Donepezil Hydrochloride (Donepezil HCL) is a novel, potent and selective inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme possibly involved in cognitive dysfunction of patients suffering Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with the half maximal inhibition concentration IC50 value of 6.7 nM [1].
Donepezil HCL is a piperidine-class AChE inhibitor containing an N-benzylpiperdine and an indanone moiety, which confers it a longer and more selective action against AchE as compared to BuChE (IC50: 7.4 μM) [1].
Donepezil HCL has been approved by FDA for the treatment of AD, in which it has improved cognitive function of mild to severe moderate AD patients and exhibited excellent tolerability without hepatotoxicity [1].
References:
[1] Sugimoto H, Ogura H, Arai Y, Limura Y, Yamanishi Y. Research and development of donepezil hydrochloride, a new type of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Jpn J Pharmacol. 2002 May;89(1):7-20.