Vincamine is a monoterpenoid

indole alkaloid Indole alkaloids are a class of alkaloids containing a structural moiety of indole; many indole alkaloids also include isoprene groups and are thus called terpene indole or secologanin tryptamine alkaloids. Containing more than 4100 known diff ...

found in the leaves of ''

Vinca minor ''Vinca minor'' (common names lesser periwinkle or dwarf periwinkle) is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family, native to central and southern Europe, from Portugal and France north to the Netherlands and the Baltic States, east to ...

'' (lesser periwinkle), comprising about 25-65% of its indole alkaloids by weight. It can also be synthesized from related alkaloids.

Uses

Vincamine is sold in Europe as a prescription medicine for the treatment of primary degenerative and vascular dementia. In the United States, it is permitted to be sold as a dietary supplement when labeled for use in adults for six months or less. Most common preparations are in the

sustained release Modified-release dosage is a mechanism that (in contrast to immediate-release dosage) delivers a drug with a delay after its administration (delayed-release dosage) or for a prolonged period of time (extended-release R, XR, XLdosage) or to a spe ...

tablet forms.

Chemistry

Synthesis

Tabersonine Tabersonine is a terpene indole alkaloid found in the medicinal plant ''Catharanthus roseus'' and also in the genus Voacanga (both taxa belonging to the alkaloid-rich family Apocynaceae). Tabersonine is hydroxylated at the 16 position by the enzy ...

can be used for semi-synthesis of vincamine.

Derivatives

Vinpocetine Vinpocetine (ethyl apovincaminate) is a synthetic derivative of the vinca alkaloid vincamine, differing by the removal of a hydroxyl group. Vincamine is extracted from either the seeds of '' Voacanga africana'' or the leaves of ''Vinca minor'' ( ...

is a synthetic

derivative In mathematics, the derivative of a function of a real variable measures the sensitivity to change of the function value (output value) with respect to a change in its argument (input value). Derivatives are a fundamental tool of calculus. ...

of vincamine used for cerebrovascular diseases and as dietary supplement. Vincamine derivatives have been also studied as anti addictive and antidiabetic agents.

Research

It may have

nootropic Nootropics ( , or ) (colloquial: smart drugs and cognitive enhancers, similar to adaptogens) are a wide range of natural or synthetic dietary supplement, supplements or drugs and other substances that are claimed to improve cognitive function ...

effects. It has been investigated as novel anticancer drug.

References

External links

* * {{Peripheral vasodilators Tertiary alcohols Tryptamine alkaloids Methyl esters Quinolizidine alkaloids Vinca alkaloids Heterocyclic compounds with 5 rings