A Review on the Development of Novel Heterocycles as α-Glucosidase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

One of the most effective therapeutic decencies in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is the inhibition of alpha-glucosidase enzyme, which is present at the brush border of the intestine and plays an important role in carbohydrate digestion to form mono-, di-, and polysaccharides. Acarbose, Voglibose, Miglitol, and Erniglitate have been well-known alpha-glucosidase inhibitors in science since 1990. However, the long synthetic route and side effects of these inhibitors forced the researchers to move their focus to innovate simple and small heterocyclic scaffolds that work as excellent alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Moreover, they are also effective against the postprandial hyperglycemic condition in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. In this aspect, this review summarizes recent progress in the discovery and development of heterocyclic molecules that have been appraised to show outstanding inhibition of alpha-glucosidase to yield positive effects against diabetes.