Huperzine-A Review
Introduction
Huperzine-A is a unique chemical purified from the Chinese plant Huperzia Serrata or chinese moss. Its main functionality is as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, acetylcholinesterase is an enzyme which breaks down acetylcholine. So, by blocking acetylcholinesterase there will be an increase of acetylcholine in the brain.
Effects
What does this mean? Higher levels of acetylcholine in the brain will lead to a positive effect on memory and learning processes and it will also enhance focus and attention span. Huperzine-A is used for a plethora of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, age-related memory disorders and memory and learning enhancement. Various products or hybrids that combine huperzine-A with different drugs such as donezepil or tacrine are being nowadays studied. Another use for this substance is for the disease called myasthenia caused by lack of acetylcholine which eventually leads to muscle weakness.
Main effects of huperzine-A:
- Improving memory, mental clarity and mood in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Various studies showed an improvement in the memory process and thinking skills in patients with the disorders mentioned before.
- Improving memory for healthy adolescents. A study conducted on Chinese students who complained of memory issues showed a significant improvement after using huperzine-A.
- Preventing muscle weakness by injection in patients with myasthenia gravis. The beneficial effects of huperzine A last to even 7 hours compared to 4 hours after neostigmine intake.