Octaphlorethol A: a potent α-glucosidase inhibitor isolated from Ishige foliacea shows an anti-hyperglycemic effect in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

alpha-Glucosidase inhibitors are important agents for decreasing postprandial hyperglycemia. The current study examined the inhibitory effects of octaphlorethol A (OPA) isolated from lshige foliacea, a brown alga, on alpha-glucosidase, and analyzed the inhibitor's binding modes using the crystal structure of alpha-glucosidase. The effects of OPA on postprandial blood glucose levels after meals were also investigated. The IC50 value of OPA against alpha-glucosidase was 0.11 mM, which is higher than that of the commercial inhibitor acarbose. For further insights, we predicted the 3D structure of alpha-glucosidase and used a docking algorithm to simulate binding between alpha-glucosidase and OPA. These molecular modeling studies were successful, and indicated that OPA interacts with Phe575, His600, Arg526, Met444, Asp542, Tyr605, Ser448, Asp203, Lys480, and Phe450. Furthermore, increases in postprandial blood glucose levels were significantly suppressed in the OPA-treated group compared with those in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic or normal mice. Additionally, the area under the curve was significantly reduced following OPA administration (907 versus 1034 mg h dL(-1)) in the diabetic mice, along with a delay in the absorption of dietary carbohydrates. Collectively, these results indicated that OPA is a potent inhibitor of alpha-glucosidase, and shows potential to be used as an anti-diabetic agent.