Biguanide
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Names | |
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Preferred IUPAC name
Imidodicarbonimidic diamide[1] | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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507183 | |
ChEBI | |
ChemSpider | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.229 ![]() |
EC Number |
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240093 | |
KEGG | |
PubChem CID
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UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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Properties | |
C2H7N5 | |
Molar mass | 101.113 g·mol−1 |
Acidity (pKa) | 3.07, 13.25 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
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Infobox references | |
Biguanide (/baɪˈɡwɒnaɪd/) is the organic compound with the formula HN(C(NH)NH2)2. It is a colorless solid that dissolves in water to give highly basic solution. These solutions slowly hydrolyse to ammonia and urea.[2]
Biguanidine drugs[]
A variety of derivatives of biguanide are used as pharmaceutical drugs.
Antihyperglycemic agents[]
The term "biguanidine" often refers specifically to a class of drugs that function as oral antihyperglycemic drugs used for diabetes mellitus or prediabetes treatment.[3]
Examples include:
- Metformin - widely used in treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2
- Phenformin - withdrawn from the market in most countries due to toxic effects
- Buformin - withdrawn from the market due to toxic effects
- bioactive biguanidines
Metformin, an asymmetric dimethylbiguanidine
Buformin. A butyl derivative of biguanidine.
Phenformin. A phenethylated biguanidine.
History[]
Galega officinalis (French lilac) was used in diabetes treatment for centuries.[4] In the 1920s, guanidine compounds were discovered in Galega extracts. Animal studies showed that these compounds lowered blood glucose levels. Some less toxic derivatives, synthalin A and synthalin B, were used for diabetes treatment, but after the discovery of insulin, their use declined. Biguanides were reintroduced into Type 2 diabetes treatment in the late 1950s. Initially phenformin was widely used, but its potential for sometimes fatal lactic acidosis resulted in its withdrawal from most pharmacopeias (in the U.S. in 1978).[5] Metformin has a much better safety profile, and it is the principal biguanide drug used in pharmacotherapy worldwide.
Mechanism of action[]
The mechanism of action of biguanides is not fully understood, and many mechanisms have been proposed for metformin.
Biguanides do not affect the output of insulin, unlike other hypoglycemic agents such as sulfonylureas and meglitinides. Therefore, they are effective in Type 2 diabetics; and in Type 1 diabetes when used in conjunction with insulin therapy.
Mainly used in Type II diabetes, metformin is considered to increase insulin sensitivity in vivo, resulting in reduced plasma glucose concentrations, increased glucose uptake, and decreased gluconeogenesis.
However, in hyperinsulinemia, biguanides can lower fasting levels of insulin in plasma. Their therapeutic uses derive from their tendency to reduce gluconeogenesis in the liver, and, as a result, reduce the level of glucose in the blood. Biguanides also tend to make the cells of the body more willing to absorb glucose already present in the bloodstream, and there again reducing the level of glucose in the plasma.
Side effects and toxicity[]
The most common side effect is diarrhea and dyspepsia, occurring in up to 30% of patients. The most important and serious side effect is lactic acidosis, therefore metformin is contraindicated in advanced chronic kidney disease. Kidney function should be assessed before starting metformin. Phenformin and buformin are more prone to cause acidosis than metformin; therefore they have been practically replaced by it. However, when metformin is combined with other drugs (combination therapy), hypoglycemia and other side effects are possible.
Antimalarial[]
Some biguanides are also used as antimalarial drugs. Examples include:
Disinfectants[]
The disinfectants chlorhexidine, polyaminopropyl biguanide (PAPB), polihexanide, and alexidine feature biguanide functional groups.[6]
References[]
- ^ International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (2014). Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013. The Royal Society of Chemistry. p. 885. doi:10.1039/9781849733069. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4.
- ^ Güthner T, Mertschenk B, Schulz B (2006). "Guanidine and Derivatives". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a12_545.pub2. ISBN 3527306730.
- ^ Rang HP, Dale MM, Ritter KM, Moore PK (2003). Pharmacology (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. p. 388. ISBN 0-443-07145-4.
- ^ Witters L (2001). "The blooming of the French lilac". J Clin Invest. 108 (8): 1105–7. doi:10.1172/JCI14178. PMC 209536. PMID 11602616.
- ^ Tonascia S, Meinert CL (1986). Clinical trials: design, conduct, and analysis. Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Oxford University Press. pp. 53–54, 59. ISBN 0-19-503568-2.
- ^ Tanzer JM, Slee AM, Kamay BA (December 1977). "Structural requirements of guanide, biguanide, and bisbiguanide agents for antiplaque activity". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 12 (6): 721–9. doi:10.1128/aac.12.6.721. PMC 430011. PMID 931371.
- Biguanides