The present invention provides nitrogen-containing heterocyclic derivatives represented by the general formula: wherein X1 and X3 independently represent N or CH; X2 represents N or CR2; X4 represents N or CR3; and with the proviso that one or two of X1, X2, X3 and X4 represent N; R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a lower alkylthio group, a lower alkoxy-substituted (lower alkyl) group, a lower alkoxy-substituted(lower alkoxy) group, a lower alkoxy(lower alkoxy) -substituted (lower alkyl) group, a cyclic lower alkyl group, a halo(lower alkyl) group or a group represented by the general formula: HO-A—wherein A represents a lower alkylene group, a lower alkyleneoxy group or a lower alkylenethio group; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a cyclic lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, an amino group, a (lower acyl)amino group, a mono(lower alkyl)amino group or a di(lower alkyl)amino group; and R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, or prodrugs thereof which are useful as agents for the prevention or treatment of a disease associated with hyperglycemia such as diabetes, diabetic complications or obesity, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and pharmaceutical uses and production intermediates thereof.