Investigation on the role of alpha lipoic acid in glipizide treatment in diabetic rats

Abstract

Glipizide is a second generation sulfonylurea employed for the management of diabetes. Prolonged use of glipizide as monotherapy can cause insulin resistance. Our study aimed at ascertaining the effect of glipizide and alpha lipoic acid on alloxan induced diabetes in rats and its impact on hepatic function. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg/b.w. of alloxan. After the confirmation of diabetes, animals were assigned into groups and treated with 2.5 mg/kg of glipizide followed by alpha lipoic acid at two dose levels (100 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Body weight was monitored at regular intervals. Biochemical parameters such as blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, cholesterol, triglycerides, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyurvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total, direct bilirubin and creatinine was determined using standard kits. Data was analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by Dunnett multiple comparison test. A significant improvement was observed in blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels compared with the positive control group. Glipizide and alpha lipoic acid protected against hepato cellular toxicity induced by alloxan. These results were statistically significant compared with positive control (p<0.05). Glipizide and alpha lipoic acid in combination did not alter liver function when compared to the alloxan treated group (p<0.05). Our study revealed that the combination of alpha lipoic acid with glipizide was capable of maintaining a normoglycemic state and capable of reversing the hepatocellular manifestations induced by alloxan.