Embelin is a naturally occurring para-benzoquinone isolated from Embelia ribes (Burm. f.) of the Myrsinaceae family. It was first discovered to have potent inhibitory activity (IC 50 ¼ 4.2 lM) against a-glucosidase in this study. Then, four series of novel embelin derivatives were designed, prepared and evaluated in a-glucosidase inhibition assays. The results show that most of the embelin derivatives synthesised are effective a-glucosidase inhibitors, with IC 50 values at the micromolar level, especially 10d, 12d, and 15d, the IC 50 values of which are 1.8, 3.3, and 3.6 lM, respectively. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies suggest that hydroxyl groups in the 2/5-position of para-benzoquinone are very important, and long-chain substituents in the 3-position are highly preferred. Moreover, the inhibition mechanism and kinetics studies reveal that all of 10d, 12d, 15d, and embelin are reversible and mixed-type inhibitors. Furthermore, docking experiments were carried out to study the interactions between 10d and 15d with a-glucosidase.