SynthesisPloS one2013
Huperzine A for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 73 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
73 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 224 citations in OpenAlex.
- Interventions to delay functional decline in people with dementia: a systematic review of systematic reviews.BMJ open · 2016Pooled it
- Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of the Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor Huperzine A as a Treatment for Cocaine Use Disorder.The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology · 2015Trial
- Analysis of the Efficacy of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, Literature Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Natural Molecules for Brain Health and Resilience.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis Elucidates the Mechanisms of Huperzine A Injection Against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.Drug design, development and therapy · 2026Article
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning for precision prevention of cognitive decline: integrating multimodal biomarkers, lifestyle interventions, and natural medicines from prediction to clinical practice.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2026Review
- Natural Chiral Scaffolds in Alzheimer's Disease: Therapeutic Potential, Mechanism, and Clinical Aspects.BioMed research international · 2026Review
- Review
- Extended release huperzine for the treatment of idiopathic epilepsy in dogs - a Case Report.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2025Article
- Unraveling the Nexus: The Role of Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 2 Phosphorylation in Neurodegeneration and Neuroregeneration.Neuromolecular medicine · 2024Review
- Inhibition of CRMP2 Phosphorylation Suppresses Microglia Activation in the Retina and Optic Nerve and Promotes Optic Nerve Regeneration After Optic Nerve Injury.Neuromolecular medicine · 2024Article
- Crystal structure, spectroscopy, DFT, and thermal studies of 3-cyano-2(1RSC advances · 2024Article
- Multifunctional Nanocarriers for Alzheimer's Disease: Befriending the Barriers.Molecular neurobiology · 2024Review
- Huperzine A ameliorates neurological deficits after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage through endothelial cell pyroptosis inhibition.Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica · 2024Article
- Therapeutic potential of clinically proven natural products in the management of dementia.Heliyon · 2024Review
- Electrochemical Acetylcholinesterase Sensors for Anti-Alzheimer's Disease Drug Determination.Biosensors · 2024Review
- Synthesis of Three-Dimensional Ring Fused Heterocycles by a Selective [4 + 2] Cycloaddition Between Bicyclic Thiazolo 2-Pyridones and Arynes.The Journal of organic chemistry · 2024Article
- Naturally Occurring Cholinesterase Inhibitors from Plants, Fungi, Algae, and Animals: A Review of the Most Effective Inhibitors Reported in 2012-2022.Current neuropharmacology · 2024Review
- The Potential of a Stratified Approach to Drug Repurposing in Alzheimer's Disease.Biomolecules · 2023Review
- Can Activation of Acetylcholinesterase by β-Amyloid Peptide Decrease the Effectiveness of Cholinesterase Inhibitors?International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
13 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHuperzine A is a Chinese herb extract used for Alzheimer's disease. We conducted this review to evaluate the beneficial and harmful effect of Huperzine A for treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
methodsWe searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of Huperzine A for Alzheimer's disease in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and four major Chinese electronic databases from their inception to June 2013. We performed meta-analyses using RevMan 5.1 software. (Protocol ID: CRD42012003249).
results20 RCTs including 1823 participants were included. The methodological quality of most included trials had a high risk of bias. Compared with placebo, Huperzine A showed a significant beneficial effect on the improvement of cognitive function as measured by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks, and by Hastgawa Dementia Scale (HDS) and Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) at 8 weeks and 12 weeks. Activities of daily living favored Huperzine A as measured by Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL) at 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks. One trial found Huperzine A improved global clinical assessment as measured by Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR). One trial demonstrated no significant change in cognitive function as measured by Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) and activity of daily living as measured by Alzheimer's disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living Inventory (ADCS-ADL) in Huperzine A group. Trials comparing Huperzine A with no treatment, psychotherapy and conventional medicine demonstrated similar findings. No trial evaluated quality of life. No trial reported severe adverse events of Huperzine A.
conclusionsHuperzine A appears to have beneficial effects on improvement of cognitive function, daily living activity, and global clinical assessment in participants with Alzheimer's disease. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the poor methodological quality of the included trials.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.