Huperzine A: From Mother Earth To Eve’s Brain

by Amy Fitzpatrick, M.S., R.D.

Modern-day Eves need a little help multitasking in their individual Gardens of Eden. Gone are the days of lounging under luscious ferns, waiting patiently for Adam to take a big bite of that gorgeous apple.

With the mental demands that come from juggling full personal and professional lives, raw data is hitting women’s brains faster now than they can humanly process. Cognitive help may be on the way with a centuries-old ingredient favored by healers in the Far East—Huperzine A, a naturally occurring plant compound derived from a particular type of toothed club moss (Huperzia serrata).

Huperzine A was first isolated in 1948 by Chinese scientists and now is considered a therapeutically active plant-derived chemical that belongs to the class known as alkaloids. Researchers began to study the cognition-enhancing effects of this plant compound, commonly referred to as HupA, as far back as 1950. The effects of HupA have been investigated in laboratory and clinical settings, with results indicating memory-enhancing activities and improvements in cognition and learning.

The cognitive benefits associated with Huperzine A appear to stem from the compound’s ability to support the activity of acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) in the brain involved in memory, learning, recall and thought processes. Huperzine A has been shown to inhibit the action of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for the breakdown in acetylcholine.

Positive human trials have led to the subsequent marketing of Huperzine A as a cognition-enhancing ingredient. Recent studies indicate that HupA may benefit both healthy and aging individuals. Although the exact mechanisms of action have not been clarified, researchers have found that HupA may help maintain nerve cells that are necessary for cellular communication in the brain.

When evaluating a cognitive health supplement that contains Huperzine A, you should choose a product that contains the whole-plant extract from a reputable supplement provider. As with any nutritional ingredient, be sure to consult your healthcare professional before trying it.

With brain health being such an important aspect of a woman’s total well-being, choosing a cognitive health product with Huperzine A may just help her experience a few more rejuvenating moments in her own private Eden.