Huperzine A--an interesting anticholinesterase compound from the Chinese herbal medicine

Acta Medica (Hradec Kralove). 1998;41(4):155-7.

Abstract

Huperzine A, alkaloid from the Chinese herbal medicine Qian Ceng Ta, which is prepared from the moss Huperzia serrata, has been used in China for centuries to treat fever and inflammation. Huperzine A is a strong inhibitor of cholinesterases with high selectivity to acetylcholinesterase and in China is developed as therapeutic against Alzheimer's disease. May be that huperzine A will be better than other centrally active anticholinesterases in treating this neurodegenerative disorder. Huperzine A appears to have additional pharmacological properties that make it an attractive candidate therapy for clinical trials.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Animals
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Sesquiterpenes* / chemistry
  • Sesquiterpenes* / pharmacology
  • Sesquiterpenes* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • huperzine A