Effects of Enalapril on Blood Glucose Level and Interaction with the Oral Anti-diabetic Drugs in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

Aim: To evaluate the effect of Enalapril on blood glucose level in normal rats and interaction with the oral anti-diabetic drugs in Alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Method: The rats were classified into nine groups (n = 6).The Group I –II were normal and Group III –IX were diabetic. The experimental diabetes in rats was induced by intra-peritoneal injection of Alloxan monohydrate (135 mg/kg body weight). The Enalapril at the dose of 3.2 mg/kg body weight was administered to the normal rats to find-out the effect on blood glucose level. In diabetic groups, the Enalapril was given along with three Oral anti-diabetic drugs to know the any alteration on blood glucose level .All drugs administered orally once a day for 13 days and at the end of the experimentation Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and blood glucose estimation was done. Results: It was observed that in normal rats the Enalapril slightly reduced the blood glucose level at all time points which was not significant (P>0.05) but in Alloxan-induced diabetic rats Enalapril exhibited the anti-hyperglycemic activity at all time points in highly significant manner (P≤0.001). Conclusion: The present study has showed that The Enalapril has significant anti-hyperglycemic activities which enhance the effect of oral antidiabetic drugs in diabetic animal. It is therefore advisable to prescribe and use of ACE inhibitors with anti-diabetic drugs carefully with necessary dose adjustment to avoid adverse hypoglycemic episodes in diabetic individuals.