Abstract::Diabetes mellitus, especially Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM), appears to be a worldwide health
challenge marked by progressing hyperglycemia and related complications. Postprandial Hyperglycemia
(PPHG) is a critical therapeutic target due to its strong link with cardiovascular risks. Inhibition
of carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes, α-glucosidase and α-amylase, is an established strategy
to mitigate PPHG. Current Inhibitors, including acarbose, miglitol, and voglibose, are effective but
limited by gastrointestinal side effects. Isatin (1H-indole-2,3-dione) is a privileged scaffold in medicinal
chemistry with diverse biological activities and modifiable sites (N-1, C-3, C-5), enabling
optimisation for enzyme inhibition. A comprehensive literature search was conducted up to December
2025 using databases including Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, traditional integrated
knowledge resources, local dissertations, and books. The search employed keywords such as “α-
glucosidase,” “type 2 diabetes,” “isatin scaffolds,” “standard α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitors,” and
“isatin derivatives showing α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity.” This review compiles
recent advances in isatin derivatives as potential α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitors, highlighting
structure–activity relationships, synthetic strategies, including green chemistry and microwaveassisted
synthesis, and dual inhibitory activity for improved efficacy and safety. Reported derivatives
demonstrate remarkable potency, with some surpassing standard drugs in IC₅₀ values and
docking scores, offering promising leads for next-generation antidiabetic therapeutics. Isatin derivatives
show strong potential as multifunctional antidiabetic agents by effectively inhibiting α-
glucosidase and α-amylase. Their structural versatility enables enhanced enzyme inhibition, supporting
their promise as lead compounds for postprandial glucose control.