Compound C16

Compound C16 is an experimental small-molecule hybrid developed by researchers at Anhui Medical University as a potential disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer's disease. It was designed through a structural reassembly approach, splicing a cannabidiol (CBD) scaffold with a carbamate fragment to create a potent and highly selective inhibitor of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). C16 demonstrates an IC50 of 5.3 nM for BuChE with a selectivity index of over 4000 relative to acetylcholinesterase, acting through a pseudo-irreversible inhibition mechanism. Beyond its primary cholinergic activity, the compound exhibits neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-amyloidogenic properties. Preclinical studies have shown that C16 effectively crosses the blood-brain barrier and significantly ameliorates cognitive impairment in scopolamine-induced and amyloid-beta (Aβ1-42)-impaired animal models, performing better in behavioral tests than the standard treatment donepezil.

Other names

cannabidiol-carbamate hybrid C16