Acarbose

Category: pharmacological

Aliases: Precose, Glucobay

Pharmacological Mechanism

α-Glucosidase inhibitor — competitively blocks intestinal brush-border α-glucosidases delaying carbohydrate digestion → blunts post-prandial glucose spike. Modest A1c reduction (~0.5%); GI side effects (flatulence, bloating, diarrhea) limit adherence. Researcher interest in longevity (extended lifespan in male mice in NIA ITP).

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 2h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 50 mg (Range: 25–100 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• digestive

Pathways It Modulates

• GI motility + secretion (inhibitor) — α-glucosidase (gut-restricted)

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 9811704
• Formula: C25H43NO18
• Molecular weight: 645.61 g/mol
• InChIKey: CEMXHAPUFJOOSV-XGWNLRGSSA-N
• SMILES: C[C@@H]1[C@H]([C@@H]([C@H]([C@H](O1)O[C@@H]2[C@H](O[C@@H]([C@@H]([C@H]2O)O)O[C@H]([C@@H](CO)O)[C@@H]([C@H](C=O)O)O)CO)O)O)N[C@H]3C=C([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H]3O)O)O)CO