Propentofylline is a xanthine

Xanthine

Xanthine , is a purine base found in most human body tissues and fluids and in other organisms. A number of stimulants are derived from xanthine, including caffeine and theobromine....

 derivative with purported neuroprotective effects.

Pharmacology

It is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor

Phosphodiesterase inhibitor

A phosphodiesterase inhibitor is a drug that blocks one or more of the five subtypes of the enzyme phosphodiesterase , therefore preventing the inactivation of the intracellular second messengers cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate by the respective PDE...

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It also acts as an adenosine reuptake inhibitor

Adenosine reuptake inhibitor

An adenosine reuptake inhibitor is a type of drug which acts as a reuptake inhibitor for the purine nucleoside and neurotransmitter adenosine by blocking the action of one or more of the equilibrative nucleoside transporters . This in turn leads to increased extracellular concentrations of...

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Uses

It was studied as a possible treatment for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...

 and multi-infarct dementia

Multi-infarct dementia

Multi-infarct dementia is one type of vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease in older adults. Multi-infarct dementia is thought to be an irreversible form of dementia, and its onset is caused by a number of small strokes or...

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Propentofylline has also been studied, to a lesser extent, as a possible adjunct in the treatment of ischemic stroke, due to its vasodilating properties.

Propentofylline is in use in veterinary medicine as a geriatric preparation for old dogs.