Abstract: A benzimidazole compound represented by the formula (I): wherein R3 is a carboxyl group, a esterified carboxyl group, an amidated carboxyl group, an amino group, an amido group, or a sulfonyl group, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Because of their blood sugar-depressing effect or PDE5 inhibitory effect, these compounds or salts thereof are useful as medicines for treating impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes, diabetic complications, syndrome of insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disorders, hyperglycemia, or hypertension; or stenocardia, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure, glomerulopathy, tubulointerstitial disorders, renal failure, atherosclerosis, angiostenosis, distal angiopathy, cerebral apoplexy, chronic reversible obstructions, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, glaucoma, diseases characterized by enteromotility disorders, impotence, diabetic complications, nephritis, cancerous cachexia, or restenosis after PTCA.

Abstract: Novel benzimidazole derivatives represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.3 is a carboxyl group, a esterified carboxyl group, an amidated carboxyl group, an amino group, an amido group, or a sulfonyl group, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Because of their blood sugar-depressing effect or PDE5 inhibitory effect, these compounds or salts thereof are useful as medicines for treating impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes, diabetic complications, syndrome of insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disorders, hyperglycemia, or hypertension; or stenocardia, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure, glomerulopathy, tubulointerstitial disorders, renal failure, atherosclerosis, angiostenosis, distal angiopathy, cerebral apoplexy, chronic reversible obstructions, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, glaucoma, diseases characterized by enteromotility disorders, impotence, diabetic complications, nephritis, cancerous cachexia, or restenosis after PTCA.