Natural Products, Medicinal Plants & Marine Drugs

Andrographis paniculata Nees (Acanthaceae) has been used as a traditional medicine in Asia and South Africa to treat upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, and laryngitis. Andrographolide (AN) is one of the major active constituents of Andrographis paniculata Nees extract (APE). Etoricoxib (ETO), Nabumetone (NAB) and Naproxen (NP) are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The study investigated pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (anti-arthritic) herb-drug interactions of standardized APE and pure AN with ETO, NAB and NP after oral co-administration in Wistar rats. In pharmacokinetic studies, significant changes in Cmax, tmax, t1/2, MRT, Vd, CL, and AUC of ETO, NAB and NP after co-administration with pure AN and APE has been observed. In pharmacodynamic study, significant changes in antiarthritic activity of ETO, NAB and NP on concomitant administration with APE and AN have been observed. Further studies should be done to understand the mechanism and effect of other herbal ingredients of APE on ETO, NAB and NP and to predict the herb-drug interaction in humans.