Metformin is an antidiabetic agent that reduces blood glucose levels and improves insulin sensitivity through inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis. This process is mediated at least in part by activation of the LKB1 - AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) pathway. Activation of this pathway also appears to be involved in the antiproliferative and proapoptotic actions of metformin in cancer cell lines. In addition metformin inhibits the synthesis of mTOR resulting in autophagy activation.
