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DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY

FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES


UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

AN UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR
ON
SCOPOLAMINE: AN ANTAGONIST OF MUSCARINIC
ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTORS IN HUMANS
BY
OKORO OYINDEINFA EBIKA
(LSC1404293)
22ND FEBRUARY, 2018.

ABSTRACT
Scopolamine or L-Hyoscine is a tropane alkaloid derived from the plants of the Nightshade
family (Solenaceae). The alkaloid is found in the leaves, flowers, and pollen of the Henbane
plant, Belladonna plant and other members of the Nightshade family. Scopolamine has had a
wide variety of uses throughout history. It was used mainly as a therapeutic and recreational
medicine. The modern clinical use of scopolamine is quite contrary to its past usage. It is
commonly used as an effective treatment against nausea and vomiting caused by motion
sickness and post operative surgery. The alkaloid competitively inhibits the action of
acetylcholine on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors located in various regions of the central
nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are
expressed in five subtypes in humans, of which, scopolamine acts as a non selective
antagonist. The effect of this inhibition produces peripheral antimuscarinic effects such as
pupil dilation, dryness of mouth, decreased gastrointestinal motility amongst other effects.
Central nervous effects include sedative, amnesic and antiemetic effects. It is also used as a
criminal drug in South America, incapacitating victims of exercising freewill. In conclusion,
scopolamine is a drug with rich back history and a variety of uses, both good and bad.
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