Sulfonamide chalcone as a new class of α-glucosidase inhibitors

Chalcones 1–20, a new class of glycosidase inhibitors, were synthesized, and their glycosidase inhibitory activities were investigated. Non-aminochalcones 1–12 had no inhibitory activity, however, aminochalcones 13–20 had strong glycosidase (α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and β-amylase) inhibitory activities. In particular, sulfonamide chalcones 17–20 had more potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than aminated chalcone 13–16. 4′-(p-Toluenesulfonamide)-3,4-dihydroxy chalcone 20 (IC50 = 0.4 μM) was the best inhibitor against α-glucosidase, and these sulfonamide chalcones showed non-competitive inhibition.