effects of long-term use of polyphenols on the absorption and tissue distribution of orally administered metformin and atenolol in rats

Aim: To evaluate the effect of long-term use of silibinin, epigallocatechin (ECGC), quercetin and rutin on the absorption and tissue distribution of metformin and atenolol. Materials and Methods: Thirty male rats were used, allocated into 5 groups and treated as follow: 1st group treated with olive oil and served as control; the other 4 groups were treated with either silibinin, EPGC, quercetin or rutin, administered orally as oily solutions for 30 days. At day 30, a 300mg/kg metformin and 50mg/kg atenolol were administered orally; 3.0 hrs later, the animals were sacrificed and blood samples, tissues of brain, kidney and liver were obtained for evaluation of the drugs level. Results: The polyphenols increased both serum and tissue levels of metformin compared with controls. This effect was relatively varied according to the structural differences among flavonoids. Conclusion: Long-term use of supraphysiological doses of flavonoids increase absorption of Zn, Cu and Fe and their tissue availability in brain, kidney and liver; this effect seems to be different with variations in structural features. [J Intercult Ethnopharmacol 2013; 2(3.000): 147-154]