Effects of some oral hypoglycaemic drugs on erythrocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen diaphorase (E.C.1.6.4.3) activity of wistar albino rats (Rattus rattus)

The in vivo effects of three oral hypoglycaemic drugs,daonil (a glubenclanude),diabenes (a sulphonylurea) and glucophage (a metformun) on erythrocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen (nadh) activity of wistar albino rats (rattus rattus) were monitored at drug concentrations of 0.00,0.01,0.02 and 0.03 mg/200 g body weight. the effects of the drugs were monitored at a ph 8.0 and 37°c for 14 days at intervals of 1,2,6 and 14 day(s) following administration of each drug. three rats were used per each drug concentration per time interval (days). daonil significantly (p<0.05) activated nadh-diaphorase activity in a concentration dependent manner with an optimal activation (11.44 ± 0.82) obtained at a concentration of 0.03 mg/200 g body weight and on the sixth day of drug administration. the increase in enzyme activity following drug administration was progressive with time duration (days); maximum effect was obtained on the 6 day with a decline on the 14 day. at 0.03 mg/200 g body weight,nadh activities (iu/l) of 20.53 ± 0.57 were obtained on the 6 day with glucophage. comparatively,the activation of the erythrocyte enzyme by the drug (on the 6th day of administration) was in the order: glucophage >daonil>diabenese. diabenese had no significant effect.