Huperzine B is an alkaloid originally isolated from H. serrata with neuroprotective activity.1 It selectively binds to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) over butyrylcholinesterase (BChE; IC50s = 8.2 and 157 ?M, respectively).2 It is also an antagonist at the NMDA receptor (IC50 = 316.6 ?M).3 Huperzine B (0.1-100 ?M) increases the viability of PC12 cells in a model of hydrogen peroxide-induced cell injury.1 It increases glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) activities, and decreases malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, in PC12 cells in a model of hydrogen peroxide-induced cell injury when used at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 ?M.
1.Zhang, H.Y., and Tang, X.C.Huperzine B, a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, attenuates hydrogen peroxide induced injury in PC12 cellsNeurosci. Lett.292(1)41-44(2000) 2.Feng, S., Xia, Y., Han, D., et al.Synthesis and acetylcholinesterase inhibition of derivatives of huperzine BBioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.15(3)523-526(2005) 3.Wang, X.-D., Chen, X.-Q., Yang, H.-H., et al.Comparison of the effects of cholinesterase inhibitors on [3H]MK-801 binding in rat cerebral cortexNeurosci. Lett.272(1)21-24(1999)