COMMON NAME

Toothed Clubmoss | Chinese Club Moss | Huperazon 

TOP BENEFITS OF HUPERZINE A

• Supports cholinergic neurotransmission *
• Supports brain function and cognitive performance *
• Supports neuroprotection *

WHAT IS HUPERZINE A?

Huperzia serrata (synonym Lycopodium serratum) is a species of fir clubmoss that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (as Qian Ceng Ta). Huperzia serrata has several bioactive compounds, including lycopodium alkaloids, triterpenes, flavones and phenolic acids. The most important and widely studied of these is the alkaloid huperzine A, which indirectly supports healthy acetylcholine levels in the brain. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator that plays important roles in cognitive function, most notably, in the neural mechanisms of memory [1], but also in executive function, alertness, attention, and learning. Acetylcholine supports different types of memory, from working memory to long-term memory, and different phases of memory, from memory formation to consolidation and retrieval. By supporting acetylcholine signaling, huperzine A supports cognitive function. Huperzine A has also been shown to support brain antioxidant defenses and neuroprotective functions [2,3].

NEUROHACKER’S HUPERZINE A SOURCING

Huperzia serrata leaf extract is made from the aerial parts of the plant. It is standardized for 1% Huperzine A.

Huperzia serrata leaf extract is non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan.

HUPERZINE A DOSING PRINCIPLES AND RATIONALE

Persons using huperzine A as a nootropic typically take a dose ranging from 50 to 200 μg. Neurohacker Collective uses an amount consistent with the lowest end of this range (50 μg). On Qualia products, the labeled amount (e.g., Huperzia serrata Leaf Extract (1% Huperzine A) is 5 mg ) refers to the amount of the Huperzia serrata Leaf extract not to the amount of huperzine A. Because the extract is standardized for 1% huperzine A, and each miligram of H. serrata leaf extract provides 10 μg of huperzine A, a 5 mg dose of the extract supplies 50 μg of huperzine A. We opted for a dose at the low end of the range because we believe huperzine A is additive with other ingredients used in our formulation for supporting brain health. 

HUPERZINE A KEY MECHANISMS

Brain and cognitive function

• Supports memory and learning [4–9]
• Supports cognitive health [4–6,8–16]
• Supports task switching [15]
• Supports long-term potentiation (LTP) [17]
• Supports acetylcholine levels [2,4,5,10,18–22]
• Supports choline acetyltransferase activity [10–13]
• Supports dopamine release [4,19,20,22]
• Supports noradrenaline release [4,20,22]
• Influences NMDA glutamate receptor activity [4,23–26]
• Supports the levels of neurotrophic factors (BDNF, NGF) [27]
• Supports hippocampal neurogenesis [28]
• Supports neuroprotective functions [3,4,11–13,17,20,21,27,29–35]
• Supports brain antioxidant defenses [3,12,30–34,36]
• Supports neurovascular health [37]
• Supports blood-brain barrier function [37]
• Influences neural cytokine signaling [10,37–39]

REFERENCES
[1]M.E. Hasselmo, Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 16 (2006) 710–715.
[2]X. Ma, C. Tan, D. Zhu, D.R. Gang, P. Xiao, J. Ethnopharmacol. 113 (2007) 15–34.
[3]R. Wang, X.C. Tang, Neurosignals 14 (2005) 71–82.
[4]R. Wang, H. Yan, X.-C. Tang, Acta Pharmacol. Sin. 27 (2006) 1–26.
[5]D.H. Cheng, H. Ren, X.C. Tang, Neuroreport 8 (1996) 97–101.
[6]J. Li, H.M. Wu, R.L. Zhou, G.J. Liu, B.R. Dong, Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. (2008) CD005592.
[7]Q.Q. Sun, S.S. Xu, J.L. Pan, H.M. Guo, W.Q. Cao, Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao 20 (1999) 601–603.
[8]J.W. Ye, Y.Z. Shang, Z.M. Wang, X.C. Tang, Acta Pharmacol. Sin. 21 (2000) 65–69.
[9]S.S. Xu, Z.X. Gao, Z. Weng, Z.M. Du, W.A. Xu, J.S. Yang, M.L. Zhang, Z.H. Tong, Y.S. Fang, X.S. Chai, Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao 16 (1995) 391–395.
[10]S.-Z. Zhu, W.-P. Huang, L.-Q. Huang, Y.-L. Han, Q.-P. Han, G.-F. Zhu, M.-Y. Wen, Y.-Y. Deng, H.-K. Zeng, Neurosci. Lett. 631 (2016) 70–78.
[11]R. Wang, H.Y. Zhang, X.C. Tang, Eur. J. Pharmacol. 421 (2001) 149–156.
[12]L.M. Wang, Y.F. Han, X.C. Tang, Eur. J. Pharmacol. 398 (2000) 65–72.
[13]J. Zhou, H.Y. Zhang, X.C. Tang, Neurosci. Lett. 313 (2001) 137–140.
[14]L.Y. Ou, X.C. Tang, J.X. Cai, Eur. J. Pharmacol. 433 (2001) 151–156.
[15]A. Gul, J. Bakht, F. Mehmood, J. Chin. Med. Assoc. 82 (2019) 40–43.
[16]Z.-Q. Xu, X.-M. Liang, Juan-Wu, Y.-F. Zhang, C.-X. Zhu, X.-J. Jiang, Cell Biochem. Biophys. 62 (2012) 55–58.
[17]L. Ye, J.-T. Qiao, Neurosci. Lett. 275 (1999) 187–190.
[18]X.C. Tang, P. De Sarno, K. Sugaya, E. Giacobini, J. Neurosci. Res. 24 (1989) 276–285.
[19]Y.-Q. Liang, X.-C. Tang, Acta Pharmacol. Sin. 27 (2006) 1127–1136.
[20]Y.Q. Liang, X.T. Huang, X.C. Tang, Cell. Mol. Neurobiol. 28 (2008) 87–101.
[21]L.S. Tonduli, G. Testylier, C. Masqueliez, G. Lallement, P. Monmaur, Neurotoxicology 22 (2001) 29–37.
[22]X.D. Zhu, E. Giacobini, J. Neurosci. Res. 41 (1995) 828–835.
[23]J.M. Zhang, G.Y. Hu, Neuroscience 105 (2001) 663–669.
[24]R.K. Gordon, S.V. Nigam, J.A. Weitz, J.R. Dave, B.P. Doctor, H.S. Ved, J. Appl. Toxicol. 21 Suppl 1 (2001) S47–51.
[25]X.D. Wang, J.M. Zhang, H.H. Yang, G.Y. Hu, Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao 20 (1999) 31–35.
[26]Y.-H. Zhang, X.-Y. Zhao, X.-Q. Chen, Y. Wang, H.-H. Yang, G.-Y. Hu, Neurosci. Lett. 319 (2002) 107–110.
[27]Z.-F. Wang, L.-L. Tang, H. Yan, Y.-J. Wang, X.-C. Tang, Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 83 (2006) 603–611.
[28]T. Ma, K. Gong, Y. Yan, L. Zhang, P. Tang, X. Zhang, Y. Gong, Brain Res. 1506 (2013) 35–43.
[29]G. Lallement, J. Veyret, C. Masqueliez, S. Aubriot, M.F. Burckhart, D. Baubichon, Fundam. Clin. Pharmacol. 11 (1997) 387–394.
[30]X.Q. Xiao, R. Wang, X.C. Tang, J. Neurosci. Res. 61 (2000) 564–569.
[31]X.Q. Xiao, J.W. Yang, X.C. Tang, Neurosci. Lett. 275 (1999) 73–76.
[32]X.Q. Xiao, R. Wang, Y.F. Han, X.C. Tang, Neurosci. Lett. 286 (2000) 155–158.
[33]H.Y. Zhang, H. Yan, X.C. Tang, Cell. Mol. Neurobiol. 28 (2008) 173–183.
[34]H.Y. Zhang, X.C. Tang, Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 27 (2006) 619–625.
[35]H.S. Ved, M.L. Koenig, J.R. Dave, B.P. Doctor, Neuroreport 8 (1997) 963–968.
[36]Y.Z. Shang, J.W. Ye, X.C. Tang, Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao 20 (1999) 824–828.
[37]Q. Ruan, X. Hu, H. Ao, H. Ma, Z. Gao, F. Liu, D. Kong, Z. Bao, Z. Yu, Gerontology 60 (2014) 424–439.
[38]Z.F. Wang, X.C. Tang, FEBS Lett. 581 (2007) 596–602.
[39]U. Damar, R. Gersner, J.T. Johnstone, S. Schachter, A. Rotenberg, Expert Rev. Neurother. 16 (2016) 671–680.