Compound Monograph
Acetylcholine
Acetylcholine is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the body, mediating muscle activation and many functions in the nervous system.
Classification
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter (choline ester), part of the alkaloids class. Nitrogen-containing, often bitter and physiologically potent compounds — the group behind many of the strongest plant medicines and poisons.
Where Does It Come From? (1)
Acetylcholine is a naturally occurring (and made in the body) neurotransmitter (choline ester), found in Stinging Nettle. It is well tolerated orally (low toxicity).
Research & Evidence
Acetylcholine is one of the body’s primary neurotransmitters. It is the transmitter at the neuromuscular junction, where it triggers muscle contraction, and it acts throughout the autonomic and central nervous systems, where it is involved in functions including attention, arousal and memory. It signals through two families of receptors, the nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, and is broken down by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Many drugs and natural toxins act by enhancing or blocking acetylcholine signalling.
Toxicity & Safety
Acetylcholine is an essential endogenous signalling molecule. Toxicity in practice relates not to the molecule itself but to agents that disrupt its normal turnover, such as cholinesterase inhibitors or receptor-blocking compounds, which can be dangerous.