Acetylcholinesterase

Acetylcholinesterase is the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine. |date= |date===Inhibitors== |date= |date=Aceytlcholinesterase inhibitors inhibit acetylcholinesterase from breaking down acetylcholine, resulting in higher circulating levels of the neurotransmitter. |date= |date=They are used to treat myasthenia gravis and postural orthostatic tachycardia, and to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. |date= |date==== Examples of potential therapeutic inhibitors === |date= |date=Compounds which function as reversible competitive or noncompetitive inhibitors of cholinesterase are those most likely to have therapeutic uses. These include: |date= |date=* Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main active ingredient in cannabis is a competitive inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase |date=* Carbamates |date=** Physostigmine |date=** Neostigmine |date=** Pyridostigmine |date=** Ambenonium |date=** Demecarium |date=** Rivastigmine |date=* Phenanthrene derivatives |date=** Galantamine |date=* Caffeine – noncompetitive (also an Adenosine receptor antagonist)  |date=*  Rosmarinic acid - ester of Caffeic acid. Found in plants species of Lamiaceae family. |date=* Alpha-Pinene - noncompetitive reversible  |date=* Piperidines |date=** Donepezil |date=* Tacrine, also known as tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA') |date=* Edrophonium |date=* Huperzine A |date=* Ladostigil |date=* Ungeremine |date=* Lactucopicrin |date= |date==== Examples of irreversible inhibitors=== |date= |date=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. |date= |date=== See also == |date= |date=== Learn more == |date= |date=== References == |date= |date= |date= |date=