Donepezil hydrochloride, marketed under the trade name Aricept, is a piperidine-type reversible cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor, known chemically as (±)-2, 3-dihydro-5, 6-dimethoxy-2-[[1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]methyl]-1Hinden- 1-one hydrochloride. It has an empirical formula of C24H29NO3HCl and a molecular weight of 415.96. Donepezil hydrochloride is a white crystalline powder and is freely soluble in chloroform, soluble in water and in glacial acetic acid, slightly soluble in ethanol and in acetonitrile, and practically insoluble in ethyl acetate and in n-hexane. It can bind and reversibly inactivate the cholinesterases, thus inhibiting hydrolysis of acetylcholine. This results in an increased acetylcholine concentration at cholinergic synapses. As for the above function, donepezil hydrochloride can be used for the treatment of symptoms for people with mild-to-severe Alzheimer's disease, but it can’t slow the progression of or cure the disease.
