The hypoglycaemic drug metformin is derived from galegine, which is found naturally in Goat’s rue (gallega officinalis). This plant is speading northwards in the UK.
References
1.
BellPMHaddenDR.Metformin. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1997; 26(3):523–537.
2.
PasikC (editor). Glucophage (1957–1997): Serving diabetology for 40 years. Paris: Media Memoire; 1997;78.
3.
AllenGEDADMontgomery,Weaver JA. Dimethyl biguanidine dans le traitement du diabete sucre. Rev Francaise d'Endocrinol Clin 1960; 2:1.
4.
ClarkeBFDuncanLJP.Comparison of chlorpropamide and metformin treatment on weight and blood glucose response of uncontrolled obese diabetics. Lancet 1968; 1:123.
5.
ClarkeBComparison of metformin and chlorpropamide in non-obeseCampbell I., maturity-onset diabetics uncontrolled by diet. BMJ 1977; 2:1576–8.
6.
RigasANAHBittlesDRHaddenCircadian variation of glucoseMontgomery DAD., insulin and free fatty acids during long-term use of oral hypoglycaemic agents in diabetes mellitus. BMJ 1968; 4:25–8.
7.
Campbell I,Howlett H. Worldwide experience of metformin as an effective glucose-lowering agent: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Metab Rev 1995; 11:557–62.
8.
UKPDS group. Effects of intensive blood glucose control with metformin on complications in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes. The Lancet 1998; 352:854–65.
9.
BaileyCJDayC. Traditional plant medicines as treatments for diabetes. Diabetes Care 1989; 12:553–61.
10.
BlameyMRFitterFitterA. Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland. London:A &C Black; 2003;154.
11.
PrestonCDDAPearmanDuresTD.New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2002;CD-ROM.
12.
BaileyCJDayC. Metformin: its botanical background. Practical Diabetes International 2004; 21:115–17.
13.
HillJ.The Vegetable System, or the Internal Structure and the Life of Plants. 1772;Volume XXI.
