Huperzine A may help to improve memory. However, it has not been evaluated fully in cancer patients.
Huperzine A is extracted from Huperzia serrata, an herb used in Chinese medicine. It is marketed as a dietary supplement to improve brain function. It may help to improve memory by protecting the nerve cells and has been used as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in Asia. Although some cancer patients use it to reduce brain and nerve side effects from chemotherapy, no clinical studies have been conducted to show it is safe and effective for such use. Huperzine A may interact with many drugs and can cause mild adverse effects.
Although a US patent has been filed claiming Huperzine A for use in cancer pain and neuropathy, it is not an FDA approved drug as no clinical trials for these indications have been conducted.
Purported Uses
Alzheimer’s disease
A clinical study showed that Huperzine A may benefit patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia, cognitive decline
In a clinical study, Huperzine A improved cognition in patients with vascular dementia.
Nerve agent poisoning
Huperzine A was found effective against nerve agent poisoning in animal models.
Myasthenia gravis Cases of myasthenia gravis have been reported as being treated with huperzine.
Neuropathy
Although claimed to be effective against neuropathy, clinical data is lacking.
Do Not Take If
You are taking an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drug, like donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine: Huperzine works by the same mechanism and may increase the risk of adverse effects.
You are taking a dopamine D2 receptor blocker: Huperzine A may cause symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
You are using calcium channel blockers or beta adrenergic antagonists: Huperzine A may lower heart rate.
Huperzia serrata, a type of fir moss, is also known as Chinese club moss. It is used as a component in traditional Chinese herbal formulas for blood circulation and to relieve pain. A purified alkaloid extract from this plant known as Huperzine A has neuroprotective effects and has been developed as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in Asia (1). In the US, it is available as a dietary supplement to promote cognitive function. It is also used by some cancer patients to relieve pain and neurological dysfunction due to chemotherapy.
Most studies on H.serrata are based on the extract Huperzine A, which selectively inhibits acetylcholinesterase(1). Animal studies show it has antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative properties which contribute to its protective effects in nerve agent poisoning (2), myasthenia gravis (3), hepatic reperfusion injury (4), and diabetes-associated cognitive decline (5). Clinical studies on Huperzine A as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease have yielded mixed results (6)(7)(8). One study found it to improve cognitive function in vascular dementia patients (9).
Although a US patent has been filed claiming its use for cancer pain and neuropathy (10) , no clinical trials for these indications have been conducted.
Mild adverse effects from Huperzine A have been reported (7). Because it acts as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, it can potentially interact with many drugs including other anticholinergic drugs, dopamine D2 receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, and beta adrenergic receptor antagonists (11).
Purported Uses
Alzheimer’s disease
Dementia, cognitive decline
Nerve agent poisoning
Myasthenia gravis
Neuropathy
Mechanism of Action
Huperzine A is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, raising the levels of acetylcholine in the basal ganglia (1). Higher levels of acetylcholine in the central nervous system are believed to be responsible for less severe cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease (1). Additionally, Huperzine A can interfere with the pathway of beta-amyloid deposition by regulating precursor protein metabolism and impeding associated neurotoxicity (13). Huperzine A also inhibits the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the cerebral cortex (14).
Huperzine A diminished diabetes-associated cognitive decline in rats by enhancing glycemic control, suppressing inflammation, augmenting brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression, and limiting oxidative stress (5). In a mouse model of hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury, the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties of Huperzine A contributed to hepatoprotective effects (4).
Adverse Reactions
Nausea, anorexia, dizziness, vomiting, constipation, insomnia, excitability, thirst, sweating, bradycardia, abdominal pain, somnolence, hyperactivity, nasal obstruction, diarrhea, and edema (21). Some of these reactions could stem from the anticholinesterase activity of Huperzine A.
Herb-Drug Interactions
Cytochrome P450 substrates: Huperzine A induces CYP3A4 by activating pregnane X receptor (22). This may reduce the effectiveness of drugs metabolized by this enzyme. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (Donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine): Huperzine A may increase the risk of adverse events for other drugs that have acetylcholinesterase inhibition effects. Dopamine D2 receptor blockers: Taken in conjunction with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors can produce a dopamine/acetylcholine imbalance in the striatum, leading to parkinsonian symptoms (11). Calcium channel blockers: Because acetylcholinesterase inhibitors can produce bradycardia on their own, Huperzine A and a calcium channel blocker may produce a more severe bradycardia (11). Beta adrenergic receptor antagonists: Because acetylcholinesterase inhibitors can produce bradycardia on their own, Huperzine A and a calcium channel blocker may produce a more severe bradycardia (11).