Role of huperzine a in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To review the role of huperzine A in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).


METHODS
A literature search was conducted through MEDLINE (1950-September week 2, 2008), EMBASE (all years), Google Scholar, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and a bibliographic review of relevant articles. Key words included huperzine, huperin, Huperzia serrata, and Alzheimer's disease.


METHODS
All clinical trials published in the English language that evaluated huperzine A in patients with AD were included in this review. Articles published in Chinese were included when English abstracts or electronic translation technology were available.


RESULTS
AD is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder for which there is no cure; available therapies only decrease cognitive decline. Huperzine A, an alkaloid derived from Chinese club moss (H. serrata), acts as a selective inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase and may also display neuroprotective properties. Preliminary data suggest that huperzine A may improve cognition; studies ranging from 8 to 12 weeks have found improvements in the Mini-Mental State Examination score of 1-5 points.


CONCLUSIONS
Although use of huperzine A has shown promising results in patients with AD, data supporting its use are limited by weak study design. Largescale, randomized, placebo-controlled trials are necessary to establish the role of huperzine A in the treatment of AD.
Desilets
Alicia R
AR
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences-Worcester/Manchester, MA, USA. Alicia.Desilets@mcphs.edu
Gickas
Jennifer J
JJ
Dunican
Kaelen C
KC
D000470:Alkaloids; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000470:Alkaloids; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A