Quinolactacins A1 and A2, new acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from Penicillium citrinum.

Alzheimer disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is the most commoncause of dementia amongthe elderly. The neurophathological evidences have demonstrated that cholinergic functions declined in the basal forebrain and cortex in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type1>2). Accordingly, enhancement of cholinergic neurotransmission have been considered as one potential therapeutic approach against Alzheimer disease. One treatment strategy to enhance cholinergic functions is the use of acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) inhibitors to increase the amount of acetylcholine present in the synapses between cholinergic neurons3'4).