title: The effects of huperzine A on gastrointestinal acetylcholinesterase activity and motility after single and multiple dosing in mice.
abstract: The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI), huperzine A has been used in the treatment of the cognitive deterioration associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the side-effects of huperzine A associated with increased cholinergic activity, particularly in the gastrointestinal system, are evident. It is not yet known how quickly these side-effects become tolerated; this information would provide guidance to doctors on how to use huperzine A so as to attenuate the adverse events. The present study aimed to observe the effects of huperzine A on gastrointestinal motility and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in mice. After oral administration of huperzine A with single and multiple dosing, the gastrointestinal motility and AChE activity of the mice were examined. The results revealed that, following a single dose of huperzine A, the AChE activity in the stomach and duodenum were significantly inhibited and the gastrointestinal motility was significantly increased. However, following multiple doses (7 or 28 doses, one dose per day), no significant changes in the AChE activity and gastrointestinal motility were identified. These findings indicate that the gastrointestinal adverse effects of huperzine A may be well-tolerated relatively quickly and do not recur. Additionally, it suggests that patients with AD are likely to have minimal gastrointestinal side-effects after taking multiple doses of huperzine A.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, Yantai, Shandong 264005,  P.R. China.
authors: Leiming
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Yanqin
authors: Y
authors: Song
authors: Chengwen
authors: C
authors: Lu
authors: Jianqiao
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Jiani
authors: J
authors: Yuan
authors: Tian
authors: T
authors: Wang
authors: Fenghua
authors: F
authors: Fu
keywords: acetyl cholinesterase activity; gastrointestinal motility; huperzine A
references: Psychiatr Danub. 2009 Mar;21(1):108-13
references: 19270633
references: Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2011 Sep;155(3):219-29
references: 22286807
references: J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1993 Jan;264(1):152-7
references: 8093722
references: Jpn J Pharmacol. 2001 May;86(1):73-8
references: 11430475
references: J Neurosci Res. 2012 Feb;90(2):508-17
references: 22002568
references: Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2008 Nov;5(11):27-36
references: 19724715
references: Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 1996;20(1):57-66
references: 8622830
references: Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2006 Jan;27(1):1-26
references: 16364207
references: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD005593
references: 16437532
references: BMC Neurol. 2011 May 25;11:57
references: 21612646
references: Biochem Pharmacol. 1961 Jul;7:88-95
references: 13726518
references: Gastroenterology. 1995 Nov;109(5):1513-21
references: 7557133
references: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1999 Feb;66(2):137-47
references: 10071091
references: Gastroenterology. 1990 Aug;99(2):401-8
references: 2365190
references: Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1988 Nov;9(6):492-7
references: 3256210