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Acarbose


Mechanism of action:

Acarbose acts as a reversible competitive inhibitor of α-glucosidase on the brush border of the small intestine. Under normal conditions, α-glucosidase is responsible for breaking down carbohydrates in the intestine into glucose for absorption. When acarbose binds to α-glucosidase, the enzyme is temporarily inhibited, slowing carbohydrate digestion and thereby delaying glucose absorption.

Reference(s):

1. Salehi A et al. (2001). TPN-evoked dysfunction of islet lysosomal activity mediates impairment of glucose-stimulated insulin release. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 


2. Zhang H et al. (2006). Comparison of maltose and acarbose as inhibitors of maltase-glucoamylase activity in assaying acid alpha-glucosidase activity in dried blood spots for the diagnosis of infantile Pompe disease. Genet Med. 


3. Gelb MH et al. (2006). Direct multiplex assay of enzymes in dried blood spots by tandem mass spectrometry for the newborn screening of lysosomal storage disorders. J Inherit Metab Dis.

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