title: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: a patent review (2008 - present).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) are present in the body in large amounts. AChE is an important part of the cholinergic nervous system taking place in the central and peripheral nervous system. AChE is a target of several toxins such as insecticide carbofuran, nerve agents, sarin, soman, tabun and VX. Beside toxins, drugs for treatment of Alzheimer's disease and myasthenia gravis, such as galantamine, donepezil, rivastigmine, tacrine, huperzine, pyridostigmine and neostigmine, are known.
  
  
  METHODS
  The review gives an overview of the importance of the cholinergic nervous system, the biochemistry of AChE and the role of AChE inhibitors. Current efforts to introduce potent drugs for Alzheimer's disease therapy and reduce toxicity, while keeping the maximal pharmacological effect, are also discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current research effort into AChE inhibitors can be divided into two categories. First, new toxins useful for agricultural purposes and second, novel drugs that need to be prepared, although there is less interest in the new toxins. The research for drugs for Alzheimer's disease needs to focus on inhibitors that reduce the deposition of amyloid plaques, but do not initiate AChE expression.
authors: University of Defense, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Trebesska 1575, 50001 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. miroslav.pohanka@gmail.com
authors: Miroslav
authors: M
authors: Pohanka
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D000818:Animals; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D010330:Patents as Topic; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000109:Acetylcholine