Galega officinalis, commonly called goatsrue, is an herbaceous perennial angiosperm in the Leguminosae family that grows to 1.3 meters in height. It has alternating, compound, elliptic leaves and vigorous crowns with white or purple flowers. This invasive species thrives in moist soil along sunny riverbanks and farmland, where seeds are easily dispersed by water and insects. Native regions of Europe and western Asia historically implemented Galega officinalis medicinally as an antibacterial agent, lactation stimulator, and anti-diabetic. Goatsrue was introduced in Utah to feed livestock, but was discovered to be unpalatable due to the toxic secondary chemical compound. The alkaloid guanidine deters predators, increasing rates of survival and reproduction for the plant. Guanidine also induces a hypoglycemic effect in animals, generating interest in galegine, a less toxic derivative synthesized in the seeds, leaves, flowers, and fruits, as a viable medicinal agent to lower blood glucose levels in diabetic humans. While synthesized biguanides, including phenformin and buformin, were used for diabetic treatment in the 1920’s, they were quickly discredited because of side effects like lactic acidosis, hypoglycemia, and weight gain. Unlike other biguanides, FDA approved metformin has a high hyperglycemic efficacy and lower incidence of side effects, resulting in wide implementation for diabetic treatment in modern western medicine
