Yale Research Shows Chinese Herb Compound Treats Alzheimers

Yale researcher have been studying a possible new therapeutic treatment for Alzheimers called huperzine A. This chemical found in Huperzia serrata, a type of moss from China, can now be synthesized in the laboratory.

The moss has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. The Yale researchers published their findings about this new therapeutic treatment for Alzheimers, in the August 25th issue of the journal Chemical Science.

A team of scientists from Yale, led by chemist Seth Herzon, have used huperzine A in treating Alzheimers disease

A relative of Huperzia serrata, Huperzia selago. Image Credit: Tigerente

"Its an alkaloid [a compound containing nitrogen] thats produced by a moss that grows in China. The moss basically makes this molecule. And what they do in China is they literally grind up the moss and they have a means to extract a molecule. They found that people with Alzheimers respond pretty well when given huperzine on a daily basis, in China. Since about 1996, doctors have been prescribing it to patients to help alleviate some of the symptoms."

Though this moss has actually been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Herzon added that the moss-derived compound is known not only to alleviate symptoms of Alzheimers (things like confusion and memory loss), but it also appears to have the potential to stop Alzheimers in its tracks. Thats because it specially inhibits the production of an enzyme called acetylcholine esterase, which has been linked to the disease.

"Basically, whats most commonly prescribed for Alzheimers are other acetylcholine esterase inhibitors, but they dont really stop the disease, theyre kind of like taking Tylenol to relieve a headache. It takes care of the symptoms. But it doesnt stop the progression of the disease. Theres a lot of evidence that huperzine may be able to do that, and now were going to find out whether that truly is the case."

Hazen explains why: because he was able to synthesize the critical compound in the moss from scratch, without using the moss itself, which is actually under siege.

The reason why our work is significant is that we now have, for the first time in the United States, a stable and reliable and economical source of huperzine. Were able to make this molecule in the lab, starting from inexpensive chemicals. It takes about 20 years to grow any sort of significant size, 20 years before you can harvest it. And what theyve essentially done is gone after natural huperzine, harvested away this plant. And now a number of those species are in significant decline. And so having a synthetic route, the one we developed, is that we can make it in the lab, we dont need to go out and collect moss."

According to a Yale press release, Herzons huperzine production process requires eight steps and produces a yield of 40 percent. Before that, the best synthetic techniques had required twice as many steps and achieved yields of only two percent. In addition, the press release states:

"In some places, huperzine A can cost up to $1,000 per milligram. Herzon and his team produced several grams of the compound in their lab and are capable of creating much more. They believe they will be able to drive the cost down to just 50 cents per milligram (a projected typical dose is about one milligram per day), and have partnered with ! an indus trial firm to help produce it on a larger scale."

References:

http://opac.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=8796

The study was published in the August 25 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Chemical Science.

Maung Kyaw Moe Tun, Daniel-Joachim Wstmann and Seth B. Herzon. A robust and scalable synthesis of the potent neuroprotective agent ()-huperzine A. Chem. Sci., 2011, Advance Article DOI:10.1039/C1SC00455G (Edge Article)


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