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Original
Research Article
In vitro
interaction between caffeine and some penicillin
antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus
CO Esimone1,
FBC Okoye2*, CS Nworu3, CO Agubata4
1Department
of Pharmaceutics, 2Department of
Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, 3Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
Enugu State, Nigeria, 4Department of
Pharmacy, Ministry of Health, Anambra State, Awka,
Anambra State, Nigeria.
Correspondence:
E-mail:
basdenc@yahoo.com Tel: +234-8033607639
Tropical
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, June
2008; 7(2):
969-974
Abstract
Purpose:
The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro
interaction of some penicillins (amoxicillin, ampicillin
and benzylpenicillin) and caffeine against
Staphylococcus aureus.
Method:
The interaction between the penicillins and caffeine was
studied using the Overlay Inoculum Susceptibility Disc (OLISD)
method. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the
drugs were determined separately and in combination with
caffeine (5 and 10 mg/ml).
Result:
At 5 and 10 mg/ml, caffeine decreased the MIC of
amoxicillin by 22 and 25 times respectively, while that
of ampicillin was decreased by 6 and 8 times. The MIC of
benzylpenicillin against Staphylococcus aureus was,
however, increased by 59 and 40 times at caffeine
concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/ml respectively. The
inhibition zone diameter increment above 19 % (index of
synergism in OLISD method) was recorded only for
amoxicillin at amoxicillin concentrations of 7.81, 15.3,
31.25 and 62.5 mg/ml.
Conclusion:
The results of this study revealed that the concomitant
use of caffeine and the studied antibiotics may
potentiate the antibacterial effect of amoxicillin
against Staphylococcus aureus, decrease that of
benzylpenicillin and has virtually no effect on that of
ampicillin. This implies that the intake of caffeine in
form of analgesic combination or as tea, coffee,
beverages or from other food sources may affect the
effectiveness of a co – administered amoxicillin and
bezylpenicillin.
Keywords:
antimicrobial interactions, caffeine, ampicillin,
amoxicillin, bezylpenicillins, penicillins |
