Plants as source of bioactive ingredients for developing hypoglycemic and anti-obesity agents

A growing number data are reported on edible plants extracts containing phenolic constituents as inhibitors of metabolic enzymes such as the carbohydrates hydrolysing enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase) and the gastrointestinal lipase. These enzymes, normally involved in carbohydrates and triglycerides metabolism, are also targeted in the development of hypoglycemic and anti-obesity agents. The search for metabolic enzymes inhibitors from natural resources, by screening edible plants and fruits extracts, has been considered one of the successful strategies. This project is aimed to select natural products from selected plants and to synthesize new derivatives to be evaluated as inhibitors of carbohydrates hydrolysing enzymes and lipase.