roshni
11-29-2005, 05:56 PM
New Trial Tests Herbal Supplement to Treat Alzheimer’s
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has launched a clinical trial of huperzine A as a treatment for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Huperzine (HOOP-ur-zeen) is an herbal supplement derived from the plant Huperzia serrata. It has been used for centuries in Chinese traditional medicine as a treatment for swelling, fever and blood disorders. Recent clinical trials in China have reportedly shown that huperzine also offers some benefit in Alzheimer’s disease.
This NIA study, conducted at 24 sites nationwide, will be the first U.S. clinical trial comparing a standardized preparation of huperzine with a placebo (dummy pill) in treating mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
Research suggests that huperzine A (HupA) functions in the same way as one class of drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat Alzheimer symptoms. These drugs, called cholinesterase (coh-lin-ESS-tur-ace) inhibitors, help maintain brain levels of a cell-to-cell messenger chemical important in learning and memory. Huperzine A may also have chemical properties that help protect nerve cells.
“Because huperzine A is available over the counter and promoted as a memory enhancer, manufacturers of the supplement have no real incentive to document its effectiveness, making this trial a prime example of work that needs federal funding to go forward,” says William H. Thies, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association vice president, Medical and Scientific Affairs. “We need to be patient and wait for trial results to know if huperzine is effective and, equally important, what its side effects are. If there is any benefit, consumers will need access to a standardized formulation that offers consistent dosing and guaranteed purity.”
Galantamine (Reminyl), one of the FDA-approved cholinesterase inhibitors, was originally derived from the snowdrop Galanthus nivalis, although it is now made synthetically.
For a complete list of trial sites and enrollment criteria, please visit CenterWatch (http://www.centerwatch.com/search.asp?sf=&FreeText=off&qt=1&qu=huperzine&sc=1).
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has launched a clinical trial of huperzine A as a treatment for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Huperzine (HOOP-ur-zeen) is an herbal supplement derived from the plant Huperzia serrata. It has been used for centuries in Chinese traditional medicine as a treatment for swelling, fever and blood disorders. Recent clinical trials in China have reportedly shown that huperzine also offers some benefit in Alzheimer’s disease.
This NIA study, conducted at 24 sites nationwide, will be the first U.S. clinical trial comparing a standardized preparation of huperzine with a placebo (dummy pill) in treating mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
Research suggests that huperzine A (HupA) functions in the same way as one class of drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat Alzheimer symptoms. These drugs, called cholinesterase (coh-lin-ESS-tur-ace) inhibitors, help maintain brain levels of a cell-to-cell messenger chemical important in learning and memory. Huperzine A may also have chemical properties that help protect nerve cells.
“Because huperzine A is available over the counter and promoted as a memory enhancer, manufacturers of the supplement have no real incentive to document its effectiveness, making this trial a prime example of work that needs federal funding to go forward,” says William H. Thies, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association vice president, Medical and Scientific Affairs. “We need to be patient and wait for trial results to know if huperzine is effective and, equally important, what its side effects are. If there is any benefit, consumers will need access to a standardized formulation that offers consistent dosing and guaranteed purity.”
Galantamine (Reminyl), one of the FDA-approved cholinesterase inhibitors, was originally derived from the snowdrop Galanthus nivalis, although it is now made synthetically.
For a complete list of trial sites and enrollment criteria, please visit CenterWatch (http://www.centerwatch.com/search.asp?sf=&FreeText=off&qt=1&qu=huperzine&sc=1).