[Latin Name]Huperzia serratum

[Source] Huperziceae whole herb from China

[Appearance]Brown to white

[Ingredient]Huperzine A

[Specification]Huperzine A 1% – 5%, HPLC

[Solubility] Soluble in chloroform, methanol, ethanol, slightly soluble in water

[Particle size] 80 Mesh

[Loss on drying] ≤5.0%

[Heavy Metal] ≤10PPM

[Pesticide residue] EC396-2005, USP 34, EP 8.0, FDA

[Storage] Store in cool & dry area, keep away from the direct light and heat.

[Shelf life] 24 Months

[Package] Packed in paper-drums and two plastic-bags inside.

[What is Huperzine A]

Huperzia is a type of moss that grows in China. It is related to club mosses (the Lycopodiaceae family) and is known to some botanists as Lycopodium serratum . The whole prepared moss was used traditionally. Modern herbal preparations use only the isolated alkaloid known as huperzine A. Huperzine A is an alkaloid found in huperzia that has been reported to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, an important substance needed by the nervous system to transmit information from cell to cell. Animal research has suggested that huperzine A’s ability to preserve acetylcholine may be greater than that of some prescription drugs. Loss of acetylcholine function is a primary feature of several disorders of brain function, including Alzheimer’s disease . Huperzine A may also have a protective effect on brain tissue, further increasing its theoretical potential for helping reduce symptoms of some brain disorders.

[Function] Used in alternative medicine, huperzine A has been found to act as a cholinesterase inhibitor, a type of medicine used to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine (a chemical essential to learning and memory).

Not only used as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, huperzine A is also said to enhance learning and memory and to protect against age-related cognitive decline.

In addition, huperzine A is sometimes used to boost energy, increase alertness, and aid in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune disorder that affects the muscles).

The body’s first line of defense against coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease, are endothelial cells. These cells serve as the “traffic cop” for blood flow, directing blood to the appropriate area of the body such as the heart, brain, muscles or digestive system to support the body’s actions. A study published in the January 2012 issue of European Heart Journal found that natural supplement Pycnogenol® (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree and natural solution for heart health, improves endothelial function in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

(See https://nanohour.beckman.illinois.edu/Nanohour/Nanohour.html)

” A Tooth Problem: Biomodification of Dentin Matrices as Novel Strategy for Dental Therapies”

Prof. Ana Bedran-Russo (UIC College of Dentistry)

“It is estimated that in the United States, 350 million dental restorations
(fillings) are placed every year in dental offices. Sixty percent of those restorations
replace existing failed restorative treatments. The primary reason for failure of
dental restorations is secondary caries (decay), indicative of increased permeability
and debonding between tooth and restorative biomaterial. Current dental adhesive
restorative systems rely on the micromechanical retentions of restorations by
infiltrations of hydrophilic and hydrophobic resins into a collagen-rich surface on
dentin. Our laboratory at UIC has focused on understanding the tooth
biochemistry/biomechanics and explored biomimetic approaches for innovative
restorative/regenerative therapies. Specifically the interactions of olygomeric
proanthocyanidins agents (OPC) with dentin matrices to improve mechanical
properties and reduced biodegradation rates. This presentation will provide (1)
overview of challenges in the harsh oral environment (2) limitations of current
dental therapies and (3) mechanisms of interactions of OPC with type I collagen,
proteoglycans and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).”