Metformin properties

Hermann LS. Metformin a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use. Diabete Metab 1979 5(3) 233-45. 

Goodarzi MO, Bryer-Ash M. Metformin revisited re-evaluation of its properties and role in the pharmacopoeia of modern antidiabetic agents. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2005 7 654-665. 

Metformin treatment of patients with NIDDM led to an improvement in both glycaemic control and lipoprotein metabolism (Wu etal., 1990). Triglycerides are reduced by 40% in patients with hyperlipoproteinaemia. Metformin helps combat hypertriglyceridaemia (Bailey, 1992) and has been ascribed some vasoprotective properties (Bailey, 1992). Metformin prevents experimental atherosclerosis and induces structural changes in lipoproteins in experimental animals. The reduction in total and LDL cholesterol levels was shown for diabetic patients with hypercholesterolaemia (Rains et al., 1989 Pentikainen... 

Metformin is a biguanide compound with high polarity and poor chromatographic properties. Reaction with p-nitrobenzoyl chloride resulted in the triazine derivative (Figure 3), which has lower polarity and is suitable for HPLC separation and detection at 280 nm [11]. Metformin in acetonitrile and 20% sodium hydroxide was treated with p-nitrobenzoyl chloride. The reaction was continued for 6h at room temperature, with a yield of 94%. The derivative, in acetonitrile, was directly injected for RP-HPLC. Metformin in urine samples can be determined by using a similar procedure. 

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