Eseroline Explained

Eseroline is a drug which acts as an opioid agonist.^[1] It is a metabolite of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine but unlike physostigmine, the acetylcholinesterase inhibition produced by eseroline is weak and easily reversible,^{[2] [3]} and it produces fairly potent analgesic effects mediated through the μ-opioid receptor.^[4] This mixture of activities gives eseroline an unusual pharmacological profile,^{[5] [6]} although its uses are limited by side effects such as respiratory depression^[7] and neurotoxicity.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Fürst S, Friedmann T, Bartolini A, Bartolini R, Aiello-Malmberg P, Galli A, Somogyi GT, Knoll J . 6 . Direct evidence that eseroline possesses morphine-like effects . European Journal of Pharmacology . 83 . 3–4 . 233–41 . September 1982 . 6293841 . 10.1016/0014-2999(82)90256-4 .
2. Jhamandas K, Elliott J, Sutak M . Opiatelike actions of eseroline, an eserine derivative . Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology . 59 . 3 . 307–10 . March 1981 . 7194726 . 10.1139/y81-048 .
3. Galli A, Renzi G, Grazzini E, Bartolini R, Aiello-Malmberg P, Bartolini A . Reversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by eseroline, an opioid agonist structurally related to physostigmine (eserine) and morphine . Biochemical Pharmacology . 31 . 7 . 1233–8 . April 1982 . 7092918 . 10.1016/0006-2952(82)90009-0 .
4. Agresti A, Buffoni F, Kaufman JJ, Petrongolo C . Structure--activity relationships of eseroline and morphine: ab initio quantum-chemical study of the electrostatic potential and of the interaction energy with water . Molecular Pharmacology . 18 . 3 . 461–7 . November 1980 . 7464812 .
5. Galli A, Ranaudo E, Giannini L, Costagli C . Reversible inhibition of cholinesterases by opioids: possible pharmacological consequences . The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology . 48 . 11 . 1164–8 . November 1996 . 8961166 . 10.1111/j.2042-7158.1996.tb03914.x . 45395195 . free .
6. Liu WF . Effect of eseroline on schedule-controlled behavior in the rat . Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior . 38 . 4 . 747–51 . April 1991 . 1871191 . 10.1016/0091-3057(91)90236-U . 12857298 .
7. Berkenbosch A, Rupreht J, DeGoede J, Olievier CN, Wolsink JG . Effects of eseroline on the ventilatory response to CO2 . European Journal of Pharmacology . 232 . 1 . 21–8 . February 1993 . 8458393 . 10.1016/0014-2999(93)90723-U .
8. Somani SM, Kutty RK, Krishna G . Eseroline, a metabolite of physostigmine, induces neuronal cell death . Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology . 106 . 1 . 28–37 . October 1990 . 2251681 . 10.1016/0041-008X(90)90102-Z .