Huperzine A may help improve memory, but studies are limited with mixed results.
Huperzine A is extracted from Huperzia serrata, an herb used in Chinese medicine. It is marketed as a dietary supplement to improve brain function. It may help to improve memory by protecting nerve cells and has been used as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in Asia. However, larger well-designed studies are needed.
Although some cancer patients use huperzine to reduce chemotherapy side effects, no clinical studies have been conducted to show it is safe and effective for such use. It may also interact with many drugs and can cause mild adverse effects.