Synonyms: 1-Butylbiguanide hydrochloride; N-Butyl-imidodicarbonimidic diamide hydrochloride
Molecular Formula: C6H15N5 · HCl
Molecular Weight: 193.68
Linear Structural Formula: C6H15N5 · HCl
Purity: >=98% (HPLC)
Storage: -20C
Biochem Physiol Actions: Buformin is an oral antidiabetic drug with antiproliferative properties; AMPK activator. Buformin, an antidiabetic biguanide drug, was withdrawn as an antidiabetic drug in several countries because of the side effect of lactic acidosis, but is now being investigated as an anticancer agent. Buformin inhibits the growth and development of cancer. Buformin has been shown to postpone spontaneous carcinogenesis as well as inhibit induced carcinogenesis in animal studies. Buformin decreased cancer incidence, multiplicity, and burden in a rat study of chemically induced mammary carcinogenesis. Buformin also reduced renal cell carcinoma survival under conditions of glucose deprivation. Buformin's anticancer activity is thought to involve disruption of the Warburg effect by AMPK activation, which decreases hepatic glucose production, and inhibition of the mTor pathway.