Synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of benzofuran-1,3,4-oxadiazole containing 1,2,3-triazole-acetamides as potential α-glucosidase inhibitors

A series of new benzofuran-1,3,4-oxadiazole containing 1,2,3-triazole-acetamides 12a-n as potential anti-alpha-glucosidase agents were designed and synthesized. alpha-Glucosidase inhibition assay demonstrated that all the synthesized compounds 12a-n (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] values in the range of 40.7 +/- 0.3-173.6 +/- 1.9 mu M) were more potent than standard inhibitor acarbose (IC50 = 750.0 +/- 12.5 mu M). Among them, the most potent compound was compound 12c, with inhibitory activity around 19-fold higher than acarbose. Since the most potent compound inhibited alpha-glucosidase in a competitive mode, a docking study of this compound was also performed into the active site of alpha-glucosidase. In vitro and in silico toxicity assays of the title compounds were also performed.