Synthesis and hypoglycemic activity screening of natural dihydrochalcone derivatives

Based on the hypoglycemic activity of dihydrochalcone, dihydrochalcone derivatives were designed and synthesized, and their hypoglycemic activities were screened. Fourteen dihydrochalcone compounds (six of which are new compounds) were synthesized from inexpensive benzaldehyde and acetophenone derivatives. Their structures were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HRMS and IR. The hypoglycemic activity of the target compound was detected by glucose consumption test of fat cell model with insulin as positive control. The results showed that the new compound 4n had the most significant hypoglycemic activity, and its glucose consumption was 4.64 mmol·L⁻¹, which was 13.11% higher than that of the normal group. This paper provides the experimental basis for the preparation of dihydrochalcone compounds and the hypoglycemic structure-activity relationship.