INTRODUCTION: 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. AREAS COVERED: 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. EXPERT OPINION: 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.

• MeSH
• acetylcholin metabolismus   MeSH
• acetylcholinesterasa metabolismus   MeSH
• Alzheimerova nemoc farmakoterapie   enzymologie   MeSH
• chemie farmaceutická MeSH
• cholinesterasové inhibitory škodlivé účinky   chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• myasthenia gravis farmakoterapie   enzymologie   MeSH
• patenty jako téma MeSH
• racionální návrh léčiv MeSH
• vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
• zákonodárství lékové MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• acetylcholin MeSH
• acetylcholinesterasa MeSH
• cholinesterasové inhibitory MeSH