Galega officinalis (also known as Goat's rue, French lilac, Italian fitch or Professor-weed) is a plant from the Galega genus of the Faboideae. Its name derives from gale (milk) and ega (to bring on), as Galega has been used as a galactologue in small domestic animals (hence the name "Goat's rue"). Galega bicolor is a synonym. It is a hardy perennial that blooms in the summer months.
Other Galega species are Galega orientalis.
Medical use
The galega officinalis has been known since the Middle Ages for relieving the symptoms of diabetes mellitus. Upon analysis, it turned out to contain guanidine, a substance that decreases blood sugar by decreasing insulin resistance.
Chemical derivatives from the biguanide class of medication include metformin (GlucophageŽ, commonly prescribed for diabetics) and the older, withdrawn agent phenformin.
Sources
Witters LA. The blooming of the French lilac. J Clin Invest 2001;108:1105–1107. DOI 10.1172/JCI200114178 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/JCI200114178).
External links
Taxonomy (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=47101&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock) on NCBI (National Library of Medicine).
Galega officinalis (also known as Goat's rue, French lilac, Italian fitch or Professor-weed) is a plant from the Galega genus of the Faboideae.
Its name derives from gale (milk) and ega (to bring on), as Galega has been used as a galactologue in small domestic animals (hence the name "Goat's rue").
The Galega officinalis has been known since the Middle Ages for relieving the symptoms of diabetes mellitus.
Galega officinalis has been variously called French lilac, goat's rue, goatsrue, and professor weed, with goatsrue being the name accepted by the Federal Noxious Weed Act.
Because of its adaptation to acid soil, Galega officinalis was at one time considered to be a plant of considerable promise as a forage and green manure crop in southern Europe.
The seeds of Galega officinalis are transversely oblong with raised lens and micropylar region and with an oblique furrow on each face near the lens, 3-4.5 mm long X 1-1.5 mm in diameter, reddish brown to dark brown, with the embryo clearly apparent.
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