Huperzine A: A Mini-Review of Biological Characteristics, Natural Sources, Synthetic Origins, and Future Prospects

Huperzia serrate is a known medicinal plant that produces the Lycopodium alkaloid Huperzine A (HupA). It has been used to treat such diseases as contusions, swellings, and pain since the year of 739. Chemical structure analyses show that HupA exists as two stereoisomers, (−)-HupA and (+)-HupA. The review was aimed to summarize the recent literature data about the biological characteristics, natural sources, synthetic origins, and future prospects in order to provide enhanced understanding of the properties of Huperzine A, and to supply a fundamental framework for the future studies of H. serrata .