Galanthamine from Galanthus and Other Amaryllidaceae – Chemistry and Biology Based on Traditional Use

Around 2000, galanthamine, isolated from several members of the Amaryllidaceae (Leucojum spp., Narcissus spp., and Galanthus spp.) has become an important therapeutic option used to slow the process of neurological degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. This development, which started in the 1950s in the Soviet Union, exemplifies the opportunities and challenges in natural product drug development specifically as it relates to the need for full documentation of local/traditional knowledge, the central role of biodiversity-related questions, and the complex nature of successful drug development.