have received compensation from Neuroelecrics Inc., manufacturers of the tested device. G. Ruffini is a shareholder of Neuroelectrics. R. Salvador, M. C. Biagi, and L. Dubreuil-Vall are employed by Neuroelectrics. A. Pascual-Leone serves on the scientific advisory boards for Starlab Neuroscience, Neuroelectrics, Magstim Inc., Nexstim, and Cognito and is listed as an inventor on several issued and pending patents on the real-time integration of transcranial magnetic stimulation with electroencephalography and MRI. A. Rotenberg is cofounder and serves on the scientific advisory board of Neuromotion. He is also presently or has recently participated on the advisory boards of Epihunter, Gamify, Neurorex, and Roche. He has had research support from Brainsway, CRE Medical, Kintai, Neuroelectrics, Roche, Sage, and Takeda. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. H. L. Kaye and D. San-Juan contributed equally. Funding was provided by a grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and by Neuroelectrics.
Huperzine A (HupA) is an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor extracted from Huperzia Serrata, a firmoss, which has been used for various diseases in traditional Chinese medicine for fever and inflammation. More recently, it has been used in Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia with a presumed mechanism of action via central nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. HupA is marketed as a dietary supplement in the U.S. This article reviews newly proposed neuroprotective and anticonvulsant HupA properties based on animal studies. HupA exerts its effects mainly via α7nAChRs and α4β2nAChRs, thereby producing a potent anti-inflammatory response by decreasing IL-1β, TNF-α protein expression, and suppressing transcriptional activation of NF-κB signaling. Thus, it provides protection from excitotoxicity and neuronal death as well as increase in GABAergic transmission associated with anticonvulsant activity.
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