Huperzia serrata (TCM = Qian Ceng Ta/Jin Bu Huan) is a plant known as a firmoss which contains the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor huperzine A. It is widely distributed over-the-counter as a nootropic and dietary supplement. It may also be used to treat Alzheimer's disease.This species is native to India and southeast Asia.
A new Lycopodium alkaloid, huperserratinine, was isolated from Huperziaserrata and its structure and NMR data were assigned unambiguously by a combination of NMR experiments and computer modelling calculations. The pH-zone refining centrifugal partition chromatography technique was used to separate the two acetylcholinesterase inhibitors huperzines A and B from a crude alkaloid extract of the club moss Huperziaserrata. Huperzine P (1), a new irregular fawcettimine-type Lycopodium alkaloid, was isolated from Huperziaserrata and the absolute stereostructure was established by 2D NMR and X-ray crystallographic analysis.