The effects of
diabinese, a known
antidiabetic drug, and the combined effects of
diabinese and
nicotinic acid, a
vitamin and antilipidemic
drug, were studied in rabbits with
dithizone-induced diabetes. Side effects of
diabinese include
hypoglycemia and liver toxicity.
Dithizone was used to induce partial experimental diabetes and to increase
blood glucose significantly (P < 0.05) by 31.3%, 23.5%, 19.5, 24.7%, and 23.9% in groups A (single
therapy of
diabinese 10 mg/kg
body weight), B (10 mg of
diabinese and
nicotinic acid 150 mg/kg), C (10 mg
diabinese and
nicotinic acid 200 mg/kg), D (10 mg
diabinese and
nicotinic acid 250 mg/kg) and E control (distilled water 5 mL), respectively.
Dithizone administration also increased
bilirubin,
alkaline phosphatase (ALP),
aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and
alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels by 28.9%-35.6%, 41.2%-54.8%, 40.1%-46.1%, and 60.9%-68.4%, respectively.
Diabinese monotherapy reduced
bilirubin levels, while combined
therapy reduced
glucose, ALP, AST, and ALT levels more than single
therapy. Reduction from the hyperglycemic level 48 hours after
drug administration was 20.0%, 24.6%, 41.0%, and 42.0% for groups A, B, C, and D, respectively, and was concentration-dependent. Also, combined
therapy produced a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in AST and ALT levels, especially at 72 hours after
drug administration, but did not affect ALP levels. No significant changes in
glucose,
bilirubin, ALP, AST, and ALT levels were observed in Group E (control). This study shows that liver toxicity and the
hypoglycemic side effects of
diabinese could be managed by the concomitant administration of
nicotinic acid.