α-Glucosidase inhibitory antihyperglycemic activity of substituted chromenone derivatives Original Research Article

Series of 3,4- and 3,6-disubstituted chromenones including new chromenone derivatives were synthesized applying various synthetic strategies including Pechmann condensation, Knoevenagel condensation, Reimer–Tiemann reaction and Suzuki coupling in very good yields. Synthesized compounds (4a–z) were screened for in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities. Majority of compounds displayed varying degrees of α-glucosidase inhibitory and DPPH scavenging activity. Compound 4x emerged as the most potent α-glucosidase inhibitor in present series of compounds owing to the presence of 3-acetyl-6-(6-methoxy-3-pyridyl) group on chromenone; however, it could not display DPPH scavenging activity and was found to be mixed non-competitive type inhibitor of rat intestinal α-glucosidase. When tested in vivo for antihyperglycemic activity in starch loaded Wistar rats, it displayed significant antihyperglycemic property. This is the first report assigning rat intestinal α-glucosidase inhibitory property for this class of new chromenones and presents new family of compounds possessing α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and antihyperglycemic property. Compound 4x may serve as an interesting new compound for the development of therapeutics targeted against diet-induced hyperglycemia in diabetes.