Diabetes mellitus is well recognized as a major health problem
associated with increased morbidity and mortality and high health
care costs. It is characterized by hyperglycemia and alteration in
carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism caused by defects
in insulin production or action [1]. Postprandial hyperglycemia
is a prominent and early defect in diabetes [2] which can in turn
lead to various secondary complications including risk factor for
cardiovascular diseases [3]. Therefore one therapeutic approach for
treating diabetes is to control the postprandial hyperglycemia by
retarding the absorption of glucose. Enzyme alpha-glucosidase (EC
3.2.1.20), present in the epithelial mucosa of small intestine cleaves
glycosidic bonds in complex carbohydrate to release absorbable
monosaccharides. Inhibition of alpha-glucosidase in the digestive
tract delay carbohydrate digestion and prolong overall carbohydrate
digestion time, causing a reduction in the rate of glucose absorption
and consequently blunting the postprandial blood glucose and insulin
levels [4,5]. Thus alpha-glucosidase inhibitors may be an attractive
therapeutic modality in type 2 diabetic patients.