Effect of Allium sativum on the Pharmacodynamics of Pioglitazone in Normal and Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

The present study was carried out to study the herb drug interactions between the traditional medicine Allium sativum with conventional antidiabetic drug Pioglitazone in normal and diabetic conditions. Blood samples were collected from rats by retro orbital puncture at regular intervals of time 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 hr. The Pioglitazone and Allium sativum showed dose dependent reduction of blood glucose levels. The optimum blood glucose reduction was obtained at 10mg/kg of pioglitazone and 200mg/kg of Allium sativum in normal rats. The blood glucose levels were found to be decreased and insulin levels were increased significantly in both single and multiple dose combinations of Pioglitazone and Allium sativum both in normal rats (4hr) as well as in Alloxan induced diabetic rats (3hr) compared with the pioglitazone alone. Since the combination of Allium sativum and pioglitazone producing the significant synergistic action in producing hypoglycemia and anti hyperglycemia, care must be taken while prescribing the combination in clinical situation.