What is "acarviosin"

Acarviosin is a sugar composed of cyclohexitol linked to a 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucopyranose. Acarviosin is part of the potent α-amylase inhibitor acarbose and its derivatives. The nitrogen atom binds to α-amylase more tightly than the natural substrate making it more potent than other inhibitors. Several other acarviosin-containing α-amylase inhibitors have been found in microbes including isovalertatins and butytatins from Streptomyces luteogriseus and longer oligosaccharides from Streptomyces coelicoflavus.