Molecular target
Acetylcholinesterase
Enzyme that hydrolyzes acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft. Inhibition raises ACh levels — the mechanism of cholinesterase inhibitors used in Alzheimer's disease (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) and myasthenia gravis. Galantamine itself is an alkaloid originally isolated from snowdrop (Galanthus) and daffodil bulbs.
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Pharmaceutical agents
Drugs that act on Acetylcholinesterase
These medications have Acetylcholinesterase among their molecular targets. Sharing a target is a mechanistic relationship — it does not make any plant below an alternative to, or substitute for, these drugs.
Botanical connections
Plants whose compounds act on Acetylcholinesterase
Each plant below contains a named compound documented to act on Acetylcholinesterase. The compound and the reason for the connection are shown on every edge — a shared mechanism, not a therapeutic equivalence.
- β-AsaronePhenylpropanoid
In vitro studies report IC50 of ~3.33 µM against acetylcholinesterase (AChE); the essential oil (79.54% β-asarone) showed IC50 of ~10.67 µg/mL. Mechanistic significance in vivo remains unestablished.
- α-AsaronePhenylpropanoid
In vitro AChE inhibition reported (IC50 ~46.38 µM); weaker than β-asarone in the same assay.
- ThymolPhenolic monoterpene
Major constituent (~45%) of the essential oil; in vitro studies report inhibitory activity against acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase (Silva et al., 2009) and antioxidant effects (Radonic et al., 2003). Antimicrobial activity against Clostridium perfringens also investigated in vitro (de Oliveira et al., 2011).
- CarvacrolPhenolic monoterpene
Co-dominant volatile constituent; contributes to anticholinesterase and antimicrobial activity reported in in vitro assays (Silva et al., 2009).
- 1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol)Monoterpene oxide (volatile oil constituent)
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity for 1,8-cineole is proposed in the broader pharmacological literature as a contributor to cognition-related findings; this specific target is not described in the cited abstracts. Evidence is primarily preclinical.
- Seed ethyl acetate extractPhenolic/coumarin-rich fraction
Nazir et al. (2021) report in vitro anticholinesterase activity for Ferula ammoniacum seed extracts, with associated in vivo improvement in scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice.
- Bacopa monnieri extract (bacoside-standardized)
Standardized Bacopa extracts show documented acetylcholinesterase-inhibitory activity, increasing synaptic acetylcholine availability — a recognized contributor to its pro-cognitive/memory action.
- Dehydroevodiamine (DHED)Quinazoline alkaloid
Park et al. (1996) reported non-competitive acetylcholinesterase inhibition in vitro (IC50 ~37.8 µM) and reversal of scopolamine-induced amnesia in an animal model. Evidence is preclinical only.
- Rosmarinic + carnosic acidspolyphenol / diterpene
Inhibit acetylcholinesterase, increasing synaptic acetylcholine — the basis for clinical-trial efficacy in mild Alzheimer's cognition.
- Isoquinoline alkaloids (fumaranine, fumarostrejdine, protopine, and related)Isoquinoline alkaloids
Chlebek et al. (2016) isolated two novel isoquinoline alkaloids and evaluated them for acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), prolyl oligopeptidase (POP), and glycogen synthase kinase inhibitory activity in vitro; results were compound-specific and preliminary.