Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cholinesterases: Distribution and Function

Cholinesterases: Distribution and Function

Cholinesterases are a group of serine hydrolase enzymes that play a crucial role in the breakdown of choline esters. The two primary types of cholinesterases are acetylcholinesterases (AChEs) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChEs), which differ in their distribution, function, and substrate specificity. AChEs, also known as true cholinesterases, specifically hydrolyze acetylcholine, while BuChEs, often referred to as pseudocholinesterases, can hydrolyze various choline esters, including...

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics

Direct-acting cholinergic agonists, such as synthetic choline esters and naturally occurring alkaloids, exert their effects by enhancing the actions of acetylcholine and stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. Synthetic choline esters share structural similarities with acetylcholine. For example, they have a positively charged quaternary ammonium or onium group, contributing to their hydrophilic characteristics. As a result, they are poorly absorbed in the body through oral...

Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics

Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics

Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists, or anticholinesterases, enhance the body's cholinergic activity by inhibiting acetylcholine's breakdown. They are categorized as reversible or irreversible agents based on their mechanism of action. They are further classified into short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting agents based on their duration of action.
Reversible agents containing quaternary amines, such as neostigmine and edrophonium, are not easily absorbed orally because they are...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The neurotoxicity of trichothecenes T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol (DON): Current status and future perspectives.

Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·2020

Same author

The Puzzling Potential of Carbon Nanomaterials: General Properties, Application, and Toxicity.

Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

Same author

Vaccine Design from the Ensemble of Surface Glycoprotein Epitopes of SARS-CoV-2: An Immunoinformatics Approach.

Vaccines·2020

Same author

Effects of Montmorillonite on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemistry and Oxidative Stress of Red-Crowned Crane (<i>Grus japonensis</i>) Fed Mycotoxin-Contaminated Feed.

Current drug metabolism·2020

Same author

The role of the immune system and the biomarker CD3 + CD4 + CD45RA-CD62L- in the pathophysiology of migraine.

Scientific reports·2020

Same author

Antioxidant Functionalized Nanoparticles: A Combat against Oxidative Stress.

Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Ecotoxicological Methodologies to Evaluate Biomarkers at Different Scales in Neotropical Anurans

Ecotoxicological Methodologies to Evaluate Biomarkers at Different Scales in Neotropical Anurans

Published on: April 28, 2023

The progress in the cholinesterase quantification methods.

Ondrej Holas¹, Kamil Musilek, Miroslav Pohanka

¹Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Control, Heyrovskeho 1203, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.

Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery

|September 28, 2012

Summary

Cholinesterase activity assays are crucial for drug discovery and diagnosing poisonings. The Ellman colorimetric method is versatile, with ongoing advancements in miniaturization and new platforms enhancing its utility.

More Related Videos

Measurement of Chitinase Activity in Biological Samples

Measurement of Chitinase Activity in Biological Samples

Published on: August 22, 2019

Measurement of Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) in Solid Tissues using Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Measurement of Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) in Solid Tissues using Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Published on: July 3, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Ecotoxicological Methodologies to Evaluate Biomarkers at Different Scales in Neotropical Anurans

Ecotoxicological Methodologies to Evaluate Biomarkers at Different Scales in Neotropical Anurans

Published on: April 28, 2023

Measurement of Chitinase Activity in Biological Samples

Measurement of Chitinase Activity in Biological Samples

Published on: August 22, 2019

Measurement of Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) in Solid Tissues using Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Measurement of Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) in Solid Tissues using Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

Published on: July 3, 2025

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Pharmacology

Background:

Cholinesterase activity determination is vital in drug design, medicine, and toxicology.
Compounds modulating cholinesterase activity aid in treating disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
Organophosphate poisoning diagnosis relies on cholinesterase activity assays.

Purpose of the Study:

To review methods for quantifying cholinesterase activity.
To provide an overview of techniques based on cholinesterase properties and substrate interactions.

Main Methods:

Manometric, potentiometric, titrimetric, photometric, fluorometric, and radioisotopic methods are discussed.
The review focuses on techniques for determining quantitative cholinesterase activity.

Main Results:

The Ellman colorimetric method is identified as the most useful and versatile approach.
Existing methods adequately address challenges in cholinesterase activity determination.

Conclusions:

The Ellman method is applicable to pesticide/nerve agent exposure assessment and drug development.
Future progress hinges on optimizing for hemoglobin-rich samples and adopting miniaturization and modern platforms like nanotechnologies.