AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE POTENTIATING EFFECT OF SELENIUM, ZINC, VITAMIN C AND VITAMIN E AS SUPPLEMENT TO SULFONYLUREAS ON STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objectives: To study potentiation of hypoglycaemic effect of Glimepiride with combination of Selenium, Zinc, Vitamin C and Vitamin E on Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and to compare potentiating hypoglycaemic effect of above-mentioned drugs with that of standard diabetic control group. Methods: Study was carried out in Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, BIMS, Belagavi. Albino rats weighing 200-250g were used. Streptozotocin was administered intraperitoneally for induction of type 2 diabetes. Each diabetic rat was fed orally with test drugs once daily for 21 days. Blood glucose levels were monitored on first day and at end of study. Results: Administration of glimepiride caused a decrease in blood glucose levels which is statistically significant (Group 2 vs 3, p=0.004).Combination of glimepiride, selenium, vitamin C and E decreased blood glucose levels to lower level than glimepiride alone (Group 3 vs 4, p = 0.016). Combination of glimepiride, zinc, vitamin C and E decreased blood glucose levels to lower level than glimepiride alone (Group 3 vs 5, p = 0.006). Combination of glimepiride, selenium, zinc, vitamin C and E decreased blood glucose levels to lower level than glimepiride alone (Group 3 vs 6, p=0.004). Conclusion: Combination of insulin potentiating drugs like selenium, zinc and antioxidants like vitamin C and E with glimepiride caused a significant reduction in blood glucose levels than when drugs used individually. Thus, action of these drugs was synergistic.