Definition of Acarbose

A complex oligosaccharide used as a hypoglycemic agent in diabetes management. Acarbose inhibits enzymes required in catabolism of carbohydrates, specifically pancreatic alpha-amylase, which hydrolyzes complex starches to oligosaccharides in the lumen of the small intestine, and the membrane-bound intestinal alpha-glucosidases, which hydrolyze oligosaccharides, trisaccharides, and disaccharides to glucose and other monosaccharides in the small intestine. When acarbose is orally administered, less digestion of complex carbohydrates occur and less glucose is absorbed in the small intestine, thereby producing a smaller rise in postprandial blood glucose levels after a carbohydrate load.

Acarbose is from the group

Glucosidase Inhibitor
Miscellaneous Chemoprotective Agent

Other Names for Acarbose

Acarbose
ACARBOSE
Bay g 5421
O-4,6-Dideoxy-4-[[(1S,4R,5S,6S)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-yl]amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-4)-D-glucose
Precose

Source

NCI Thesaurus License

Topics #4R #5 #5S #6-Dideoxy-4-[[(1S #6-trihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-yl]amino]-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-4)-D-glucose Precose #6S)-4 #Acarbose ACARBOSE Bay g 5421 O-4