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Banisteriopsis caapi , a Forgotten Potential Therapy for Parkinson's Disease?
Author(s) -
Djamshidian Atbin,
BernschneiderReif Sabine,
Poewe Werner,
Lees Andrew J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
movement disorders clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.754
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2330-1619
DOI - 10.1002/mdc3.12242
Subject(s) - harmine , peganum harmala , harmaline , parkinsonism , traditional medicine , pharmacology , biology , medicine , disease
Banisteriopsis caapi , a liana indigenous to the Amazon basin with metagnomigenic properties and possible anti‐depressant effects is one of the natural sources of harmala alkaloids. A summary of early trials with extracts of Banisteriopsis caapi and Peganum harmala (from which harmine was first isolated) in the 1920s and 1930s on various forms of parkinsonism is given as well as a brief overview of the known pharmacological properties of harmine. Despite its earlier abandonment because of perceived weaker efficacy than solanaceous alkaloids like scopolamine and hyoscine we propose that harmine should be reconsidered as a potential rapidly acting anti‐Parkinsonian agent.