Stereospecific inhibition of cholinesterases by mefloquine enantiomers.

Abstract

Mefloquine enantiomers (+)-1, (-)-1 were found to be stereospecific in their inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, (-)-1 being the more potent inhibitor in both cases. Similar observations were also made with respect to (-)-quinine and (+)-quinidine, which are configurational analogues of (+)-1 and (-)-1, respectively. A positive synclinical conformation for the "N-C-C-O" segment of mefloquine appeared to be necessary for good activity.