Huperzine A

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Huperzine Benefits Huperzine A may be used to treat dementia, memory loss, and other cognitive deficiencies. It may also be helpful for individuals with myasthenia gravis and it may protect against poisoning with organophosphate chemicals. Studies carried out in China indicated that Huperzine A, is a promising new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Other studies indicate that Huperzine A is a superior acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitor with excellent penetration into the CNS and a remarkable in vivo half-life. Two double-blind clinical trials carried out in China demonstrate that Huperzine A is both safe and effective for the long term treatment of Alzheimer's dementia. In addition to its activity as an AChE inhibitor, recent findings suggest that Huperzine A has other neuroprotective functions: 1) Huperzine A inhibits glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in cultures of rat neonatal hippocampal and cerebella neurons; 2) Huperzine A promotes dendrite outgrowth of neuronal cultures. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by abnormalities and degeneration of neurons which depend upon acetylcholine and acetylcholine esterase for normal activity and viability. These cells located in the basal forebrain are also implicated in other neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Huperzine A is a potent inhibitor of acetylcholine esterase, superior in activity to TACRINE, the first drug licensed in the USA for Alzheimer’s disease and E2020 which was licensed recently by Eisai Pharmaceuticals. In addition, Huperzine A has been shown to protect neuronal cells in culture from death caused by the excitoamino acid glutamate.