Current Affairs

Issue

Studies have shown that metformin drug used in diabetes treatment has the ability to reduce lung inflammation in mice infected with SARS CoV-2 virus.

 

Background

The drug, metformin, is used in early therapy for diabetes type-2 condition as it can lower sugar in blood.

 

Details

• The researchers from University of California San Diego (UCSD) were studying the anti-inflammatory mechanism showed by the metformin drug in mice models.

• To check the efficacy of the drug, they selected mice showing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this condition, fluids leak into the lungs and causes difficulty in breathing.

• The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was a major reason for death of patients admitted in hospitals due to Covid-19 infection.

• The mice were administered metformin drug before or after exposure to the bacteria that caused pneumonia.

• The drug was able to restrict the onset of symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and reduce pulmonary inflammation. Mortality rate also decreased significantly.