Diols and polyols

Diols and polyols represent a diverse chemical class of biomolecules containing multiple hydroxyl groups, including carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, and certain lipids. While not a singular therapeutic target, the metabolism of these compounds is central to several pathological states, most notably the complications of diabetes mellitus via the polyol pathway (Chung et al., 2003). In this pathway, excess glucose is converted by aldose reductase into sorbitol, a polyol that does not easily diffuse across cell membranes, leading to osmotic stress, cellular swelling, and oxidative damage in the eyes, kidneys, and nerves (Gabbay, 1973). Consequently, aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) have been developed to mitigate these effects by preventing polyol accumulation. Furthermore, the specific chemical affinity of boronic acid derivatives for 1,2- and 1,3-diols is exploited in the design of glucose sensors and targeted drug delivery systems (Springsteen & Wang, 2002). Some polyols, such as mannitol, are also utilized as pharmacological agents themselves, acting as osmotic diuretics to manage intracranial and intraocular pressure (StatPearls, 2023).

Other names

GlycolsPolyhydric alcoholsSugar alcoholsPolyhydroxy compoundsMultivalent alcohols

Inhibition of aldose reductase to prevent polyol accumulation (PMID: 12730351), osmotic diuresis (StatPearls, 2023), and reversible covalent binding to hydroxyl groups by boronic acid moieties (PMID: 12119104).