Cyclitols and miscellaneous inhibitors

Abstract Cyclitols and inositols are essential for cell membrane function, signaling, and regulation. Deficiency of inositol aggravates insulin resistance in the body that leads to metabolic complications in diabetes mellitus. Natural or synthetic cyclitols are known to treat insulin resistance in diabetes mellitus, obesity, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. They reverse insulin resistance by regulating cellular processes and by reducing blood glucose levels through α-glucosidase inhibition. Therefore, cyclitols are an important class of compounds with potential therapeutic considerations for treatment of diabetes mellitus and other diseases. As discussed previously, the Salacia species has been used for diabetes treatment in traditional medicine which contains thiocyclitol α-glucosidase inhibitor as active ingredient. Moreover, synthetic bicyclitols featuring conduritol and carbasugar hybrid molecules, diastereomeric amine-linked diquercitols, conduritol derivatives containing the indoline and indole moieties, isomeric hydroxy-skipped bis-homoinositol transition state analogs are a promising fortification to the α-glucosidase-inhibitor profile. This chapter discusses cyclitols and related α-glucosidase inhibitors in addition to compounds belonging to miscellaneous categories such as anthraquinones, sarcviolins, terphenyl, stilbenes, depsidones, macrolides, peptides, ganomycin, and other derivatives.