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Family Lycopodiaceae
Rock tassel fern
Huperzia squarrosa (G.forst.) Trevis.
FIRMOSS / FIR CLUBMOSS
Cu cao ma wei shan

Scientific names Common names
Huperzia acutifolia (Desv.) Holub Rock clubmoss (Engl.)
Huperzia hookeri (Wall.ex Hook. & Grev.) Holub Rock tassel fern (Engl.)
Huperzia squarrosa (G.Forst.) Trevis. Water tassel fern (Engl.)
Huperzia ulicifolia (Vent. ex Sw.) Trevis.  
Lycopodium acutifolium Desv.  
Lycopodium epiceifolium Desv.  
Lycopodium hookeri Wall. ex Hook. & Grev.  
Lycopodium lohitense DD.Pant & P.S.Pandey  
Lycopodium remoganense Hayata  
Lycopodium squarrosum G.Forst.  
Lycopodium ulcifolium Vent.  
Phlegmariurus acutifolius (Desv.) A.R.Field & Testo  
Phlegmariurus ulicifolius (Vent. ex Sw.) S.R.Ghosh  
Plananthus squarrosus (G.Forst.) P.Beauv.  
Urostachys squarrosus Herter  
Huperzia squarrosa is an accepted species. KEW: Plants of the World Online

Other vernacular names
CHINESE: Cu cao ma wei shan.
INDIA: Khekwaiba, Leishang (Manipur).

Gen info
- Lycopodiaceae are an old family of vascular plants, including all of the core clubmosses and firmosses, comprising 16 accepted genera and about 400 known species. "Wolf foot" is a common name for the family due to the resemblance of either the roots or branch tips to a wolf's paw. (11)
- Huperzia
is
a genus of lycophyte plants, called firmosses or fir clubmosses (gemma fir-mosses by the Flora of North America). The genus was originally included in the related genus Lycopodium, from which it differs with its undifferentiated sporangial leave, and the sporangia not formed into apical cones. (2)
- As per PPG I classification, there were 25 species in the genus Huperzia. As of June 2024, World Ferns listed 62 species, noting that "many species still need transfer into other split genera". (2)
- The genus Huperzia was created by Johann Jakob Berhardi in 1801, who separated Huperzia from Lycopodium. (2)

Botany
Lycophytes, large, epiphytic. Stems caespitose, robust, mature branches pendulous, 1 to several times forked, 25-100 cm, main stems 3-7 mm, stem together with leaves 2.5-3 cm wide at middle. Trophophylls lustrous, lanceolate, attached at right angles or slightly angled upward, 1.1-1.5 cm × 1-2 mm, thinly leathery, midrib distinct, base cuneate, decurrent, sessile, margin entire, apex acute. Strobili terminal on branches, slightly thinner than sterile part, columniform. Sporophylls densely arranged, ovate-lanceolate, 8-15 × ca. 0.9 mm, midrib distinct, base cuneate, margin entire, apex acute. Sporangia yellowish, reniform, vertically bisected. (Flora of China)

Growth form: A type of fir clubmoss, one of the oldest "living fossils" of fern-allies, with fossils dating back to the Carboniferous period (~360 million years ago). Herbaceous with creeping rhizomes, arching to 20cm height and trailing up to 75cm length. Foliage: Fronds trailing, tufted, arched or nodding towards tip, bifurcating (dividing into 2) as they lengthen. Stems thin (4mm across), brownish when older. Frondlets pale to yellowish green, narrowly-linear and bristle-like, whorled at 60-90° along stem axis. Bulblets (gemmae) formed at base of upper fronds during end of each annual growth cycle. (3)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Also native
to Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, Caroline Is., China South-Central, China Southeast, Comoros, Cook Is., East Himalaya, Fiji, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malaya, Maluku, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Queensland, Réunion, Samoa, Seychelles, Society Is., Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Tonga, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Vietnam. (1)

Constituents
- Study of Huperzia squarrosa isolated six Lycopodium alkaloids, named: lycosquarosine A (1), acetylaposerratinine (2), huperzine A (3), huperzine B (4), 8α-hydrophlemariurine B (5), and huperzinine (6). (see study below) (6)

Properties
- Studies have suggested antioxidant, neuroprotective, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, anti-Alzheimer's properties.

Parts used
Whole plant, spores. twigs.

Uses

Edibility
- No report found on edibility.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- In Manipur, India, plant extract mixed with honey and taken as a health tonic by women over 40 years to cure infertility and frigidity problems. Sometimes, it is mixed in equal proportions with extracts of Panax ginseng, Allium sativum, and Withania somnifera to increase sexual urge and stamina and to cure impotency. (9)
- Twigs harvested during winter are sun-dried and finely powdered and taken as supplementary tonic to boost memory, and cure epilepsy and sleeping disorders. In the past, the general public was prohibited from consuming leishang by tribal heads/kings (khulakpa) for fear it may enhance the thinking and intelligence of the people. (9)
- Whole plant used for gastropathy and rheumatism.
- Sporophylls with mature spores and sporangia are powdered for year-long storage, and dusted as antiseptics on cuts, skin ruptures. (9)
Others

- Theater effects: The spores burn quickly and brightly with little heat, and are were used as flash powder for theater effects and cameras in the 19th century. (4)
- Rituals: In Manipur, India, used in ritual ceremonies and worshiping of forefathers. (9)

Studies
Neuroprotective / Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity / Attenuation of Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive Impairment / Antioxidant:
Study of evaluated the in vitro antioxidant, AChE inhibitory activities of H. squarrosa fractions and neuroprotective effects of EtOAc fraction on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in mice. The EtOAc fraction showed strongest antioxidant activity with IC50 of 9.35 µg/mL and AChE inhibitory activity with IC50 of 23.44 µg/mL in a concentration-dependent manner. Scopolamine induced effects of significantly increased escape latency time, reduced number of crossings, and swimming time in target quadrant were reversed by the EtOAc fractions, which also significantly increased levels of acetylcholine in the brain and significantly decreased oxidative stress in mice. Results suggest the EtOAc fraction of H. squarrosa extract exhibited strong neuroprotective effect on cognitive impairment, and may have potential for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. (5)
Lycopodium Alkaloids / Inhibitors of AChE activity: Study of Huperzia squarrosa isolated six Lycopodium alkaloids, named: lycosquarosine A (1), acetylaposerratinine (2), huperzine A (3), huperzine B (4), 8α-hydrophlemariurine B (5), and huperzinine (6). Compound 1, lycosquarosine A, completely inhibited AChE activity in a dose dependent manner with IC50 of 54.3 µg/mL, while acetylaposerratinine (2) showed stronger inhibitory activity than 1 with IC50 of 15.2 µg/mL. Study suggests alkaloids may be a potent source of AChE inhibitors. (6)
Alkaloids Inhibitors of AChE activity: Study of Thai and Philippine Huperzia squarrosa isolated two new Lycopodium alkaloids, squarrosine A (1) and pyrrolhyperzine A (2), and a known alkaloid (R)-2-piperidineacetic acid (5). The new compounds exhibited moderate acetycholinesterase inhibitory activities. (7)
Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Study / Potential for Treating Alzheimer's Disease: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a lingering progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes loss of cognitive function. The enzymes Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Butyrylcholinesterase *BuChE), Monoamine oxidase A (MAO A), Beta-secretase cleavage enzyme (BACE 1) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. Enzyme inhibition is an effective method to treat AD.  Study evaluated in silico inhibitory effects of AChE, BuChE, MAO A, BACE 1 and NMDA enzyme of Huperzia squarrosa’s compounds. Review of previous publications reveal 15 compounds of which hyperzine B, huperzinine, lycoposerramine U N-oxide, 12-epilycodine N-oxide showed strong inhibition of five targets for AD treatment viz., AChE, BuChE, MAO A, BACE 1 and NMDA. Lipinski rule of five and ADMET showed four of the compounds have drug-likeness properties, good absorption ability and cross the blood-brain-barrier, with highest potential for treatment of AD. Molecular docking also showed hyperizine B and huperzinine have stability of the docking pose with NMDA target. (8)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.

July 2024

                                                 PHOTOS / ILLUSTRATIONS
IMAGE SOURCE: Lycopodiaceae : Huperzia squarrosa / Phlegmariurus squarrosus / Habit, epiphytic / Copyright © 2013
J F Barcelona (contact:  barceljf@hotmail.com) [ref. DOL60772] / Non-Commercial Use  / Image modified / Click on image or link to go to source page / Phytoimages.siu.edu
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Water Tassel Fern / Detail of frond / © arctangent Hurst / All rights reserved / Non-commercial use / Image modified / Click on image or link to go to source page / PLANTS DATABASE
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Huperzia squarrosa - Club Moss / © ORCHIDWEB / Non-commercial use / Image modified / Click on image or link to go to source page / ORCHIDWEB

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Huperzia squarrosa / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)

Huperzia / Wikipedia
(3)
Phlegmariurus squarrosus / National Parks: FLORA & FAUNA WEB
(4)
Tassel fern / Huperzia squarrosa / Black dog
(5)
Antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities in vitro of different fraction of Huperzia squarrosa(Forst.) Trevis extract and attenuation of scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in mice /  Bui Thanh Tung, Nguyen Thanh Hai, Dang Kim Thu et al / Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2017; Volume 198: pp 24-32 / DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.12.037
(6)
Anti-Cholinesterase Activity of Lycopodium Alkaloids from Vietnamese Huperzia squarrosa (Forst.) Trevis / Nguyen Ngoc Chuong, Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Tran Manh Hung, Tran Cong Luan / Molecules, 2014; 19(11): pp 19172-19179 / DOI> 10.3390/molecules191119172
(7)
Squarrosine A and Pyrrolhuperzine A, New Lycopodium Alkaloids from Thai and Philippine Huperzia squarrosa / Thanasan Nilsu, Sakornrat Thorroad, Somsak Ruchirawat, Nopporn Thasana / Planta Med, 2016l; 82(11/12): pp 1046-1050 / DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-106904
(8)
Molecular docking and molecular dynamics approach to identify potential compounds in Huperzia squarrosa for treating Alzheimer’s disease / Bui Thanh Tang, Ta Thi Thu Hang, Nguyen Bao Kim, Nguyen Hong Nhung, Vu Khanh Linh, Dang Kim Thu / Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 2022 /
DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2021-0462
(9)
Study on Uses and Trading of Huperzia squarrosa (G. Forst.) Trevis. (Lycopodiaceae) in Manipur, India / Sanatombi Devi Yumkham, Potsangbam Kumar Singh / Ethnobotany Research & Applications, 2013; 11: pp 153-161
(10)
Toxicity Evaluation of Lycopodiaceae Extracts on Mouse Neuronal Cells and Zebrafish Embryos / Kieu Trung Kien, Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang, Tran Phuong Anh et al / VNU Journal of Science: Natural Sciences and Technology, 2021; 37(3): pp 66-74 / DOI: 10.25073/2588-1140/vnunst.5303
(11)
Lycopodiaceae / Wikipedia

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)

                                                            List of Understudied Philippine Medicinal Plants
                                          New plant names needed
The compilation now numbers over 1,500 medicinal plants. While I believe there are hundreds more that can be added to the collection, they are becoming more difficult to find. If you have a plant to suggest for inclusion, native or introduced, please email the info: scientific name (most helpful), local plant name (if known), any known folkloric medicinal use, and, if possible, a photo. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

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