The pharmacology and therapeutic potential of (-)-huperzine A

rmacology and therapeutic potential of (-)-huperzine A Review (1258) Total Article Views Authors: Tun MK, Herzon SB Published Date September 2012 Volume 2012:4 Pages 113 - 123 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/JEP.S27084 Received: 25 May 2012 Accepted: 14 July 2012 Published: 06 September 2012 Maung Kyaw Moe Tun, Seth B Herzon Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA Abstract: (–)-Huperzine A (1) is an alkaloid isolated from a Chinese club moss. Due to its potent neuroprotective activities, it has been investigated as a candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we will discuss the pharmacology and therapeutic potential of (–)-huperzine A (1). Synthetic studies of (–)-huperzine A (1) aimed at enabling its development as a pharmaceutical will be described.