PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF DRUG COMBINATION FOR DIABETES MELLITUS CONTAINING AN ANTIOXIDANT BIOFLAVONOID TO CONTROL ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disorder and represent a serious health care challenge. It greatly increases the risk of coronary heart disease, notably atherosclerosis. Studies have shown that the mortality rates due to coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease are at least doubled in diabetics compared with non-diabetic individuals. Existing therapies such as sulphonylureas, metformin and thiazolidinediones can significantly reduce blood glucose level and hence, microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus. However, it is believed that there is an inevitable deterioration in glycaemic control in the long term. So, it appears that more than just good glycaemic control is necessary to minimize the microvascular and macrovascular complications that lead to the development of atherosclerosis. Flavonoids have been shown to possess several therapeutic properties, many of which may be related to their antioxidant and free­ radical-scavenging ability. The flavonoid quercetin (QRT) is reported to exhibit the highest antiradical property toward hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals and superoxides anions, a mechanism involved in developing atherosclerosis. It could be found in onions, apples, green and black tea. However, quercetin may not present naturally in sufficient quantities to show a therapeutic result. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of combining hypoglycemic, orally administered agents with quercetin in an attempt to add the benefits of using the flavonoid to the therapeutic effect of the hypoglycemic agents. The main emphasis of the work was to keep the therapeutic characteristic of the tested hypoglycemic agents unaffected.