DIPEPTIDYL PEPTIDASE-IV INHIBITORS-A NOVEL CLASS OF ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC DRUGS: CHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROFILE- A REVIEW

Himanshu Joshi*, Ratandeep Chauhan, Pankaj Kumar Shankhdhar and Kalbant Kumar

ABSTRACT

The incretin effect is based on the understanding that oral glucose has a greater stimulatory effect on insulin secretion than that of intravenous glucose. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) are incretin hormones which account for higher insulin response after oral versus intravenous administration of glucose. The dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors are a new class of antihyperglycemic agents which were developed for the treatment of type-2 diabetes by rational drug design, based on an understanding of the underlying mechanism of action and knowledge of the structure of the target enzyme. Although they differ in terms of their chemistry, they are all small molecules which are orally available. Many new drugs are currently in development for the treatment of diabetes, including products with a new mechanism of action such as dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors.

Keywords: Incretin, GLP-1, GIP, DPP-4, Type-2 diabetes.