Symptomatic and neuroprotective properties of the aliphatic propargylamines.

This short review describes the development of several families of aliphatic propargylamine drugs. The parent family--the aliphatic N-methylpropargylamines are potent, specific, irreversible MAO-B inhibitors, like R-deprenyl; but devoid of R-deprenyl's toxicity and amphetaminergic effects. In addition the parent drugs are potent antiapoptoic agents. Their desmethyl and further oxidized metabolites whilst devoid of MAO-B inhibitory properties of R-2HMP (our chosen drug candidate) are described along with the suggestion that this drug be developed for the treatment of several human neurodegenerative conditions.