What is it about?
The consumption of pawpaw (Carica papaya) either raw or as juice/extract is common especially among people with chronic diseases like diabetes. Some type 2 diabetes mellitus patient use pawpaw to manage the disease along with their medication. This study examined the effect that the consumption of pawpaw may have on antidiabetic drugs like metformin and glimepiride when used together.
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Why is it important?
In this study, which was conducted in rats, we found that the consumption of pawpaw (Carica papaya) delayed the blood glucose lowering effect of glimepiride but enhanced the blood glucose lowering effect of metformin when taken together. This shows that care should be taken when the fruit is consumed with the medications. The use of pawpaw with metformin may lower blood glucose rapidly and may lead to hypoglycemia. consumption of pawpaw with glimepiride may delay the effect of the drug especially when immediate action is needed.
Perspectives
This study highlights the fact that care and caution should always be exercised when using herbs/juice/extracts concomitantly with medications. Possibility of drug-herb interaction exists and may not be beneficial in all cases.
Dr Segun Johnson Showande
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Effects of Coadministration of Extract of Carica papaya Linn (family Cariaceae) on Activity of Two Oral Hypoglycemic Agents, Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, July 2007, African Journals Online (AJOL),
DOI: 10.4314/tjpr.v6i1.14645.
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