Potentiating and synergistic effect of grapefruit juice on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of aripiprazole against hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress in mice

BACKGROUND: Dependence on antipsycotic drugs like aripriprazole (ARI) is increasing at alarming rate, hence, this study was undertaken to support the hypothesis that supplementation of Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit) juice having high concentration of polyphenols might potentiate and synergize the therapeutic effect of ARI, by increasing its bioavailability and inherent antioxidant potential. These benefits together might decrease the daily dosage of the ARI and thus alleviate the possible side effects of drug. METHODS: In this study the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of ARI alone and in combination with GFJ was evaluated for hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) induced oxidative stress in mice. Seventy mice (4 weeks old), were randomly divided into seven groups. Group I: Control; Group II: H(2)O(2) treated; Group III; ARI treated; Group IV GFJ treated; Group V: GFJ and H(2)O(2) treated; Group VI; ARI and H(2)O(2) treated; Group VII; ARI, GFJ and H(2)O(2) treated. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine kinase (CK), creatinine and total protein were measured. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-2, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations were also measured. RESULTS: The mice group that was treated with ARI, GFJ or combination of the two showed significant improvement in the H(2)O(2) altered parameters with the combination group showing more significant improvement than the ARI and GFJ alone groups indicating a synergistic and potentiating effect of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of GFJ on ARI. CONCLUSION: Supplementing GFJ to ARI might increase an anti-oxidative potential of ARI due to inherent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of GFJ and thus could alleviate the possible dosage dependent side effects of ARI.