View source for Biguanide

{{short description|Chemical compound}}
{{chembox
| Watchedfields = changed
| verifiedrevid = 444387711
| ImageFile = Biguanide.svg
| ImageFile_Ref = {{chemboximage|correct|??}}
| ImageSize = 160
| ImageName = Skeletal formula of biguanide
| ImageFile1 = Biguanide-from-xtal-3D-bs-17.png
| ImageFile1_Ref = {{chemboximage|correct|??}}
| ImageSize1 = 160
| ImageName1 = Ball and stick model of biguanide
| PIN = Imidodicarbonimidic diamide
|Section1={{Chembox Identifiers
| CASNo = 56-03-1
| CASNo_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}}
| UNII_Ref = {{fdacite|correct|FDA}}
| UNII = FB4Q52I9K2
| PubChem = 5939
| ChemSpiderID = 5726
| ChemSpiderID_Ref = {{chemspidercite|correct|chemspider}}
| EINECS = 200-251-8
| KEGG = C07672
| KEGG_Ref = {{keggcite|correct|kegg}}
| ChEBI = 3095
| ChEBI_Ref = {{ebicite|correct|EBI}}
| Beilstein = 507183
| Gmelin = 240093
| SMILES = N=C(N)NC(=N)N
| StdInChI = 1S/C2H7N5/c3-1(4)7-2(5)6/h(H7,3,4,5,6,7)
| StdInChI_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}}
| StdInChIKey = XNCOSPRUTUOJCJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
| StdInChIKey_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}}
}}
|Section2={{Chembox Properties
| C=2 | H=7 | N=5
| pKa = 3.07, 13.25
}}
|Section3={{Chembox Related
| OtherCompounds =
}}
}}

'''Biguanide''' ({{IPAc-en|b|aɪ|ˈ|g|w|ɒ|n|aɪ|d}}) is the organic compound with the formula HN(C(NH)NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>.  It is a colorless solid that dissolves in water to give highly basic solution.  These solutions slowly hydrolyse to [[ammonia]] and [[urea]].

==Synthesis==
Biguanide can be obtained from the reaction of [[dicyandiamide]] with [[ammonia]], via a [[pinner reaction|Pinner]]-type process.

:<math>\mathrm{C_2H_4N_4 + NH_3 \longrightarrow C_2H_7N_5}</math>

Biguanide was first synthesized by [[Bernhard Rathke]] in 1879.

==Biguanidine drugs==
A variety of [[derivative (chemistry)|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 [[drug]]s used for [[diabetes mellitus]] or [[prediabetes]] treatment.

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* [[Phenformin]] - withdrawn from the market in most countries due to toxic effects
* [[Buformin]] - withdrawn from the market due to toxic effects

<gallery caption="bioactive biguanidines" widths="180px" heights="120px" perrow="3">
File:Metformin.svg|[[Metformin]], could be referred to as asymmetric dimethylbiguanidine
File:Buformin.svg|[[Buformin]]. A [[butyl]] derivative of biguanidine.
File:Phenformin.svg|[[Phenformin]]. A phenethylated biguanidine.
</gallery>

====History====
{{details|metformin#History}}
''[[Galega officinalis]]'' (French lilac) was used in diabetes treatment for centuries. 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). 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 agent]]s such as [[sulfonylurea]]s and [[meglitinide]]s.  Therefore, they are effective in Type 2 diabetics; and in Type 1 diabetes when used in conjunction with insulin therapy.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

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.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

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.

Biguanides have been shown to interact with copper, specifically in mitochondria, where they interfere with cell metabolism by chelating Copper in its 2+ oxidation state (Cu(II)).

====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===
During WWII a British team led by [[Frank Rose (chemist)|Frank Rose]] discovered (see details there) that some biguanides are useful as [[antimalarial drug]]s. Much later it was demonstrated that they are prodrugs metabolised into active [[dihydrotriazine]] derivatives which, until recently, were believed to work by [[Dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor|inhibiting]] [[dihydrofolate reductase]]. Examples include:
* [[Proguanil]] (>[[cycloguanil]])
* [[Chlorproguanil]]

===Disinfectants===
{{see also|Bisbiguanide}}
The disinfectants [[chlorhexidine]], [[polyaminopropyl biguanide]] (PAPB), [[polihexanide]], and [[alexidine]] feature biguanide [[functional group]]s.

{{oral hypoglycemics}}
{{antimalarials}}

{{二次利用|date=13 January 2024}}
[[Category:Biguanides| ]]
[[Category:Guanidines]]
[[Category:Substances discovered in the 19th century]]