Huperzine A
Huperzine A is an alkaloid from Chinese club moss (Huperzia serrata) that blocks an enzyme which breaks down the nerve messenger acetylcholine.
Also listed as Qian Ceng Ta, Huperzine A Leaf Extract
What do the Alzheimer’s trials show?
A 2013 review included 20 randomized trials involving 1,823 people with Alzheimer’s disease. Several cognitive and daily-living measures favored huperzine A, but most trials had a high risk of bias. One trial found no benefit on its ADAS-Cog cognitive measure or daily-living scale. 1
The review reported treatment periods of 8–36 weeks and daily doses of 0.2–0.8 mg. These are research doses in diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease, not established doses for healthy people seeking better focus. No included trial assessed quality of life. 1
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Cognition4 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
All studies
3 publications are linked to Huperzine A, newest first.