Overview of the present state of MAO inhibitors

In this paper an overview of the present state of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) is presented. The irreversible inhibitors are firstly considered. They have been divided into four chemical types: substituted hydrazine, cyclopropylamine, propargylamine and allylamine derivatives. Moreover, a tetrahydropyridine derivative (MPTP), recently described as an irreversible inhibitor of MAO-B, has been included among the irreversible MAOIs. The reversible inhibitors such as tetrahydro-beta-carbolines and salsolinol, phenylalkylamines: amphetamine, amiflamine and 2,3-dichloro-alpha-methyl-benzylamine. Among the short acting or reversible inhibitors the 4-(2-benzofuranyl) piperidine series and the morpholinoethylamino derivatives are discussed. Finally the oxazolidinone series is presented separately, as in this series reversible or irreversible inhibitors of the A or B form of MAO have been obtained.