| 1660 | Hans Sloane, physician, naturalist, founder of the British Museum. | |
| 1728 | Joseph Black, Scottish chemist and physicist. | |
| 1786 | Sir John Franklin, arctic explorer. | |
| 1844 | Anatole France, French writer. | |
| 1864 | Flora Batson, African-American soprano-baritone singer. | |
| 1867 | Wilbur Wright, designer, builder and flyer of the first airplane. | |
| 1889 | Charlie Chaplin, film actor and director. | |
| 1922 | Kingsley Amis, British author (Lucky Jim). | |
| 1947 | Lew Alcinder (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), professional basketball player. |
2004. Galanthamine from snowdrop—the development of a modern drug against Alzheimer’s disease from local Caucasian knowledge
This
paper is dedicated to the memory of Jo Castle, a researcher at the
Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, The School of Pharmacy,
University of London and Wellcome Centre for the History of Medicine,
UCL who died unexpectedly in January of 2004. Her enthusiasm for the
history of European medicinal plants and her cheerful personality will
be remember by all who knew her
- Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
- Received 29 September 2003, Revised 3 February 2004, Accepted 9 February 2004, Available online 10 April 2004
Abstract
In recent years, galanthamine isolated from several members of the Amaryllidaceae (Leucojum spp., Narcissus species, Galanthus
spp.) has become an important therapeutic options used to slow down the
process of neurological degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. This
review traces aspects of the history of its development from little
known observational studies in the Caucasus Mountains (Southern Russia),
to the use of this drug in Eastern European countries (esp. Bulgaria)
in the treatment of poliomyelitis and ultimately to the recent
introduction onto Western markets in the treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease. Of note, little is known about the early history of the drug’s
development and the review also points to other gaps in our knowledge
about the ethnopharmacology, pharmacology and clinical use of
galanthamine.
Abbreviations
- ACh, acetylcholine;
- AChE, acetylcholinesterase;
- AChEI, acetylcholinesterase inhibitor;
- AD, Alzheimer’s disease;
- ADAS-cog/13, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale—cognitive subscale 13-item;
- ADCS-ADL, Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study including Activities of Daily Living Inventory;
- ApoE, apolipoprotein E4;
- BuChE, butyrylcholinesterase;
- GAL, galanthamine;
- CGIC, Clinical Global Impression of Change;
- CIBIC-plus, Clinician’s Interview-Based Impression of Change plus Caregiver Input;
- DAD, Disability Assessment in Dementia;
- GAL, galanthamine;
- ITT, Intention-to-treat;
- LOAD, late-onset AD;
- MMSE, Mini-Mental State Exam;
- nAChR, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor;
- NINCDS-ADRDA, Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association;
- NPI, Neuropsychiatry Inventory;
- OC, Observed Case (analysis);
- PDS, Progressive Deterioration Scale;
- PP, Per Protocol (analysis)
Keywords
- Drug discovery;
- Galanthamine;
- Galanthus worwonowii;
- Leucojum aestivum;
- Narcissus pseudonarcissus;
- Alzheimer’s;
- Poliomyelitis;
- Bulgaria;
- Caucasus Mountains (Russia);
- Clinical study
Copyright © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
