Vincamine
Encyclopedia
Vincamine is a peripheral vasodilator that increases blood flow to the brain (sold under the trademark Oxybral SR) . Generic drugs containing vincamine exist in specific regions. Most common drug preparations are in the sustained release
forms. Vincamine is an indole
alkaloid
(specifically a tryptamine
) found in the leaves of Vinca minor
, comprising about 25-65% of the indole alkaloids found in Vinca minor by weight. It is also found in the species Catharanthus roseus
. It can be synthesized from related alkaloids.
Vincamine is often used as a nootropic
agent to combat the effects of aging, or in conjunction with other nootropics (such as piracetam
) for a variety of purposes.
Sustained release
Time release technology, also known as sustained-release , sustained-action , extended-release , time-release or timed-release, controlled-release , modified release , or continuous-release , is a mechanism used in pill tablets or capsules to...
forms. Vincamine is an indole
Indole
Indole is an aromatic heterocyclic organic compound. It has a bicyclic structure, consisting of a six-membered benzene ring fused to a five-membered nitrogen-containing pyrrole ring. Indole is a popular component of fragrances and the precursor to many pharmaceuticals. Compounds that contain an...
alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
(specifically a tryptamine
Tryptamine
Tryptamine is a monoamine alkaloid found in plants, fungi, and animals. It is based around the indole ring structure, and is chemically related to the amino acid tryptophan, from which its name is derived...
) found in the leaves of Vinca minor
Vinca minor
Vinca minor, Lesser periwinkle and Dwarf periwinkle, is a plant native to central and southern Europe, from Portugal and France north to the Netherlands and the Baltic States, and east to the Caucasus, and also in southwestern Asia in Turkey...
, comprising about 25-65% of the indole alkaloids found in Vinca minor by weight. It is also found in the species Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus is a species of Catharanthus native and endemic to Madagascar. Synonyms include Vinca rosea , Ammocallis rosea, and Lochnera rosea; other English names occasionally used include Cape Periwinkle, Rose Periwinkle, Rosy Periwinkle, and "Old-maid".In the wild, it is an endangered...
. It can be synthesized from related alkaloids.
Vincamine is often used as a nootropic
Nootropic
Nootropics , also referred to as smart drugs, brain steroids, memory enhancers, cognitive enhancers, and intelligence enhancers, are drugs, supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional foods that improve mental functions such as cognition, memory, intelligence, motivation, attention, and concentration...
agent to combat the effects of aging, or in conjunction with other nootropics (such as piracetam
Piracetam
Piracetam is a nootropic drug. Piracetam's chemical name is 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide; it shares the same 2-oxo-pyrrolidone base structure with 2-oxo-pyrrolidine carboxylic acid . Piracetam is a cyclic derivative of GABA. It is one of the group of racetams...
) for a variety of purposes.