Antidiabetic activity of N-(6-substituted-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamides.

N-(6-Substituted-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide derivatives 1-8 were synthesized and evaluated for their in vivo antidiabetic activity in a non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rat model. Several compounds synthesized showed significant lowering of plasma glucose level in this model. As a possible mode of action, the compounds were in vitro evaluated as 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) inhibitors. The most active compounds (3 and 4) were docked into the crystal structure of 11beta-HSD1. Docking results indicate potential hydrogen bond interactions with catalytic amino acid residues.