ABSTRACT
Galanthamine is a morphine-like alkaloid that is a possible therapeutic agent in Alzheimer’s disease because of its central cholinergic effects (Harvey, 1995). It has been shown to be competitive with other anticholinesterase compounds like tacrine or physostigmine in the treatment of the syndrome (Rainer et al., 1989). In contrast with the proven hepatotoxicity of tacrine (Gauthier et al., 1990), galanthamine shows only minor side effects like agitation or insommia (Thomsen et al., 1990). Thus, galanthamine is considered a better therapeutic candidate for the treatment of this type of senile dementia than other acetylcholinesterase inhibitors structurally related to it (Bores et al., 1996).
