Characterisation of the anticholinesterase activity of two new tacrine–huperzine A hybrids

The effects of two tacrine–huperzine A hybrids, (±)-huprine Y and (±)-huprine Z, have been evaluated. Bovine and human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition were assayed by Ellman’s method. The two huprines were more active than both tacrine and (−)-huperzine A as inhibitors of both human and bovine AChE, and they acted as mixed-type AChE inhibitors. Moreover, (±)-huprine Y exhibited a tight binding character seen in the experiments of reversibility of bovine AChE inhibitory activity. In addition, both compounds were more active toward AChE than toward BChE. Also, the selectivity for the human AChE was greater than for the bovine enzyme. In ex vivo studies performed in mice, both drugs showed a clear inhibitory activity of brain AChE, 20 min after i.p. injection, (±)-huprine Y being more potent than (±)-huprine Z [ID 50 1.09 (0.39–2.98) vs. 5.77 (3.29–10.30) μmol/kg]. The time-course study of the inhibitory effect displayed a t 1/2 of 1 h for the two compounds. These results show that these drugs are two potent, central AChE inhibitors of potential interest in the treatment of AD.