Discovery of Muscarine Leading to the Basic Understanding of Cholinergic Neurotransmission and Various Clinical Interventions

Muscarine was initially detected in mushrooms, and this discovery has led to the treatment of various diseases, and the therapeutic efficacy has been a godsend to the humans. The objective of this book chapter is to address the discovery of muscarine leading to the basic understanding of cholinergic neurotransmission and various clinical interventions. Furthermore, we have also explicated about the discovery of “muscarine” and its important role in delineating the basic concepts in understanding the characterization of central and peripheral cholinergic neurotransmission and its relevant clinical interventions. Muscarinic receptors stimulation or blockade plays an important role in the pathophysiology of a variety of disease states. Consequently, drugs acting on muscarinic receptors have revolutionized the human and animal health industry. Actions of muscarinic agonists or antagonists have led to potential therapeutic outcomes to treat numerous pathological conditions associated with central and peripheral nervous system. However, toxic symptoms or the adverse drug reactions are attributed to excess stimulation of cholinergic receptors by muscarine.