{"id":28458,"date":"2019-12-01T01:23:34","date_gmt":"2019-12-01T09:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=28458"},"modified":"2021-09-20T09:18:31","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T16:18:31","slug":"huperzine-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/huperzine-a\/","title":{"rendered":"What Do We Know About Huperzine A? Potential Uses, Side-Effects, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Huperzine A is an alkaloid compound extracted from a club moss called Huperzia serrata<\/em>. It has been touted to have a number of neuroprotective and \u201cnootropic<\/em>\u201d (cognitive-enhancing) properties, and has even suggested as a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. But what does the science actually say about this plant-based supplement? Read on to learn more about Huperzine A, its potential effects, and how it might work!<\/p>\n

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<\/a>What is Huperzine A?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Huperzine A (HupA) is an alkaloid compound extracted from club moss (Huperzia serrata<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Club moss (\u201cQian Ceng Ta<\/em>\u201d) has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine for fever, inflammation, and even schizophrenia [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Because of its long history of use in traditional medicine, huperzine A has been studied as a compound of interest for its potential effects on a number of important systems in the body and brain. While not all of its touted effects have been validated by science, there are a number of promising early findings that may suggest some potential applications of this supplement, which we\u2019ll review in this post.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Mechanism of Action<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are two forms of huperzine A: \u2018(+)\u2019 and \u2018(-)\u2019. The \u2018(-)\u2019 form is found naturally in the huperzia<\/em> moss, and is believed to be more potent than the \u2018(+)\u2019 form.<\/p>\n

Although the effects of huperzine A are still being actively studied by scientists, there are a few mechanisms that have been identified so far which may be responsible for some of its reported effects.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Increases Acetylcholine<\/h4>\n

Huperzine A has been reported to be a potent, reversible, and specific inhibitor of the enzyme acetylcholine esterase<\/em><\/a> (ACHE). This enzyme breaks down the major neurotransmitter acetylcholine<\/em><\/a>, suggesting that some of huperzine A\u2019s effects may come from generally increased levels of acetylcholine throughout the brain [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

For example, according to one animal study, huperzine A was reported to increase acetylcholine levels in rat brains for up to 6 hours after administration [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Several animal studies have reported that huperzine A may result in a more prolonged increase in acetylcholine in the whole brain when compared to other compounds that raise acetylcholine levels, such as tacrine<\/em>, physostigmine<\/em><\/a>, and metrifonate<\/em> [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

According to one study, Huperzine A may work in similar ways to some Alzheimer\u2019s disease medications which are also believed to affect the acetylcholine system of the brain, such as donepezil<\/em>, rivastigmine<\/em>, tacrine<\/em>, and galantamine<\/em><\/a> – although with fewer side effects and somewhat more favorable pharmacokinetics [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

This potential increase in acetylcholine levels seems to differ between different parts of the rat brain. According to a few animal studies, following administration, maximum acetylcholine levels were observed in the hippocampus after 30 min, and in the frontal and prefrontal cortex after 60 min. These observations suggest that huperzine A may influence the function of different parts of the brain at different times [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

However, some researchers have also stressed that huperzine A likely also has effects on other brain mechanisms that do not involve ACHE – so this effect alone is probably not the whole story [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

<\/a>Increases Norepinephrine and Dopamine – but not Serotonin<\/h4>\n

According to one animal study, huperzine A was reported to increase the levels of norepinephrine<\/a> and dopamine<\/a> in the brains of rats, while not affecting the levels of serotonin<\/a> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

However, a lot more studies will be needed to know if these effects apply to the human brain as well.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Neuroprotective Mechanisms<\/h4>\n

Early evidence from a few studies suggests that huperzine A may have a few mechanisms that could help protect the brain from stress and harm. Some of these suggestive findings include:<\/p>\n