The present invention refers to compounds that, in addition to enhancing the sensitivity to
acetylcholine and
choline, and their exogenous agonists, of neuronal
cholinergic receptors and / or acting as
cholinesterase inhibitors and / or neuroprotective agents, have enhanced blood-brain
barrier permeability in comparison to their parent compounds. The compounds are derived (either formally by their
chemical structure or directly by
chemical synthesis) from natural compounds belonging to the class of amaryllidaceae alkaloids e.g.,
galantamine, narwedine and lycoramine, or from metabolites of said compounds. The compounds of the present invention can either interact as such with their target molecules, or they can act as “pro-drugs”, in the sense that after reaching their target regions in the body they are converted by
hydrolysis or enzymatic
attack to the original parent compound and react as such with their target molecules, or both. The compounds of this invention may be used as medicaments.