Abstract
Nerve agents (NAs) belong to family of organophosphorus inhibitors (OPIs) of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme. Although the use of highly toxic OPIs as chemical warfare agents is prohibited, they have been misused several times and thus still represents an emerging threat.
For these reasons, the development of novel prophylactic agents and therapeutic intervention against NAs is still up-to-date and of high importance. Prophylactic administration of antidotes not only increases body's resistance to the effects of NAa, e.g. when operating at a contaminated environment after a terrorist attack, but also potentiates the subsequent antidotal therapy after exposure.
Currently, pharmacological prophylaxis can be delivered either by protection of AChE against irreversible Inhibition, administration of commonly used antidotes in advance (i.e. oxime reactivators) or by the use of bioscavengers. The aim of the recent review is to highlight the current trends in prophylaxis and outline breakthroughs in prophylaxis based on reversible cholinesterase inhibitors like huperzine A or acridine derivatives.