Huperzine A

•Last Updated: September 28 2022

Huperzine-A is a cognitive enhancer that inhibits an enzyme that degrades the learning neurotransmitter, acetylcholine; due to this, a relative increase occurs. It belongs to the cholinergics class of molecules, and may be useful in fighting cognitive decline in the elderly. May need to be cycled.

dosage

Huperzine A is most often used for

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Kamal Patel, MPH, MBA

Last Updated: September 28 2022

summary
Dosage information
Research breakdown
References

Summary

Huperzine-A is a compound extracted from the herbs of the Huperziceae family. It is known as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, which means that it stops an enzyme from breaking down acetylcholine which results in increases in acetylcholine.

Acetylcholine is known as the learning neurotransmitter, and is involved in muscle contraction as well. Increasing levels of acetylcholine is routinely used as a technique amongst weight-lifters and scholars.

Huperzine-A appears to be a relatively safe compound from animal studies of toxicity and studies in humans showing no side-effects at dosages routinely supplemented with. Huperzine-A is in preliminary trials for usage in fighting Alzheimer's Disease as well.

What else is Huperzine A known as?

Note that Huperzine A is also known as:

Qian Ceng Ta

Dosage information

Supplementation of huperzine-A tends to be in the range of 50-200mcg daily, and while this can be divided into multiple dosages throughout the day it tends to be taken at a single dose. Supplementation of huperzine-A does not require food to be coingested with it and can be taken in a fasted state.

Cycling of huperzine-A tends to be used since it can remain in the body for quite some time (half-life of 10-14 hours), and although a 'cycle' of huperzine-A tends to last 2-4 weeks followed by a break the optimal cycle length is not yet known.

Research Breakdown

1

Structure and Sources

1.1

Sources

1.2

Isomers

2

Pharmacology

3

Neurology

3.1

Cholinergic Neurotransmission

3.2

Neuroprotection

3.3

Neurogenesis

4

Safety and Toxicity

References

1.^Howes MJ, Perry NS, Houghton PJPlants with traditional uses and activities, relevant to the management of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disordersPhytother Res.(2003 Jan)

2.^Ha GT, Wong RK, Zhang YHuperzine a as potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease: an assessment on chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical studiesChem Biodivers.(2011 Jul)

3.^Ma X, Gang DRIn vitro production of huperzine A, a promising drug candidate for Alzheimer's diseasePhytochemistry.(2008 Jul)

4.^Total Synthesis of (−)-Huperzine A.()

5.^Wang XD, Chen XQ, Yang HH, Hu GYComparison of the effects of cholinesterase inhibitors on {3H}MK-801 binding in rat cerebral cortexNeurosci Lett.(1999 Sep 3)

6.^Rajendran V, Saxena A, Doctor BP, Kozikowski APSynthesis of more potent analogues of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, huperzine BBioorg Med Chem Lett.(2002 Jun 3)

7.^Zhang HY, Tang XCHuperzine B, a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, attenuates hydrogen peroxide induced injury in PC12 cellsNeurosci Lett.(2000 Sep 29)

8.^Feng S, Wang Z, He X, Zheng S, Xia Y, Jiang H, Tang X, Bai DBis-huperzine B: highly potent and selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitorsJ Med Chem.(2005 Feb 10)

9.^He XC, Feng S, Wang ZF, Shi Y, Zheng S, Xia Y, Jiang H, Tang XC, Bai DStudy on dual-site inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase: Highly potent derivatives of bis- and bifunctional huperzine BBioorg Med Chem.(2007 Feb 1)

10.^Qian BC, Wang M, Zhou ZF, Chen K, Zhou RR, Chen GSPharmacokinetics of tablet huperzine A in six volunteersZhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao.(1995 Sep)

11.^Li YX, Zhang RQ, Li CR, Jiang XHPharmacokinetics of huperzine A following oral administration to human volunteersEur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet.(2007 Oct-Dec)

12.^Effects of huperzine A on acetylcholinesterase isoforms in vitro: comparison with tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine and physostigmine.()

13.^Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Clinical Efficacy of the Chinese Nootropic Agent Huperzine A.()

14.^Development of huperzine A and B for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.()

15.^Boudinot E, Taysse L, Daulon S, Chatonnet A, Champagnat J, Foutz ASEffects of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition on breathing in mice adapted or not to reduced acetylcholinesterasePharmacol Biochem Behav.(2005 Jan)

16.^Lane RM, Potkin SG, Enz ATargeting acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in dementiaInt J Neuropsychopharmacol.(2006 Feb)

17.^Ved HS, Koenig ML, Dave JR, Doctor BPHuperzine A, a potential therapeutic agent for dementia, reduces neuronal cell death caused by glutamateNeuroreport.(1997 Mar 3)

18.^Huperzine A regulates amyloid precursor protein processing via protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells over-expressing wild type human amyloid precursor protein 695.()

19.^Progress in studies of huperzine A, a natural cholinesterase inhibitor from Chinese herbal medicine.()

20.^The NMDA receptor ion channel: a site for binding of Huperzine A.()

21.^Ma T, Gong K, Yan Y, Zhang L, Tang P, Zhang X, Gong YHuperzine A promotes hippocampal neurogenesis in vitro and in vivoBrain Res.(2013 Apr 19)

Primary Use

Secondary Use

Energy & Fatigue