title: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors as Alzheimer therapy: from nerve toxins to neuroprotection.
abstract: Acetylcholinesterase is a member of the α/β hydrolase protein super family, with a significant role in acetylcholine-mediated neurotransmission. Research in the modulators of AChEs has moved from a potent poison (Sarin, Soman) in war times to the potent medicine (physostigmine) in peaceful times. Natural anti-AChE includes carbamates, glycoalkaloids, anatoxins derived from green algae; synthetic anti-AChE includes highly poisonous organophosphates used as nerve gases and insecticides. Recently, the role of anti-AChE was reassessed from neurotoxins to neuron-protective in the diseases characterized by impaired acetylcholine-mediated neurotransmission like Alzheimer's disease (AD). So, the AChE has been proven to be the most viable therapeutic target for the symptomatic treatment of AD. This review article gives a spectrum of strategies to design AChE inhibitors used in the Alzheimer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab 147002, India.
authors.forename: Manjinder
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Maninder
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Hitesh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kukreja
authors.forename: Rajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chugh
authors.forename: Om
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Silakari
authors.forename: Dhandeep
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase
keywords: Acetylcholine; Acetylcholinesterase; Alzheimer's disease; Nerve gases