Piroheptine for Treating Parkinson

Piroheptine, 3-(10, 11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo(a, d)cyclohepten-5-ylidene)-1-ethyl-2- methylpyrrolidine hydrochloride, was developed by Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. in1970s and started selling in 1974 in Japan. This agent has an anticholinergic activity and L-DOPA potentiating effect in the central nervous system. Piroheptine and other anticholinergic agents are considered to block the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and cholinergic nerve activity. Piroheptine had weak peripheral activity compared to other anticholinergic agents. In animal experiments, piroheptine showed protective effects to MPTP induced striatal loss. As for clinical indication, piroheptine is applied to treat parkinsonian syndrome. Current clinical studies of piroheptine are rare, especially for the idiopathic parkinsonian syndrome.