Current Drug Targets - Volume 25, Issue 12, 2024

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder caused by high glucose levels, leading to serious threats such as diabetic neuropathy and cardiovascular diseases. One of the most reliable measures for controlling postprandial hyperglycemia is to reduce the glucose level by inhibiting enzymes in the digestive system, such as Alpha-Glucosidase and Alpha-Amylase. Here, we have investigated the use of inhibitors to inhibit carbohydrate metabolism in order to restrict glucose levels in diabetic patients. Acarbose, Voglibose, and Miglitol are three inhibitors approved by the FDA that efficiently inhibit these two enzymes and thereby minimising hyperglycemia but are also significantly helpful in reducing the risk of cardiovascular effects. We also provide insight into the other known inhibitors currently available in the market. The adverse effects associated with other inhibitors emphasise the demand for the latest in silico screening and in vitro validation in the development of potent inhibitors with greater efficacy and safety for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The recent findings suggest that Alpha-Glucosidase and Alpha-Amylase play a major role in carbohydrate metabolism and triggering the increase in glucose levels. This review provides the latest scientific literature findings related to these two enzymes as well as the role of primary and secondary inhibitors as potential candidates. Moreover, this review elaborates the framework on the mechanism of action, different plant sources of extraction of these enzymes, as well as kinetic assay of inhibitors and their interaction that can be used in future prospects to develop potential leads to combat Type 2 diabetes.

An important sensation that warns of potential harm to a specific area of the body is pain. The prevalence of pain-related conditions globally is a significant and growing public health issue. Chronic pain affects an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide, with prevalence rates varying by region and demographic factors. Along with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, pain is among the most frequent medical diseases. Opioid analgesics are the mainstay of current pain therapies, which are ineffective. Opioid addiction and its potentially fatal side effects necessitate novel treatment strategies. Nanotechnology offers potential advantages in pain management by enabling targeted drug delivery, which can enhance the efficacy and reduce the side effects of analgesic medications. Additionally, nanoparticles can be designed to release drugs in a controlled manner, improving pain relief duration and consistency. This approach also allows for the delivery of therapeutics across biological barriers, potentially enhancing treatment outcomes for chronic pain conditions. Nanomedicine enables sensitive and focused treatments with fewer side effects than existing clinical pain medicines; it is worth exploring as a potential solution to these problems. Furthermore, medication delivery systems that use nanomaterials are being used to treat pain. Whether it's the distribution of a single medication or a combination of therapies, this review seeks to summarise the ways in which drug delivery systems based on nanomaterials can be utilised to successfully treat and alleviate pain. For the purpose of writing this paper, we consulted several online libraries, including Pubmed, Science Direct, Pubmed Prime, and the Cochrane Library, to gather fresh and up-to-date material. This overview delves into the ins and outs of pain's pathophysiology, the present state of pain treatment, potential new pain treatment targets, and the various initiatives that have been launched and are still in the works to address pain with nanotechnology. Recent developments in nanomaterials-based scavenging, gene therapy for pain aetiology, and nanoparticle-based medicine delivery for side effect reduction are highlighted. Analgesics have been further covered in our discussion on FDA-approved pharmaceuticals and clinical advancements.