AMINOGUANIDINE - A DRUG PROPOSED FOR PROPHYLAXIS IN DIABETES INHIBITSCATALASE AND GENERATES HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE IN-VITRO

Aminoguanidine (AG) has been proposed as a drug of potential benefit i n prophylaxis of the complications of diabetes. We show here that AG i rreversibly inhibits catalase with an efficacy similar to aminotriazol e. AG also produces hydrogen peroxide, in a transition metal-catalysed process which may be partially dependent upon prior hydrolysis of AG to semicarbazide and hydrazine. These observations may be of importanc e in proposals for the long term administration of AG in diabetes.