A huperzine A compound is provided. The
huperzine A compound has following formula: wherein X comprises O or S, Y comprises —O—, —S—, —CH(R4)—, —C(R4)(R5)—, —C(R4)═C(R5)—, —C≡C—, —NH— or —N(R4)—, n is 0, 1 or 2, R3 is C(═X)—(Y)n-R1 provided that R2 is H or R2 and R3 are combined to form ═CH—Ar, wherein R1, R4 and R5 independently comprise
hydrogen, C1-C32
alkyl, C1-C32 alkenyl, C1-C32 alkynyl, C1-C32
aryl or C1-C32 heteroaryl, in which
alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl,
aryl or heteroaryl with one or more substituents comprising
halogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy, aryloxyl, amino, alkylamino, arylamino, dialkylamino, diarylamino, imino, alkylimino, arylimino, acylamido, diacylamido, acylimido, cyano, nitro, mercapto, carbamido, carbamoyl, carboxyl, thioureido, thiocyanato, sulfonamido,
thio,
sulfonyl or sulfinyl, and Ar comprises
aryl or heteroaryl.