted for a period of 12 h prior to experimentation with access to water ad libitum. The drugs were administered through oral route. Group I served as control and received distilled water; group II received glibenclamide 0.23 mg/kg, group III received fenofibrate 9.38 mg/kg, and group IV received combination of glibenclamide 0.23 mg/kg and fenofibrate 9.38 mg/kg. The blood samples were collected at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, and 24 h from the marginal ear vein of rabbits and were analyzed for blood glucose levels using a glucometer.[13] An experimental protocol similar to that of rats was followed.

Data analysis

The hypoglycemic activity of glibenclamide at any given time, “t” in rats and rabbits was calculated as the percent blood glucose reduction at that time with respect to initial blood glucose level according to the formula given below:[13]

Percentage blood glucose reduction at time “t” = [(a − b)/a] ×100,

where a is the initial blood glucose level and b is the blood glucose level at time “t”.

Statistical significance

The data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean. The significance of the observed differences in the pharmacodynamics of glibenclamide was assessed by using one-way ANOVA, followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparison tests. P < 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results

The influence of glibenclamide, fenofibrate and their combination on the blood glucose levels of normal rats were studied and the corresponding percentage change were calculated [Table 1]. The maximum decrease in blood glucose levels upon treatment with glibenclamide was observed at 4th h. The blood glucose levels of glibenclamide treated rats at 16th h were found to be near normal when compared with normal control and hence the dynamic studies in rats were restricted to 16 h period.

Time (h)			Mean blood glucose levels (mg/dL)
	Control	Glibenclamide	Fenofibrate	Single dose	Multiple dose
		(0.45 mg/kg)	(18.1 mg/kg)	interaction	interaction
0	83.00±1.08^b#	86.33±4.08^a#	93.17±5.00^{a#, b#}	84.00±4.03^{a#, b#}	91.83±4.79^{a#, b#, c#}
0.5	84.54±0.96^b#	76.67±3.24^a#	88.50±5.45^{a#, b*}	73.67±3.58^{a#, b#}	76.33±4.37^{a#, b#, c#}
	(−2.14±0.51)	(9.99±0.96)	(5.22±0.99)	(12.29±0.74)	(16.95±1.07)
1	88.94±1.01^b†	67.83±3.82^a†	85.17±5.11^{a#, b‡}	63.00±1.9^{a†, b#}	63.67±3.73^{a†, b#, c#}
	(−7.20±1.24)	(21.55±1.36)	(8.72±1.20)	(24.63±1.82)	(30.62±1.78)
2	85.71±0.79^b†	66.33±3.39^a†	83.17±3.65^{a#, b†}	60.33±2.87^{a†, b#}	56.17±3.59^{a†, b*, c#}
	(−3.30±0.81)	(23.21±0.79)	(10.45±1.42)	(28.07±1.50)	(39.59±1.83)
3	84.93±0.85^b†	60.67±2.11^a†	80.17±3.09^{a#, b†}	52.17±3.25^{a†, b*}	45.00±2.63^{a†, b†, c#}
	(−2.83±0.76)	(29.52±0.99)	(13.59±1.53)	(37.84±1.81)	(50.67±1.65)
4	86.23±1.35^b†	52.67±3.22^a†	72.17±2.43^{a†, b†}	44.17±2.99^{a†, b*}	41.50±2.03^{a†, b‡, c#}
	(−3.89±0.92)	(39.21±1.08)	(22.08±2.01)	(47.62±1.56)	(54.65±1.38)
6	87.80±1.39^b†	54.50±3.61^a†	77.00±2.86^{a*, b†}	46.67±3.29^{a†, b#}	47.17±2.68^{a†, b#, c#}
	(−5.77±0.90)	(36.93±1.37)	(18.00±2.27)	(44.88±1.47)	(48.63±1.34)
8	84.36±0.87^b†	59.50±2.51^a†	77.50±4.89^{a#, b†}	50.83±2.73^{a†, b#}	50.33±2.60^{a†, b*, c#}
	(−5.08±0.83)	(30.99±0.62)	(14.83±1.75)	(39.47±1.37)	(45.12±1.17)
10	85.53±0.86^b†	61.33±2.38^a†	79.33±4.39^{a#, b†}	56.50±2.45^{a†, b#}	56.33±3.73^{a†, b#, c#}
	(−1.85±0.62)	(28.80±0.87)	(10.67±1.84)	(32.57±1.52)	(40.63±1.38)
12	83.84±0.93^b‡	66.17±3.28^a‡	84.33±5.45^{a#, b‡}	58.67±3.40^{a†, b#}	60.67±3.64^{a†, b#, c#}
	(−1.02±0.39)	(23.35±1.03)	(9.67±1.99)	(30.17±1.99)	(33.89±1.79)
16	81.24±1.38^b*	71.00±3.47^a*	84.67±5.05^{a#, b*}	64.17±2.93^{a‡, b#}	67.67±3.61a*, b#, c#
	(2.13±0.60)	(17.79±0.49)	(9.19±1.53)	(23.41±2.23)	(16.95±1.08)

SEM: Standard error of the mean. The values are mean±SEM (n=6). ^aThe comparison of group II, III and IV with the group I (normal control). ^bThe comparisons of groups I, III and IV with the group II (glibenclamide 0.45 mg/kg). ^cThe comparison of multiple with single dose interaction in normal rats. The following symbols represent the statistical significance: ^*P<0.05, ^‡P<0.01, ^†P<0.001, ^#Nonsignificant. The values within parenthesis represent the percent change in blood glucose levels

Table 1: Mean blood glucose levels in normal rats on various treatments

Animals treated with fenofibrate exhibited a decrease in blood glucose levels from 4^th to 6^th h when compared with normal control, but was significantly different on comparison with glibenclamide treatment. The blood glucose levels observed on single-dose interaction were reduced significantly from 1^st to 16^th h when compared with normal control and was significantly reduced only during 3^rd and 4^th h when compared with glibenclamide. Similar results were obtained in case of multiple dose interaction on comparison with normal control group, whereas the significant reduction in blood glucose was recorded at 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 8^th h when compared with glibenclamide. Comparison of single and multiple dose data exhibited no significant difference in normal rats.

The influence of glibenclamide, fenofibrate alone and in combination on the blood glucose levels of diabetic rats were studied, and the corresponding percent change were calculated [Table 2]. The maximum reduction in blood glucose level by single glibenclamide treatment was similar to that observed with normal rats. Blood glucose levels were also reduced upon treatment with fenofibrate and were found to be significant when compared with diabetic control group. The blood glucose levels were found be significantly elevated when compared with that of glibenclamide treated group. Significant reduction in blood glucose levels were observed with single and multiple dose treatments when compared with diabetic control.

Time (h)			Mean blood glucose levels (mg/dL)
	Control	Glibenclamide	Fenofibrate	Single dose	Multiple dose
		(0.45 mg/kg)	(18.1 mg/kg)	interaction	interaction
0	208.90±2.15^b#	207.30±1.71^a#	211.50±2.43^{a#, b#}	209.30±2.68^{a#, b#}	206.50±1.88^{a#, b#, c#}
0.5	212.60±1.98^b†	183.00±3.31^a†	207.00±3.31^{a#, b†}	178.00±3.88^{a†, b#}	166.20±2.43^{a†, b†, c*}
	(−1.78±0.57)	(11.93±0.99)	(2.15±0.81)	(15.06±1.40)	(18.78±1.16)
1	231.50±1.69^b†	162.70±3.40^a†	204.80±2.33^{a†, b†}	153.00±3.09^{a†, b*}	143.00±3.62^{a†, b†, c*}
	(−9.41±1.74)	(21.54±1.16)	(3.15±0.49)	(27.53±1.26)	(30.78±1.36)
2	226.80±3.80^b†	150.80±2.29^a†	200.70±2.45^{a†, b†}	136.30±1.89^{a†, b‡}	131.20±3.59^{a†, b†, c#}
	(−8.55±1.11)	(27.21±1.42)	(5.11+0.71)	(34.86±0.72)	(36.42±1.52)
3	226.10±3.95^b†	134.30±1.61^a†	196.50±3.09^{a†, b†}	123.80±3.76^{a†, b*}	110.20±3.31^{a†, b†, c‡}
	(−8.21±1.12)	(35.17±1.16)	(7.11±0.87)	(40.90±1.16)	(46.97±1.33)
4	211.10±2.23^b†	121.70±2.45^a†	183.80±3.10^{a†, b†}	115.00±3.22^{a†, b#}	100.70±1.61^{a†, b†, c†}
	(−1.06±0.41)	(41.30±1.24)	(13.09±0.98)	(45.09±1.15)	(52.07±1.45)
6	212.40±1.93^b†	133.30±1.52^a†	184.00±2.35^{a†, b†}	117.20±1.97^{a†, b†}	111.50±2.89^{a†, b†, c#}
	(−1.76±0.49)	(35.67±0.89)	(12.99±0.80)	(44.00±1.03)	(46.01±1.27)
8	197.30±2.01^b†	140.20±1.42^a†	183.80±2.32^{a†, b†}	121.80±1.68^{a†, b†}	116.00±3.02^{a†, b†, c#}
	(5.54±1.09)	(32.38±0.77)	(12.31+0.71)	(41.44±0.95)	(43.82±1.42)
10	188.90±1.95^b†	144.30±1.73^a†	188.30±2.97^{a#, b†}	133.20±2.14^{a†, b‡}	118.80±3.54^{a†, b†, c†}
	(9.55±1.18)	(30.38±0.67)	(10.96±0.86)	(36.37±0.81)	(42.48±1.39)
12	189.41±1.54^b†	147.00±1.13^a†	198.20±2.14^{a**, b†}	142.50±1.50^{a†, b#}	137.30±2.55^{a†, b‡, c#}
	(9.27±1.34)	(29.59±0.68)	(6.19±0.95)	(31.89±0.91)	(33.51±0.95)
16	188.00±1.95^b†	159.80±2.32^a†	201.20±2.19^{a‡, b†}	153.30±2.11^{a†, b#}	153.00±4.87^{a†, b#, c#}
	(9.98±1.07)	(22.61±0.72)	(4.87±0.76)	(26.71±1.15)	(25.97±1.85)

SEM: Standard error of the mean. The values are mean±SEM (n=6). ^aThe comparison of group II, III and IV with the group I (normal control). ^bThe comparisons of groups I, III and IV with the group II (glibenclamide 0.45 mg/kg). ^cThe comparison of multiple with single dose interaction in normal rats. The following symbols represent the statistical significance: ^*P<0.05, ^‡P<0.01, ^†P<0.001, ^#Nonsignificant. The values within parenthesis represent the percent change in blood glucose levels

Table 2: Mean blood glucose levels in diabetic rats on various treatments

Comparison of single and multiple dose interaction with glibenclamide revealed a significant reduction in blood glucose levels at 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 6^th, 8^th, and 10^th h of a single and during 0.5-12^th h of multiple dose interaction study. The blood glucose reduction was found to be increased during single and multiple dose interaction studies when compared with single glibenclamide treatment. Blood glucose reduction was elevated at 0.5, 1^st, 3^rd, 4^th, and 10^th h when compared with single-dose interaction.

The influence of glibenclamide, fenofibrate alone and in combination on the blood glucose levels of normal rabbits were studied, and the corresponding percent changes were calculated [Table 3]. Glibenclamide exhibited a significant reduction in blood glucose levels when compared to normal control, and the peak reduction was observed at 3^rd h. Single fenofibrate treatment also exhibited a significant reduction in blood glucose from 1^st to 10^th h of study when compared to normal control whereas it was observed to be significant only at 2^nd and 3^rd h when compared to glibenclamide treated group. Although the blood glucose levels were significantly reduced when compared to normal control, it was found to be insignificant when compared with glibenclamide as the reduction in blood glucose was similar to that of glibenclamide. Significant reduction was observed at 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 6^th h of multiple dose interaction when compared with glibenclamide, and it was also found to be significant from 2^nd to 8^th h upon comparison with single-dose interaction.

Time (h)			Mean blood glucose levels (mg/dL)
	Control	Glibenclamide	Fenofibrate	Single dose	Multiple dose
		(0.23 mg/kg)	(9.38 mg/kg)	interaction	interaction
0	95.21±2.60^b#	96.67±4.67^a#	97.33±2.40^{a#, b#}	98.67±2.40^{a#, b#}	93.00±2.08^{a#, b#, c#}
0.5	99.10±2.60^b*	88.67±4.68^a*	93.00±2.52^{a#, b#}	89.33±1.86^{a*, b#}	80.67±2.03^{a†, b#, c#}
	(−10.16±0.44)	(8.313±0.41)	(4.46±0.38)	(9.423±1.35)	(13.27±0.72)
1	100.05±3.64^b‡	82.67±3.53^a‡	91.00±2.65^{a*, b#}	83.33±2.33^{a‡, b#}	65.33±0.67^{a†, b‡, c‡}
	(−11.80±1.44)	(14.44±0.51)	(6.53±0.47)	(15.55±0.42)	(29.70±1.14)
2	106.50±3.60^b†	74.67±2.91^a†	84.00±1.53^{a†, b*}	72.00±1.15^{a†, b#}	62.67±0.88^{a†, b‡, c*}
	(−9.06±0.72)	(22.67±1.18)	(13.66±1.22)	(26.99±0.75)	(32.59±1.55)
3	103.82±2.62^b†	66.67±3.93^a†	81.00±2.87^{a†, b‡}	63.33±0.88^{a†, b#}	54.67±2.40^{a†, b, c}
	(−5.72±1.41)	(31.10±0.98)	(16.78±2.09)	(35.77±0.89)	(41.26±1.62)
4	100.67±3.04^b†	71.00±3.61^a†	70.33±2.33^{a†, b#}	69.00±1.15^{a†, b#}	58.00±1.73^{a†, b‡, c*}
	(−3.56±1.23)	(26.57±0.53)	(27.76±1.09)	(29.89±0.83)	(37.65±0.62)
6	98.60±2.77^b†	72.00±4.73^a†	74.00±0.57^{a†, b#}	72.33±2.33^{a†, b#}	62.67±0.67^{a†, b, c}
	(−2.48±0.90)	(25.65±1.39)	(23.90±1.49)	(26.32±1.28)	(32.58±0.84)
8	97.57±2.65^b†	72.67±4.33^a†	80.33±1.76^{a‡, b#}	75.00±2.51^{a†, b#}	66.00±1.53^{a†, b#, c*}
	(1.18±0.38)	(24.89±0.94)	(17.45±0.92)	(24.02±0.77)	(29.01±1.48)
10	94.07±2.54^b‡	78.00±4.36^a‡	81.00±3.78^{a*, b#}	78.00±2.31^{a‡, b#}	74.67±2.91^{a‡, b#, c#}
	(2.84±1.06)	(19.36±0.63)	(16.83±2.55)	(20.96±0.71)	(19.77±1.36)
12	92.49±2.57^b*	81.00±4.73^a*	83.33±2.40^{a*, b#}	82.00±1.53^{a*, b#}	79.33±0.88^{a‡, b#, c#}
	(4.35±0.61)	(16.29±0.94)	(14.32±1.11)	(16.84±0.76)	(16.84±0.86)
16	91.04±2.23^b#	83.00±5.03^a#	85.00±3.22^{a#, b#}	85.33±2.90^{a#, b#}	80.00±1.53^{a*, b#, c#}
	(2.06±0.56)	(14.23±1.68)	(12.72±1.19)	(13.55±0.93)	(15.00±1.29)
20	91.33±1.84^b#	87.00±5.13^a#	88.67±2.19^{a#, b#}	90.00±1.00^{a#, b#}	83.00±1.16^{a#, b#, c#}
	(0.91±0.20)	(10.09±1.28)	(8.89±0.85)	(8.72±1.28)	(10.72±0.82)
24	93.90±2.37^b#	92.00±5.29^a#	90.00±2.00^a#b#	95.33±1.67^{a#, b#}	85.00±3.00^{a#, b#, c*}
	(−4.06±1.03)	(4.91±0.95)	(7.52±0.58)	(3.37±0.79)	(8.64±1.36)

SEM=Standard error of the mean. The values are mean±SEM (n=5). ^aThe comparison of group II, III and IV with the group I (normal control). ^bThe comparisons of groups I, III and IV with the group II (glibenclamide 0.23 mg/kg). ^cThe comparison of multiple with single dose interaction in normal rabbits. The following symbols represent the statistical significance: ^*P<0.05, ^‡P<0.01, ^†P<0.001, ^#Nonsignificant

Table 3: Mean blood glucose levels in normal rabbits on various treatments

Discussion

The effect of glibenclamide, fenofibrate alone and in combination on the serum blood glucose levels was studied in normal, diabetic rats and normal rabbits. The rat model was used to prove the existence of interaction in diseased and nondiseased condition whereas the rabbit model was used to study the existence of interaction in two dissimilar species. The effect of glibenclamide was more pronounced at 4^th h, and it may be attributed to the stimulation of initial rapid release of insulin and due to the property of glibenclamide to inhibit ATP-sensitive K+ channels.[14,15] Glibenclamide is known to induce a higher frequency of hypoglycemia than other agents, and the results were in accordance with this fact.[16] Administration of fenofibrate to rats and rabbits lead to a fall in blood glucose level when compared to initial blood glucose level. It is reported that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α nuclear receptors were found to be present in rat models.[17] It is expressed highly in the liver, kidney, heart and muscle and is an important regulator of transcription of genes involved in lipid metabolism. The antidiabetic effect of fenofibrate was studied, and a greater level of lowered serum glucose was observed with fenofibrate treatment. It is reported that fenofibrate lower glucose levels by increasing the insulin sensitization and also by down regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase.[18]

Single and multiple dose interaction studies, revealed that the onset and duration of action was not altered whereas the hypoglycemic activity exhibited by glibenclamide was found to be increased on concomitant treatment with fenofibrate in normal and diabetic rats. In the case of diabetes, the normal insulin secretion is impaired, and kinetics of insulin release is delayed.[19] The mechanisms discussed above could have been the possible reasons for the reduction in blood glucose levels and in increase in the pharmacodynamic activity of glibenclamide. Glibenclamide, a second generation sulfonylurea, is known to facilitate insulin release and an increase in utilization of insulin by fenofibrate could have been the cause for the results that were observed. The reduction in blood glucose levels exhibited by glibenclamide was also altered by the presence of fenofibrate in rabbits. Since CYP3A4 is the major enzyme in the metabolism of glibenclamide, its metabolic process could have been altered by some CYP inducers or inhibitors.[20]

The concentration of glibenclamide could have been increased due to inhibition of isoforms of CYP-450 responsible for the metabolism of glibenclamide by fenofibrate.[21] The present investigation demonstrated the influence of fenofibrate co-administration with glibenclamide on the blood glucose levels. Further studies are recommended to identify the exact mechanism involved in the alteration of blood glucose lowering effect of glibenclamide and also to identify if there is any inhibition of CYP-450 isoforms associated with the metabolism of glibenclamide in the presence of fenofibrate.

Conclusion

Based on the results obtained, the dynamic and kinetic interactions were found to be evident and most significant in multiple dose interaction in rat and rabbit models. The objectives of the study were fulfilled and are well-understood that the dose or frequency of glibenclamide has to be altered when it is concomitantly administered with fenofibrate in order to avoid any unexpected serious acute hypoglycemic shock as both drugs were well reported to lower blood glucose through different mechanisms. Hence, prescriptions with the above mentioned combination should be dealt with caution.

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the management of Bapatla College of Pharmacy, for providing all the necessary infrastructural facilities and fund to carry out the research. The authors are also thankful to Zydus Cadilla, Ahmedabad, India for providing the gratis samples.

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