Synthesis and investigation of polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine derivatives as novel chemotypes showing dual activity as glucosidase and aldose reductase inhibitors

Diabetes is a multi-factorial disorder that should be treated with multi-effective compounds. Here we describe the access to polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines, belonging to the D-gluco and D-galacto series, through aminocyclization reactions of two differentially protected D-xylo-hexos-4-ulose derivatives. The prepared compounds proved to inhibit both alpha-glucosidase, responsible for the emergence of hyperglycemic spikes, and aldose reductase, accountable for the development of abnormalities in diabetic tissues. Accordingly, they show the dual inhibitory profile deemed as ideal for diabetes treatment. Significantly, compound 17b reduced the process of cell death and restored the physiological levels of oxidative stress when tested in the photoreceptor-like 661w cell line, thus proving to be effective in an in vitro model of diabetic retinopathy.