Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
DOI: 10.18579/jopcr/v20.1.kishore
Year: 2021, Volume: 20, Issue: 1, Pages: 8-15
Original Article
B Kishore Reddy1, N Prem Kumar1,∗
1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Phytochemical constituents such as Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) medicinal herbs have proven to possess therapeutic potential in metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacodynamic interaction of polyphenol-rich fenugreek seed extract (PEFS) with routine oral hypoglycaemic drugs, pioglitazone, glipizide, and acarbose, in a streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rat model of gastropathy-associated diabetes. The extract was obtained from a multistep methanolic and ethyl acetate extraction, and its effects were assessed using OGTT, blood glucose, lipid profiles, gastrointestinal motility, contractility assays, and antioxidant enzyme analysis. Findings showed that PEFS greatly enhanced glycaemic control, body weight, HDL, and antioxidant status, particularly when combined with low doses of OHAs. Gastrointestinal investigations revealed improved motility and normalised contractility of smooth muscles, which counteracted the frequent side effects of OHA. Combination therapy with PEFS-OHAs was found to have a synergistic effect without causing hypoglycaemia, suggesting its dose-reducing efficacy over traditional drugs. This study introduces a new integrative approach using fenugreek extract to improve the efficacy and safety of antidiabetic treatments. Owing to the common and frequently unreported use of herbal supplements with prescription medications, these results highlight the necessity for further research on herb-drug interactions to guide clinical practice.
Keywords: Fenugreek seed extract, Diabetes, Oral Hypoglycemic Drugs, Combination
© 2025 Published by Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
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