Huperzine A Overview

Huperzine A (HUP-er-zeen) is a potent chemical derived from a particular type of club moss ( Huperzia serrata[Thumb] Trev.). Like caffeine and cocaine, huperzine A is a medicinally active, plant-derived chemical that belongs to the class known as alkaloids. It was first isolated in 1948 by Chinese scientists. ¹ This substance is really more a drug than an herb, but it is sold over the counter as a dietary supplement for memory loss and mental impairment.

Studies in animals suggested that it could improve memory skills. ^{2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16} These finding led to human trials (described below) and the subsequent marketing of the huperzine A as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions. It is also sold as a “brain booster” for enhancing memory and mental function in people without Alzheimer’s disease.

Huperzine A inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (uh-SEE-tul-co-lin-ES-ter-ase). This enzyme breaks down acetylcholine, a substance that plays an important role in mental function. When the enzyme that breaks it down is inhibited, acetylcholine levels in the brain tend to rise. Drugs that inhibit acetylcholinesterase (such as tacrine and donepezil) improve memory and mental functioning in people with Alzheimer's and other severe conditions. The research on huperzine A indicates that it works in much the same way. The chemical action of huperzine A is very precise and specific. It "fits" into a niche on the enzyme where acetylcholine is supposed to attach. ¹⁷ Because huperzine A is in the way, the enzyme can't grab and destroy acetylcholine. This mechanism has been demonstrated by considerable scientific work, including sophisticated computer modeling of the shape of the molecule. ¹⁸ Huperzine may also help protect nerve cells from damage. ^{19 20 21} Note that, while huperzine A is sold as a dietary supplement, in all essential ways it is simply a typical drug. Huperzine A is highly purified in a laboratory and is just a single chemical. It is simply not much like an herb. Herbs contain hundreds or thousands of chemicals. Huperzine A resembles drugs such as digoxin, codeine, Sudafed, and vincristine (a chemotherapy drug), which are also highly purified chemicals taken from plants. If we wish to call huperzine A a natural treatment, we need to call these (and dozens of other standard drugs) natural as well.

All clinical trials of huperzine to date were performed in China and reported in Chinese.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated 103 people with Alzheimer's Disease who received either huperzine A or placebo twice daily for 8 weeks. ²² About 60% of the treated participants showed improvements in memory, thinking, and behavioral functions compared to 36% of the placebo-treated group, and the difference was significant. Benefits were also seen in an earlier double-blind trial using injected huperzine in 160 individuals with dementia or other memory disorders. ²³ However, not all studies have been positive. Another double-blind trial of 60 individuals with Alzheimer's disease found no significant difference in symptoms between the treated and the placebo groups. ²⁴ Such contradictory results are common when a treatment is only modestly effective, as may be the case here. In a 2008 detailed review of six randomized controlled trials, researchers concluded that, on balance, huperzine A appears to have some beneficial effects. However, the variable quality of these studies suggests that the evidence to date is not strong. ²⁵ Huperzine is also promoted for improving memory in healthy individuals , but the supporting evidence for this claim appears to be limited to one small, poorly designed trial. ²⁶

Huperzine A is a highly potent compound with a recommended dose of only 100 to 200 microgramstwice a day for age-related memory loss. We recommend using it only under a doctor's supervision.

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