Snowdrop, Galanthus

Galanthamine (23) is an alkaloid extracted from the common snowdrop Galanthus nivalis. This compound is a long-acting, competitive AChE inhibitor which appears to be somewhat more specific for acetylcholinesterase than plasma butyrylcholinesterase (132). It is well tolerated during long-term treatment (133) and is being evaluated clinically for AD (134). 

Traditionally, plants are a rich source of AChE inhibitors. People from the Caucasus used bulbs of snowdrops Galanthus sp.) to treat forgetfulness [25]. The active compound in this plant has been isolated and called galanthamine. Other plant-derived AChE inhibitors used for treatment of Alzheimer s disease include Huperzine A from Huperzia serrata and Rivastigmine (Excelon). The latter is a derivative from physostigmine isolated from the calabar bean, Physos-tigma vmmosum. 

Van Damme, E.J.M., Allen, A.K., and Peumans, W.J., Isolation and characterization of a lectin with exclusive specificity towards mannose from snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) bulbs, FEBS Lett., 215, 140-144, 1987. 

Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis Nonreducing terminal end of a-D-mannosyl... 

Note Derived from snowdrop (Galanthus sp) bulbs... 

Fuzhisan, a Chinese herbal medicine Galantamine from the snowdrop Galanthus woronowii Garni- Chunghyuldan Ganoderma lucidum Garlic (Allium sativum)... 

A myriad of natural compounds have been tested for the past 20 years in a frenetic search for agents with potential effects against AD neuropathology. Some of these compounds include alkaloids from the calabar bean (Physostigma venenosum) huperzine A from Huperzia serrata-, galantamine from the snowdrop Galanthus woronowii cannabinoids (cannabidiol from Cannabis sativa) ... 

Reversible carbamate anticholinesterase and allosteric modulator at nicotinic cholinergic receptor sites potentiating nicotinic neurotransmission. Originally derived from the bulbs of the Caucasian snowdrop (Galanthus woronowii), now prepared synthetically for clinical use in the treatment of Alzheimer s disease. 

The alkaloid galanthamine (169) has been obtained from various Amaryllidaceae species including daffodils, the red spider lily Lycoris radiata) and the Caucasian snowdrop (Galanthus woronowii). Its effectiveness as a centrally acting, selective, reversible and competitive inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase has resulted in galanthamine being introduced into the clinic in both the USA and Europe for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate forms of Alzheimer s disease [57]. These and various other intriguing feamres of this alkaloid have prompted extensive synthetic studies of it [57]. 

Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis Non-reducing terminal end of a-o-mannosyl... 

Galantamine (7, Razadyne , Reminyl , Nivalin ) is a recently approved drug for the treatment of early-onset Alzheimer s disease [12]. Galantamine (or galanthamine) is an Amaryllidaceae-type alkaloid first purified from the snowdrop (Galanthus woronowii) in... 

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