盐酸二甲双胍/格列本脲复方胶囊的人体生物等效性及其药动学研究

目的:建立人血浆中盐酸二甲双胍与格列本脲的HPLC测定法,评价盐酸二甲双胍/格列本脲复方胶囊相对于格列本脲片与盐酸二甲双胍片联合应用是否具有生物等效性.方法:20名健康受试者单剂量交叉口服等剂量供试制剂或参比制剂(格列本脲5mg和盐酸二甲双胍1 000mg)后不同时间点采血,分别采用HPLC-UV,HPLC-MS检测法,测定血浆中盐酸二甲双胍及格列本脲的药物浓度,计算其药动学参数和相对生物利用度,评价两制剂的生物等效性.结果:供试制剂与参比制剂中盐酸二甲双胍AUC0-12分别为(16.25±3.50)和(16.79±3.99)mg·h·L-1,Cmax分别为(3.35±0.71)和(3.47±0.77)mg·L-1,Tmax分别为(1.9±0.3)和(1.9±0.4)h,t1/2ke分别为(2.81±0.31)和(2.79±0.33)h.供试制剂与参比制剂中格列本脲AUC0～15分别为(1.236±0.523)和(1.170±0.522)mg·h·L-1,Cmax分别为(0.258±0.075)和(0.264±0.073)mg·L-1,Tmax分别为(2.5±0.4)和(2.4±0.4)h,t1/2ke分别为(3.93±1.61)和(3.36±0.62)h.两制剂中盐酸二甲双胍及格列本脲主要药动学参数经统计学分析差异无显著性.结论:该方法简便灵敏,盐酸二甲双胍/格列本脲复方胶囊相对于格列本脲片与盐酸二甲双胍片联合应用具有生物等效性.     

复方盐酸二甲双胍片的人体生物等效性

目的研究试验制剂国产复方盐酸二甲双胍片与参比制剂格列本脲片、盐酸二甲双胍片的人体生物等效性。方法健康志愿者20名,随机双交叉单剂量口服2种制剂,2次服药间隔为2 wk。分别于服药后24 h内多点抽取静脉血,用RP-HPLC测定血浆中格列本脲和盐酸二甲双胍的浓度。血药浓度经3P97程序处理,用非房室模型估算药动学参数。结果试验制剂和参比制剂血浆中格列本脲的ρmax分别为(190.91±45.01)(、175.71±27.47)μg.L-1,tmax分别为(2.60±0.87)、(2.35±0.71)h,AUC0→24分别为(1 110.85±275.12)(、1 074.77±202.76)μg.h.L-1,AUC0→∞分别为(1 187.91±275.55)(、1 168.52±168.65)μg.h.L-1;二甲双胍的ρmax分别为(3.06±0.63)、(3.06±0.55)mg.L-1,tmax分别为(1.57±0.37)(、1.65±0.37)h,AUC0→12分别为(12.05±1.92)、(12.05±1.79)mg.h.L-1,AUC0→∞分别为(12.47±1.97)(、12.51±1.80)mg.h.L-1。以格列本脲和盐酸二甲双胍计算的人体相对生物利用度分别为(103.8±17.9)%和(100.7±13.0)%。结论2种制剂具有生物等效性。     

复方盐酸二甲双胍片在健康志愿者体内的药物动力学和生物等效性

目的:研究复方盐酸二甲双胍片在健康志愿者体内的药物动力学和生物等效性。方法:18名男性健康志愿者随机交叉单次口服复方盐酸二甲双胍片(含盐酸二甲双胍1000 mg,格列本脲5 mg,受试制剂)或联合服用盐酸二甲双胍片1 000 mg和格列本脲片5 mg(参比制剂)后,采用HPLC法分别测定盐酸二甲双胍和格列本脲的经时血药浓度,用3P97软件计算其药物动力学参数和相对生物利用度,评价两种制剂的生物等效性。结果:单次口服受试制剂和参比制剂后,盐酸二甲双胍主要药物动力学参数C_(max)分别为(1.60±0.55)μg·ml~(-1)和(1.46±0.46)μg·ml~(-1),t_(max)分别为(2.1±0.7)h和(2.5±0.8)h,t_(1/2)分别为(4.9±1.7)h和(4.3±1.6)h,AUC_(0→24)分别为(10.47±2.89)μg·ml~(-1)·h和(9.22±2.56)μg·ml~(-1)·h,AUC_(0→∞)分别为(10.95±3.13)μ·ml~(-1)·h和(9.53±2.73)μg·ml~(-1)·h,受试制剂的相对生物利用度F_(0→24)为114.8%±17.6%。格列本脲主要药物动力学参数C_(max)分别为(117.70±28.38)μg·L~(-1)和(106.92±33.76)μg·L~(-1),t_(max)分别为(4.1±2.7)h和(3.8±1.8) h,t_(1/2)分别为(7.6±4.1)h和(8.8±3.9)h,AUC_(0→30)分别为(899.97±296.76)μg·L~(-1)·h和(902.64±353.82)μg·L~(-1)·h,AUC_(0→∞)分别为(943.00±290.09)μg·L~(-1)·h和(989.82±399.90)μg·L~(-1)·h,受试制剂的相对生物利用度F_(0→30)为104.91%±28.31%。结论:两制剂两组分的AUC、C_(max)对数值,经F分析、双单侧t检验和(1-2α)%置信区间法统计分析。表明两种制剂具有生物等效性。     

复方盐酸二甲双胍胶囊人体生物等效性研究

目的评价国产的复方盐酸二甲双胍胶囊(试验制剂)与市售的盐酸二甲双胍片联合格列本脲片(参比制剂)的人体相对生物利用度。方法18名健康男性志愿者随机交叉口服试验制剂2粒(每粒含二甲双胍250mg,格列本脲1.25mg)或参比制剂盐酸二甲双胍片(250mg)2片、格列本脲片(2.5mg)1片。二甲双胍的血药浓度采用离子对高效液相色谱法(HPLC)测定,格列本脲的血药浓度采用高效液相色谱-质谱法(HPLC-MS)测定,计算两者的药动学参数并评价试验制剂的相对生物利用度。结果受试者单次服用试验制剂或参比制剂后,二甲双胍的主要药动学参数如下:AUC0-24分别为(5.90±1.36)和(5.95±1.35)μg·h·mL-1,AUC0-∞分别为(6.17±1.36)和(6.28±1.36)μg·h·mL-1,Cmax分别为(0.82±0.21)和(0.82±0.14)μg·mL-1,tmax分别为(1.43±0.88)和(1.54±0.98)h,相对生物利用度为(100.21±14.10)%;格列本脲的主要药动学参数如下:AUC0-16分别为(270.28±61.82)和(268.70±61.99)ng·h·mL-1,AUC0-∞分别为(287.13±61.97)和(284.17±67.85)ng·h·mL-1,Cmax分别为(62.83±10.89)和(61.44±12.11)ng·mL-1,tmax分别为(2.53±0.79)和(2.81±0.75)h,相对生物利用度为(101.67±14.54)%。结论经统计学分析,试验制剂与参比制剂的主要药动学参数之间差异无统计学意义,试验制剂与参比制剂生物等效。     

复方盐酸二甲双胍片的人体相对生物利用度

目的研究国产复方盐酸二甲双胍片(含盐酸二甲双胍和格列本脲)与盐酸二甲双胍片和格列本脲片的人体相对生物利用度。方法采用随机交叉、自身对照试验设计,18名健康男性志愿者单剂量口服复方盐酸二甲双胍片(含盐酸二甲双胍500 mg,格列本脲2.5 mg)或同时口服盐酸二甲双胍片500 mg和格列本脲片2.5 mg,在不同时间点取静脉血,盐酸二甲双胍血药浓度采用HPLC-UV测定,格列本脲血药浓度采用HPLC-MS测定。以方差分析对主要药动学参数进行差别检验,以双单侧t检验进行生物等效性判定。结果单剂量口服复方盐酸二甲双胍片(含盐酸二甲双胍500 mg,格列本脲2.5 mg)或同时服用盐酸二甲双胍片500 mg和格列本脲片2.5 mg后,盐酸二甲双胍的药动学参数:AUC0~24分别为(6 252.9±2 628.3)、(6 270.6±2 202.6)ng.h.mL-1,AUC0~∞分别为(6 764.4±2 895.2)、(7 195.1±4 153.1)ng.h.mL-1,Cmax分别为(1 082.4±348.2)、(1 111.0±343.3)ng.mL-1,tmax分别为(1.5±0.5)、(1.7±0.6)h。试验制剂中盐酸二甲双胍的相对生物利用度为99.72%±13.59%。格列本脲的药物动力学参数AUC0~36分别为(533.5±247.0)、(495.7±223.3)ng.h.mL-1,AUC0~∞分别为(578.8±263.8)、(525.4±253.5)ng.h.mL-1,Cmax分别为(94.1±19.1)和(87.39±20.72)ng.mL-1,tmax分别为(1.8±0.4)和(1.9±0.4)h。与参比制剂相比,试验制剂中格列本脲的相对生物利用度为103.83%±12.94%。方差分析结果表明试验制剂与参比制剂的主要药物动力学参数之间无明显差异,双单侧t检验结果表明试验制剂与参比制剂为生物等效制剂。结论复方盐酸二甲双胍片与同时口服相同剂量的盐酸二甲双胍片和格列本脲片生物等效。     

消糖灵颗粒中格列苯脲的人体生物等效性

目的:建立测定人血浆中格列本脲的高效液相色谱(HPLC)法,研究中成药消糖灵颗粒中格列本脲在男性健康志愿者体内的药动学行为,评价其生物利用度和生物等效性.方法:20名健康成年男性志愿者采用随机分组自身交叉对照试验设计,单剂量口服参比制剂消糖灵胶囊(6粒,含格列苯脲4.2 mg)或试验制剂消糖灵颗粒(2袋,合格列本脲4.2 mg),用HPLC法测定血浆中药物浓度.结果:试验制剂和参比制剂的主要药动学参数tmax分别为(2.0±0.8)h和(1.8±0.6)h,Cmax分别为(100.6±26.8)μg·L-1和(114.5±28.6)μg·L-1,AUC(0-36)分别为(567.2±270.9)μg·L-1·h和(537.6±255.5)μg·L-1·h;t1/2分别为(5.3±4.8)h和(4.1±4.0)h;以AUC(0-36)计算的试验制剂的相对生物利用度为(115.7±54.9)%.结论:建立的分析方法准确灵敏,测得的数据可靠,统计学分析表明两种制剂生物等效.     

复方二甲双胍胶囊在健康受试者体内的药物动力学和相对生物利用度

目的 :研究复方二甲双胍胶囊在健康受试者体内的药物动力学和相对生物利用度。方法 :2 0名男性志愿者随机交叉口服复方二甲双胍胶囊 (试验药 )或合用二甲双胍片 格列本脲片 (参比药 ) ,HPLC 紫外法和LC MS法测定人血浆中二甲双胍和格列本脲浓度 ,计算药动学参数和相对生物利用度。结果 :口服试验药和参比药后二甲双胍的Cmax 分别为1.87± 0 .36和 1.77± 0 .35mg·L-1;Tmax为 1.7± 0 .6和 1.8± 0 .5h ;AUC0 -∞ 为 8.13± 1.32和 8.6 2±1.4 7mg·L-1·h-1,格列本脲的Cmax分别为 12 9.2±5 1.4和 12 3.9± 5 0 .7μg·L-1;Tmax 为 2 .3± 0 .7和2 .6± 0 .9h ;AUC0 -∞ 为 0 .6 90± 0 .2 2 8和 0 .6 32±0 .2 11mg·L-1·h-1,以上参数在试验药和参比药之间皆无显著性差异。试验片中二甲双胍和格列本脲相对于参比药的生物利用度分别为 95 .0 %±11.5 %和 10 9.6 %± 8.8%。结论 :复方二甲双胍胶囊中二甲双胍和格列本脲与参比药相比皆生物等效     

复方盐酸二甲双胍片在人体内药物动力学和生物等效性研究

目的　建立人血浆中盐酸二甲双胍的反相离子对高效液相色谱和格列本脲的液相色谱 质谱测定方法 ,研究复方盐酸二甲双胍片 (盐酸二甲双胍 2 5 0mg/格列本脲 1 2 5mg× 2片 )相对于联合使用的盐酸二甲双胍片 ( 5 0 0mg)和格列本脲片( 2 5mg)在男性健康志愿者体内的药物动力学行为 ,评价其生物利用度和生物等效性。方法　采用双交叉随机实验设计 :2 0名受试者交叉口服复方盐酸二甲双胍片 2片或口服盐酸二甲双胍片与格列本脲片各 1片 ,服药后于 0 5、1 0、1 5、2 0、2 5、3 0、3 5、4 0、5 0、6 0、8 0、12、2 4、36h分别取血 ,分离血浆 ,分别依法测定盐酸二甲双胍和格列本脲的血药浓度。结果　测得口服复方盐酸二甲双胍片或联合使用盐酸二甲双胍片与格列本脲片后 ,盐酸二甲双胍的达峰时间分别为 ( 2 0± 0 7)h和 ( 2 1± 0 9)h ,峰浓度分别为 ( 14 0 2 4± 349 2 ) μg·L-1和 ( 132 9 7± 315 4 ) μg·L-1,消除半衰期分别为 ( 3 84± 0 6 1)h和 ( 4 2 6± 0 96 )h ,AUC0 2 4分别为 ( 72 92 7± 196 7 5 ) μg·L-1和 ( 74 16 2± 184 3 9) μg·h·L-1;格列本脲的达峰时间分别为 ( 3 1± 0 9)h和 ( 3 0±0 8)h ,峰浓度 ( 71 7± 2 2 7) μg·L-1和 ( 70 3± 2 0 7) μg·L-1,消     

复方格列本脲片人体药物动力学及生物等效性研究

目的研究复方格列本脲片在健康人体内的药物动力学及评价复方格列本脲片相对于格列本脲片与二甲双胍片联用是否具有生物等效性.方法采用随机自身交叉双周期设计方法,将18名健康男性受试者随机分为2组,分别单次交叉口服等剂量供试制剂或参比制剂(格列本脲2.5 mg,二甲双胍500 mg)后,采用HPLC法测定不同时间点的血药浓度,计算其主要药物动力学参数,评价两制剂的生物等效性.结果供试制剂和参比制剂格列本脲AUC0～10分别为(150.13±54.64)ng·h·mL-1和(158.85±59.15)ng·h· mL-1,cmax分别为(46.23±14.29)ng·mL-1和(44.16±15.16)ng·mL-1,tmax分别为(2.40±0.30)h和(2.40±0.30)h,t1/2分别为(1.73±0.71)h和(1.70±0.49)h.供试制剂和参比制剂二甲双胍AUC0～12分别为(7.79±2.17)μg·h·mL-1 和(8.11±2.06)μg·h· mL-1,cmax分别为(1.47±0.44)μg·mL-1和(1.54±0.43)μg·mL-1,tmax分别为(2.10±0.50)h和(2.00±0.70)h,t1/2分别为(2.93±0.44)h和(2.83±0.48)h.上述结果经统计学分析无显著性差异(P>0.05).供试制剂中格列本脲和二甲双胍相对于参比制剂的生物利用度分别为(96.4%±15.8%)和(96.9%±16.2%).结论单剂量口服复方格列本脲片与口服相当剂量的格列本脲片和二甲双胍片具有生物等效性.     

复方盐酸二甲双胍片在人体内药物动力学和生物等效性研究

目的 建立人血浆中盐酸二甲双胍的反相离子对高效液相色谱和格列本脲的液相色谱-质谱测定方法,研究复方盐酸二甲双胍片(盐酸二甲双胍250mg/格列本脲1.25mg×2片)相对于联合使用的盐酸二甲双胍片(500mg)和格列本脲片(2.5mg)在男性健康志愿者体内的药物动力学行为,评价其生物利用度和生物等效性。方法 采用双交叉随机实验设计:20名受试者交叉口服复方盐酸二甲双胍片2片或口服盐酸二甲双胍片与格列本脲片各1片,服药后于0.5、1.0、1.5、2.0、2.5、3.0、3.5、4.0、5.0、6.0、8.0、12、24、36h分别取血,分离血浆,分别依法测定盐酸二甲双胍和格列本脲的血药浓度。结果 测得口服复方盐酸二甲双胍片或联合使用盐酸二甲双胍片与格列本脲片后,盐酸二甲双胍的达峰时间分别为(2.0±0.7)h和(2.1±0.9)h,峰浓度分别为(1402.4±349.2)μg·L^-1和(1329.7±315.4)μg·L^-1,消除半衰期分别为(3.84±0.61)h和(4.26±0.96)h,AUC_0-24分别为(7292.7±1967.5)μg·L^-1和(7416.2±1843.9)μg·h·L^-1；格列本脲的达峰时间分别为(3.1±0.9)h 和(3.0±0.8)h，峰浓度(71.7±22.7)μg·L^-1和(70.3±20.7)μg·L^-1,消除半衰期分别为(5.05±2.01)h 和(4.78±1.64)h，AUC_0-24分别为(367.6±168.7)μg·L^-1和(352.6±144.7)μg·h·L^-1；以联合服用等剂量的盐酸二甲双胍片与格列本脲片为参比，以AUC_0-24计算得复方盐酸二甲双胍片之盐酸二甲双胍和格列本脲的相对生物利用度，分别为101.1%±28.5%和123.7%±82.9%。结论 建立的分析方法准确灵敏，测得数据可靠。统计学分析表明复方盐酸二甲双胍片与联合使用盐酸二甲双胍片和格列本脲片显生物等效。     

Efficacy of gut lavage,hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the therapy of paraquat or diquat intoxication

Clinical and in vitro investigations were carried out to test the efficacy of gut lavage, hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the treatment of poisoning with paraquat or diquat. In a patient suffering from diquat intoxication 130 times more diquat was removed by gut lavage 30 h after ingestion than was removed by complete aspiration of the gastric contents.Determination of in vitro clearances for paraquat and diquat by hemodialysis showed that, at serum concentrations of 1–2 ppm, such as are frequently encountered in poisoning in man, toxicologically relevant quantities of herbicide cannot be removed from the body. At a concentration of 20 ppm, on the other hand, hemodialysis proved to be effective, the clearance being 70 ml/min at a blood flow rate of 100 ml/min. The efficacy of hemoperfusion with coated activated charcoal was on the whole better. Especially at concentrations around 1–2 ppm, the clearance values for hemoperfusion were some 5–7 times higher than those for hemodialysis.In a patient suffering from paraquat poisoning, both hemodialysis as well as hemoperfusion were carried out. The in vitro results could be confirmed: At serum concentrations of paraquat less than 1 ppm no clearance could be obtained by hemodialysis while by hemoperfusion with activated charcoal quite high clearance values were measured and the serum level dropped down to zero.

---

Zusammenfassung Klinische Untersuchungen und Laboratoriumsversuche wurden durchgeführt, um die Wirksamkeit von Darmspülung, Hämodialyse und Hämoperfusion bei Paraquat- und Deiquat-Vergiftungen zu prüfen.Bei einem Patienten wurde 30 Std nach Deiquat-Aufnahme durch Darmspülung 130mal mehr Deiquat entfernt als durch vollständige Aspiration des Mageninhaltes. In vitro-Versuche ergaben, daß bei Blutserumkonzentrationen von 1–2 ppm, die bei Vergiftungen oft gemessen werden, durch Hämodialyse keine toxikologisch relevanten Paraquat- oder Deiquat-Mengen entfernt werden können. Dagegen erwies sich die Hämodialyse bei 20 ppm und einer Blutumlaufgeschwindigkeit von 100 ml/min mit einer Clearance von 70 ml/min als wirksam. Die Hämoperfusion mit beschicheter Aktivkohle war in diesen Versuchen aber eindeutig überlegen, denn insbesondere bei Konzentrationen um 1–2 ppm waren die Clearance-Werte 5–7mal höher als bei der Hämodialyse.Die in vitro-Ergebnisse wurden bei einem Patienten mit einer Paraquat-Vergiftung bestätigt: Bei Konzentrationen unter 1 ppm war die Hämodialyse wirkungslos, während durch Hämoperfusion relativ hohe Clearance-Werte erreicht wurden, so daß der Serumspiegel rasch unter die Nachweisgrenze abfiel.

     

In vitro studies on sterically stabilized liposomes (SL) as enzyme carriers in organophosphorus (OP) antagonism

This study describes a new approach for organophosphorous (OP) antidotal treatment by encapsulating an OP hydrolyzing enzyme, OPA anhydrolase (OPAA), within sterically stabilized liposomes. The recombinant OPAA enzyme was derived from Alteromonas strain JD6. It has broad substrate specificity to a wide range of OP compounds: DFP and the nerve agents, soman and sarin. Liposomes encapsulating OPAA (SL)* were made by mechanical dispersion method. Hydrolysis of DFP by (SL)* was measured by following an increase of fluoride ion concentration using a fluoride ion selective electrode. OPAA entrapped in the carrier liposomes rapidly hydrolyze DFP, with the rate of DFP hydrolysis directly proportional to the amount of (SL)* added to the solution. Liposomal carriers containing no enzyme did not hydrolyze DFP. The reaction was linear and the rate of hydrolysis was first order in the substrate. This enzyme carrier system serves as a biodegradable protective environment for the recombinant OP-metabolizing enzyme, OPAA, resulting in prolongation of enzymatic concentration in the body. These studies suggest that the protection of OP intoxication can be strikingly enhanced by adding OPAA encapsulated within (SL)* to pralidoxime and atropine.     

Aquatic Insects and Trace Metals: Bioavailability,Bioaccumulation, and Toxicity

Abstract

The uptake of metals from food and water sources by insects is thought to be additive. For a given metal, the proportions taken up from water and food will depend both on the bioavailable concentration of the metal associated with each source and the mechanism and rate by which the metal enters the insect. Attempts to correlate insect trace metal concentrations with the trophic level of insects should be made with a knowledge of the feeding relationships of the individual taxa concerned. Pathways for the uptake of essential metals, such as copper and zinc, exist at the cellular level, and other nonessential metals, such as cadmium, also appear to enter via these routes. Within cells, trace metals can be bound to proteins or stored in granules. The internal distribution of metals among body tissues is very heterogeneous, and distribution patterns tend to be both metal and taxon specific. Trace metals associated with insects can be both bound on the surface of their chitinous exoskeleton and incorporated into body tissues. The quantities of trace meals accumulated by an individual reflect the net balance between the rate of metal influx from both dissolved and particulate sources and the rate of metal efflux from the organism. The toxicity of metals has been demonstrated at all levels of biological organization: cell, tissue, individual, population, and community. Much of the literature pertaining to the toxic effects of metals on aquatic insects is based on laboratory observations and, as such, it is difficult to extrapolate the data to insects in nature. The few experimental studies in nature suggest that trace metal contaminants can affect both the distribution and the abundance of aquatic insects. Insects have a largely unexploited potential as biomonitors of metal contamination in nature. A better understanding of the physico-chemical and biological mechanisms mediating trace metal bioavailability and exchange will facilitate the development of general predictive models relating trace metal concentrations in insects to those in their environment. Such models will facilitate the use of insects as contaminant biomonitors.     

Steroidal sapogenin contents in some domestic plants

In order to find out the values of the steroid resources for the future use. the compositions and contents of steroidal sapogenins from 13 domestic plants have been investigated. As a result,Dioscorea nipponica, D. quinqueloba andSmilax china were found to have large amount of diosgenin. And pennogenin inTrillium kamtschaticum andParis verticillata, yuccagenin inAllium fistulosum, hecogenin inAgave americana and neochlorogenin inSolanum nigum were appeared to be major steroidal sapogenins.     

Alzheimer’s disease – current trends in basic and clinical research. Highlights from the 16th ECNP

Advances in the molecular biological knowledge of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have led to a growing interest by the pharmaceutical industry in the development of novel compounds that selectively modulate nAChR function. The ability of (-)-nicotine, an activator of nAChRs, to enhance attentional aspects of cognition in animals and humans, to exert neuroprotective and anxiolytic-like effects, and presumably to mediate the negative correlation between smoking and Alzheimer's (and Parkinson's) Disease, has focused interest on the potential therapeutic utility of modulators of nAChR function for treatment of some of the deficits associated with these progressive, neurodegenerative conditions. Numerous compounds are known which activate nAChRs and which might serve as lead compounds toward the development of such agents. The pharmacologic diversity of neuronal nAChR subtypes suggests the possibility of developing selective compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents. This broader class of agents, collectively called cholinergic channel modulators (ChCMs), is anticipated to encompass compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents, which generally exhibit low selectivity. This selectivity may be achieved by preferentially activating some subtypes of nAChRs (i.e., Cholinergic Channel Activators, ChCAs) or inhibiting the function of other subtypes (Cholinergic Channel Inhibitors, ChCIs). An overview of the biology of nAChRs and the rationale for the use of ChCMs for the treatment of dementia related to neurodegenerative diseases are presented, followed by a discussion of lead compounds and compounds under consideration for clinical evaluation.