Abstract
Depressive disorders have, for a sizeable extent, proven resilient to pharmacotherapy. Established drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) often provide inadequate symptom relief and sometimes fail altogether. Recently, interest in antidepressant effects of scopolamine, a non-selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonist, has arisen. Initial evidence suggests that scopolamine provides relatively rapid and long-lasting symptom alleviation for unipolar and bipolar depressed patients. At the same time, side effects of medical dosages appear mild and transient in nature. The aim of the present review is to tentatively discuss the antidepressant potential of scopolamine and to outline putative neurobiological pathways. Clearly, mAChR antagonism provides an intriguing novel therapeutical approach for treating depressive disorders.
Keywords: Acetylcholine, antidepressants, depression, muscarinic receptors, monoamines, scopolamine.
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Big Data Mining for CNS Diseases Analysis and Treatment: Focusing on Drug Target Discovery
Central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis, represent a major global health challenge. Despite significant research efforts, the complexity and multifactorial nature of these diseases hinder the development of effective treatments. The rise of big data analytics and high-throughput technologies ...read more
Heart and Brain Axis Targets in CNS Neurological Disorders
Recently, there has been a surge of interest in delving deeper into the complex interplay between the heart and brain. This fascination stems from a growing recognition of the profound influence each organ holds over the other, particularly in the realm of central nervous system and neurological disorders. The purpose ...read more
Innovative Therapeutics in Demyelinating CNS- Disorders: Immune Modulation, Antibody Therapy, Kinase Inhibition and Remyeliation Strategies
Demyelinating disorders, particularly multiple sclerosis represent chronic disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration within the central nervous system. This thematic issue will present a comprehensive overview of novel therapeutic advances targeting these processes. In addition to dissecting the roles of innate versus adaptive immunity, antibody therapies, and tyrosine kinase ...read more
Lifestyle Interventions to Prevent and Treat Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
More than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide. By 2050, the population affected by dementia will exceed 139 million individuals. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a pre-dementia stage, also known as prodromal dementia, affecting older adults. MCI emerges years before the manifestation of dementia but can be avoidable and ...read more
Related Journals
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Current Bioactive Compounds
Current Cancer Drug Targets
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews
Current Diabetes Reviews
Current Drug Safety
Current Drug Targets
Current Drug Therapy
Related Books
The Impact of Pharma Technology on Cosmetics: Advancements and Innovations
Advances in the Medicinal Chemistry of Neglected Tropical Disease and Related Infectious Diseases
Zebrafish Models for Experimental Pharmacology: A Handbook
Bioactive Compounds Targeting Neurodegenerative Diseases
Anthraquinones: Bioactive Multifaceted Therapeutic Agents
Therapeutic Plants: Recent Advances in the Use of Herbs as Alternative Medications
Quality Assurance of Ethno-Herbals: Cultivating Confidence in Alternative Medicine
Traditional Medicine in North East Africa: Research on Traditional Healer Preparations and Herbs
Andrographolide and its Analogs: Botanical Sources, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Biotechnology
Frontiers in Clinical Drug Research-Dementia
75