DESIGN AND FORMULATION OF NOVEL PHARMACEUTICAL CAPSULES OF HERBAL ORIGIN FOR DIABETES MELLITUS

Onion, garlic and fenugreek are widely cultivated in Egypt and many reports confirmed their antidiabetic activities as used separately. Current study focused on these three herbs when present together in a mixture. All dried herbs were finely powdered to obtain homogenous mixtures. Pre-formulation studies were conducted on each individual herb including determination of foreign matter, loss on drying, acid insoluble ash and water contents. Analysis of active components responsible for the antidiabetic activity was also carried out using GLC and HPLC techniques. Pharmaceutical capsules were prepared by blending garlic, onion, and fenugreek seed powders in a ratio 1:1:2 respectively. The blend was granulated using 2% alcoholic solution of PVP k-30. The Disintegration testing of hard gelatin capsules was performed according to the USP, the capsules were disintegrated completely within 15 minutes in both distilled water and acetate buffer (0.05 M). In vitro release studies showed variable dependence of the active components on the pH of the release media.  Pharmacological studies conducted on hyperglycemic rats indicated that both onion- and fenugreek-receiving groups showed significant reduction in blood glucose levels (BGL) starting from the 5^th day, while garlic-receiving group showed this significant  reduction starting from the 3^rd day of the experiment. Starting from the 4^th day, groups that received the herbal combination showed reduction in blood glucose levels which were significant when compared to the control group and insignificant when compared to glimepiride-receiving (the standard) group.