Acarbose is an oral antidiabetic drug belonging to the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor class, used mainly in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. It works by inhibiting intestinal alpha-glucosidase enzymes, delaying carbohydrate digestion and absorption, thereby reducing postprandial blood glucose levels without stimulating insulin secretion. Developed through microbial research in the 1970s–1980s, particularly from Actinoplanes species, acarbose gained clinical use in the 1980s and later received FDA approval in 1995. Over time, it has become an important adjunct therapy in diabetes management, especially for controlling post-meal hyperglycemia.
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