Drug-Herb Interaction between Metformin and Momordica charantia in Diabetic Mice

Abstract

Background: Bitter gourd has various metabolites, such as momordicosides, polypeptide-P, v-insulin, charantin, and vicine that have antidiabetic effect. It has synergistically effect while combined with oral diabetic drugs, such as metformin as glucose lowering agent. The aim of this study is to investigate the interaction of bitter gourd fruit juice and metformin as glucose lowering agent in mice.Materials and Methods: Alloxan-induced diabetic mice were treated with bitter gourd fruit juice, metformin, and the combination of those two for 21 days. Glucose level was checked on first and last day of treatment.Results: Furthermore, blood glucose levels measurement showed no significant difference between groups compared with negative control, which was p>0.05. The stomach of groups that treated with metformin and bitter gourd fruit juice histopathologically showed no significant differences.Conclusion: The use of bitter gourd once daily together with metformin is a better choice, while twice daily might induce hypoglycemia and mice death. There is no interaction between them on lowering blood glucose.Keywords: metformin, Momordica charantia, diabetes mellitus

Potential Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (PK-PD) Drug-Herbs Interactions (DHI) from Metformin and Traditional Medicines: A Literature Review

“…Bitter gourd fruit juice was made by 20 g bitter gourd and aquadest (100 mL) then heated for 5 minutes in high-powered microwave, homogenated and filtered by strainer to get the supernatant. 18,21 The metformin dose was 500 mg in human dose and bitter gourd fruit juice concentration was77.58 g/mL. 18 Organ indexes shown significantly differences in stomach and spleen from every groups compared to normal group.…”

“…18,21 The metformin dose was 500 mg in human dose and bitter gourd fruit juice concentration was77.58 g/mL. 18 Organ indexes shown significantly differences in stomach and spleen from every groups compared to normal group. After 21 days of treatment, the histology of the stomach showed complete severe erosion over the shortened and diffused gastric pit and hyperplasia with large keratinization in combination group compared to normal group.…”

“…While giving bitter gourd fruit juice twice daily induced shock hipoglychaemia in mice. 18,22 In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, BGFJ combined with metformin high and low dose could reduce the blood glucose significantly higher than metformin alone. The highest hypoglycemic activity shown in rats that were given BGFJ with high dose metformin.…”

“…Since metformin do not undergo metabolism in the body, bitter gourd do not affect the metabolism of metformin. [18][19][20] In alloxan-induced diabetic mice given metformin alone or in combination with bitter gourd fruit juice (BGFJ) showed reducing in blood glucose level significantly (p<0.05) after treated for 21 days. Bitter gourd fruit juice was made by 20 g bitter gourd and aquadest (100 mL) then heated for 5 minutes in high-powered microwave, homogenated and filtered by strainer to get the supernatant.…”

Mexican Plants Involved in Glucose Homeostasis and Body Weight Control: Systematic Review

“…In the articles reviewing this plant, the different extracts were compared primarily with glibenclamide (antidiabetic drug), having a similar hypoglycemic effect (50%) and restores body weight loss [22]. In addition, studies comparing the effect of these extracts against metformin (an antidiabetic drug) demonstrated a reduction of blood glucose levels of 50.1% using 300 mg/kg plant extract and 47% for metformin [31][32][33].…”