Exploring plant-based alpha-glucosidase inhibitors: promising contenders for combatting type-2 diabetes

Abstract

Objective: This systematic review aimed to provide comprehensive details on the α-G inhibitory potential of various bioactive compounds derived from natural sources.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using various databases and search engines, including Science Direct, Google Scholar, SciFinder, Web of Science, and PubMed until May, 2023.Results and conclusions: The enzyme alpha-glucosidase (α-G) is found in the brush border epithelium of the small intestine and consists of duplicated glycoside hydrolase (GH31) domain. It involves the conversion of disaccharides and oligosaccharides into monosaccharides by acting on alpha (1 → 4) and (1 → 6) linked glucose residue. Once absorbed, glucose enters the bloodstream and elevates postprandial glucose, which is associated with the development of type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Epidemic obesity, cardiovascular disease, and nephropathy are linked to T2D. Traditional medicinal plants with α-G inhibitory potential are commonly used to treat T2D due to the adverse effects of currently used α-G inhibitors miglitol, acarbose, and voglibose. Various bioactive compounds derived from natural sources, including lupenone, Wilforlide A, Baicalein, Betulinic acid, Ursolic acid, Oleanolic acid, Katononic acid, Carnosol, Hypericin, Astilbin, lupeol, betulonic acid, Fagomine, Lactucaxanthin, Erythritol, GP90-1B, Procyanidins, Galangin, and vomifoliol retain α-G inhibitory potential for regulating hyperglycaemia.

Keywords:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• metabolic disorder
• alpha-glucosidase
• natural product
• phytoconstituents

Acknowledgements

SK acknowledges the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, for providing financial assistantship.

Author contibutions

Sonali Kumari: Conceptualisation, Methodology, Resources, Writing-Original Draft.

Ravi Saini: Software, Conceptualisation.

Aditi Bhatnagar: Software, Resources.

Abha Mishra: Validation, Writing-Review and Editing, Supervision.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All supporting data and materials are included in this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, India and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India.