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Metformin: its botanical background

2004; Wiley; Volume: 21; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/pdi.606

2047-2900

Clifford J. Bailey, Caroline Day,

Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment

Abstract This article traces the roots of the antihyperglycaemic biguanide metformin from the use of Galega officinalis (goat's rue or French lilac) as a herbal treatment for the symptoms of diabetes. G. officinalis was found to be rich in guanidine, a substance with blood glucose‐lowering activity that formed the chemical basis of metformin. This insulin sensitising drug was introduced in 1957. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.