Acetylcholinesterase

Acetylcholinesterase is the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine.

Inhibitors
Aceytlcholinesterase inhibitors inhibit acetylcholinesterase from breaking down acetylcholine, resulting in higher circulating levels of the neurotransmitter.

They are used to treat myasthenia gravis and postural orthostatic tachycardia, and to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's.

Examples of potential therapeutic inhibitors
Compounds which function as reversible competitive or noncompetitive inhibitors of cholinesterase are those most likely to have therapeutic uses. These include:


 * Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active ingredient in cannabis is a competitive inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase
 * Carbamates
 * Physostigmine
 * Neostigmine
 * Pyridostigmine
 * Ambenonium
 * Demecarium
 * Rivastigmine
 * Phenanthrene derivatives
 * Galantamine
 * Caffeine – noncompetitive (also an Adenosine receptor antagonist)
 * Rosmarinic acid - ester of Caffeic acid. Found in plants species of Lamiaceae family.
 * Alpha-Pinene - noncompetitive reversible
 * Piperidines
 * Donepezil
 * Tacrine, also known as tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA')
 * Edrophonium
 * Huperzine A
 * Ladostigil
 * Ungeremine
 * Lactucopicrin

Examples of irreversible inhibitors
Irreversible inhibitors can lead to muscular paralysis, convulsion and death by asphyxiation. Organophosphates, some insecticides, and nerve gases for chemical warfare are examples of irreversible inhibitors.