Accumulation of intracellular sorbitol, the reduced product of glucose, catalyzed by aldose reductase (AR) (EC 1.1.1.21), is thought to be the cause of the development of diabetic complications. Our attention is focused on finding compounds which inhibit AR without significantly inhibiting aldehyde reductase (ALR) (EC 1.1.1.2). The uracil or 2,4-dioxoimidazolidine skeleton having the benzothiazolyl or 4-chloro-3-nitrophenyl group as an aryl part indicated not only extremely high AR inhibitory activity but also AR selectivity. The ratio of IC50(ALR)/IC50(AR) of 3-[(5-chlorobenzothiazol-2-yl)methyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,4-dioxopyrim-idine-1-acetic acid (47d) was more than 17 500. The uracil skeleton with the benzothiazolyl moiety seemed to be the best combination for selective AR inhibition.
Accumulation of intracellular sorbitol, the reduced product of glucose, catalyzed by aldose reductase (AR) (EC 1.1.1.21), is thought to be the cause of the development of diabetic complications. Our attention is focused on finding compounds which inhibit AR without significantly inhibiting aldehyde reductase (ALR) (EC 1.1.1.2). The uracil or 2,4-dioxoimidazolidine skeleton having the benzothiazolyl or 4-chloro-3-nitrophenyl group as an aryl part indicated not only extremely high AR inhibitory activity but also AR selectivity. The ratio of IC50(ALR)/IC50(AR) of 3-[(5-chlorobenzothiazol-2-yl)methyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,4-dioxopyrim-idine-1-acetic acid (47d) was more than 17 500. The uracil skeleton with the benzothiazolyl moiety seemed to be the best combination for selective AR inhibition.
Carboxyalkyl heterocyclic derivatives, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and therapeutic agents containing said compounds as an effective component are useful pharmaceuticals for the treatment of diabetic complications such as diabetic neuropathy, diabetic cataracts and retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic dermopathy, and other diabetic microangiopathy. The compounds of the present invention are represented by the following general formula (A): ##STR1## The compounds of the present invention exhibit excellent inhibitory action towards aldose reductase with a high enzyme selectivity. Accordingly, they are useful as drugs for the therapy and prevention of various types of diabetic complications without substantially inhibiting aldehyde reductase.
Accumulation of intracellular sorbitol, the reduced product of glucose, catalyzed by aldose reductase (AR) (EC 1.1.1.21), is thought to be the cause of the development of diabetic complications. Our attention is focused on finding compounds which inhibit AR without significantly inhibiting aldehyde reductase (ALR) (EC 1.1.1.2). The uracil or 2,4-dioxoimidazolidine skeleton having the benzothiazolyl or 4-chloro-3-nitrophenyl group as an aryl part indicated not only extremely high AR inhibitory activity but also AR selectivity. The ratio of IC50(ALR)/IC50(AR) of 3-[(5-chlorobenzothiazol-2-yl)methyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,4-dioxopyrim-idine-1-acetic acid (47d) was more than 17 500. The uracil skeleton with the benzothiazolyl moiety seemed to be the best combination for selective AR inhibition.