Journal Article

Epibatidine: A Promising Natural Alkaloid in Health

Peron, Gregorio, Rapposelli, Simona, Salehi, Bahare, Sestito, Simona, Calina, Daniela, Sharifi-Rad, Mehdi, Martins, Natália, Sharifi-Rad, Javad, Sharopov, Farukh

2018

Overview

Epibatidine is a natural alkaloid that acts at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The present review aims to carefully discuss the affinity of epibatidine and its synthetic derivatives, analogues to nAChRs for α4β2 subtype, pharmacokinetic parameters, and its role in health. Published literature shows a low affinity and lack of binding of epibatidine and its synthetic analogues to plasma proteins, indicating their availability for metabolism. Because of its high toxicity, the therapeutic use of epibatidine is hampered. However, new synthetic analogs endowed from this molecule have been developed, with a better therapeutic window and improved selectivity. All these aspects are also discussed here. On the other hand, many reports are devoted to structure–activity relationships to obtain optically active epibatidine and its analogues, and to access its pharmacological effects. Although pharmacological results are obtained from experimental studies and only a few clinical trials, new perspectives are open for the discovery of new drug therapies.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: ABT-418 / ABT-594 / Acetylcholine receptors (nicotinic) / Affinity / Alkaloids / Alkaloids - chemistry / Alkaloids - pharmacokinetics / Alkaloids - therapeutic use / Alzheimer's disease / Analgesics / Analgesics - chemistry / Analgesics - pharmacokinetics / Analgesics - therapeutic use / Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy / Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - pathology / Brain research / Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic - chemistry / Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic - pharmacokinetics / Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic - therapeutic use / Clinical trials / Cytochrome / Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - metabolism / Drug dosages / Drug therapy / Enzymes / Epibatidine / Humans / Isoxazoles - therapeutic use / Metabolism / Metabolites / Narcotics / Nervous system / Neurodegenerative Diseases - drug therapy / Neurodegenerative Diseases - pathology / nicotinic acetylcholine receptors / Pharmacokinetics / Plasma / Plasma proteins / Pyridines - chemistry / Pyridines - pharmacokinetics / Pyridines - therapeutic use / Pyrrolidines - therapeutic use / Quantum Theory / Receptors, Nicotinic - chemistry / Receptors, Nicotinic - metabolism / Review / Toxicity