INTERACTION STUDY BETWEEN A HERBAL BITTER AND TWO ANTIBIOTICS

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The use of herbal medicines in combination with other drugs and medicines can lead to interactions that may affect their safety and effectiveness. Aim: The study aims to investigate any drug interactions between two classes of antibiotics and a herbal preparation. Method: Commercial brands of antibiotics were purchased and evaluated for their physicochemical properties. The interaction studies between the herbal preparation and the antibiotics were assessed using disintegration time test and dissolution profiling. Absorbance inference study and Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) interaction study were also carried out. Results: The purchased brands of antibiotics met BP requirements as regards their physicochemical properties. The presence of the herbal bitter affected the disintegration times of the antibiotics. Living Bitters® had a significant effect on the drug release profile of the antibiotics, for Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid there was a 65% increase and clindamycin 95% increase in drug release. FTIR revealed a visible difference in spectra when the herbal bitter was introduced to both antibiotics. Conclusion: The study indicates that Living Bitters® may potentially affect the disintegration time and dissolution properties of both Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and clindamycin.