Chemical structure versus biological activity relationship and drug versus molecular target interactions of contemporary antidiabetic drugs: a literature review Gabriel da Silva Carvalho, Guilherme Santos Vasconcelos, Nycolas Muller Teixeira de Oliveira, Juçara Barga do Nascimento, José Eduardo Pandini Cardoso Filho

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by high blood sugar levels and can be divided into types 1 and 2. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the destruction of pancreatic beta (β) cells, and the conventional treatment is insulin. Type 2 diabetes is multifactorial and is treated with conventional medications that promote tissue sensitization to insulin and drugs that stimulate pancreatic β cells to produce insulin. In response to conventional treatments, contemporary treatments such as GLP-1 agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors and SGLT-2 inhibitors have emerged. This study aims to conduct a narrative literature review of the relationship between chemical structure versus biological activity and drug versus molecular target reflex of the most commonly used contemporary antidiabetic drugs of the three therapeutic classes mentioned. A bibliographic survey was conducted in databases using descriptors in Portuguese and English to obtain studies relevant to the topic. The pathogenic effects of the drugs administered are highly biochemical and chemical, which ensure selectivity and reflexes with their molecular targets. The elucidation of these technologies and control may, in the future, contribute to the development of new drugs with therapeutic and reported potentials superior to those currently in use.