Herbs and plantsGoat’s rue — is metformin derived from this plant?
- Henryk Różański — Rutwica – Galega, guanidyny, galegina i metformina
- Henryk Różański — Zioła przeciwcukrzycowe, cz. I
- Metformin: historical overview. · Diabetologia 2017
- Clinical pharmacokinetics of metformin. · Clin Pharmacokinet 2011
- Metformin: Therapeutic profile in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. · Diabetes Obes Metab 2024
- Repurposing of Metabolic Drugs Metformin and Simvastatin as an Emerging Class of Cancer Therapeutics. · Pharm Res 2025
Henryk Różański explains that guanidine derivatives from goat’s rue became the prototype for drugs in the biguanide group, such as metformin.
- Goat’s rue herb contains mainly galegine.
- Guanidine derivatives from goat’s rue and metformin have similar effects on glucose absorption and use.
What the authors write
Goat’s rue contributed to the development of a synthetic antidiabetic drug.
Guanidine derivatives from goat’s rue became the prototype for modern antidiabetic drugs in the biguanide group, such as metformin.
Goat’s rue herb contains guanidine derivatives, mainly galegine.
Guanidine derivatives from goat’s rue and metformin have similar effects on glucose absorption and use.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 4 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 31.
Metformin has historical links to goat’s rue, whose guanidine was found to lower blood glucose.
Aim of the study: Metformin (dimethylbiguanide) has become the preferred first-line oral blood glucose-lowering agent for managing type 2 diabetes. Its history is linked to Galega officinalis (also known as goat’s rue), a traditional herbal medicine in Europe that was found to be rich in guanidine, which was shown to lower blood glucose in 1918.
Results: Metformin’s future was uncertain, and its reputation was tarnished by its association with other biguanides, despite clear differences between them. Evidence gradually grew in Europe that metformin could counter insulin resistance and address adult-onset hyperglycaemia without causing weight gain or increasing the risk of hypoglycaemia. After intensive scrutiny, metformin was introduced in the USA in 1995. The UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) identified long-term cardiovascular benefits of metformin in 1998, providing a new reason to adopt it as initial therapy for managing hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes. Sixty years after its introduction as a diabetes treatment, metformin has become the most prescribed glucose-lowering medicine worldwide, with the potential for further therapeutic applications.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Metformin was developed from galegine, a guanidine derivative found in goat’s rue.
Aim of the study: Metformin is widely used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is a biguanide developed from galegine, a guanidine derivative found in Galega officinalis (French lilac).
Results: Overall, the effect of structural variants of OCTs and other cation transporters on the pharmacokinetics of metformin appears small, and the subsequent effects on clinical response are also limited. However, differences between individuals in the levels of OCT1 and OCT3 expression in the liver are very large and may contribute more to variations in the hepatic uptake and clinical effect of metformin. Lactic acidosis is the feared adverse effect of biguanide drugs, but its incidence is very low in patients treated with metformin. We suggest maintaining mean plasma concentrations of metformin below 2.5 mg/L over a dosage interval to minimize the development of this adverse effect.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Historically, metformin traces its origins to the use of goat’s rue as a plant used for symptoms of diabetes.
Aim of the study: Metformin (dimethyl-biguanide) can trace its origins to the use of Galega officinalis as a plant treatment for symptoms attributed to diabetes. Since its first clinical use as a glucose-lowering agent in 1957, this medicine has become a first-line pharmacological option to support lifestyle interventions in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Results: Metformin can be conveniently combined with other diabetes medications, may be prescribed for prediabetes to reduce the risk of progression to T2D, and is used in some regions to help control blood glucose during pregnancy. Given its diverse actions, established safety profile, and cost-effectiveness, metformin is being assessed for further possible clinical applications. Metformin requires adequate kidney function for elimination from the body and may initially cause gastrointestinal side effects, which can be reduced by taking it with meals or using an extended-release formulation. Thus, metformin is a valuable therapeutic option throughout the natural course of T2D.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
The abstract states that metformin is derived from goat’s rue (Galega officinalis).
Aim of the study: Metabolic changes are commonly associated with various cancers and are recognized as contributing factors to cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis. Drug repurposing, a strategy in drug discovery, uses existing knowledge to recommend established drugs for new indications based on clinical data or biological evidence.
Results: Metformin is frequently used with statins to investigate their potential synergistic effects. The combination of metformin and simvastatin has attracted much attention in cancer research because of its potential benefits for cancer prevention and treatment. In this review, we analyze the effects of metformin and simvastatin, both individually and in combination, on key cancer hallmarks, and how this combination affects the expression of biomolecules and related signaling pathways. We also summarize preclinical research, including clinical trials, on the efficacy, safety, and potential applications of repurposing metformin and simvastatin for cancer therapy.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
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