Active constituents
There are two classes of active compounds in lesser periwinkle—alkaloids and tannins.
The major alkaloid is known as vincamine. A closely related semisynthetic derivative of
vincamine most widely used as medicine is known as ethyl-apovincaminate or vinpocetine. It has
vasodilating, blood thinning, and memory-enhancing actions. It has been shown in double-blind
studies to help alleviate a type of dementia known as vascular dementia, in which the arteries
supplying blood to the brain develop
atherosclerotic plaques.3 4 5 A double-blind study found
that vincamine can help people with
Alzheimer’s disease,6 while one open study did not.7
Vinpocetine has also been found to prevent the decline in short-term memory induced by the
anti-anxiety benzodiazepine drug flunitrazepam in one preliminary study.8 Further
study is needed to determine whether vinpocetine would be a helpful adjunct to use of
benzodiazepines.
One double-blind study found that high amounts of vinpocetine (60 mg per day) could have a
beneficial effect on hearing loss due to aging (presbyacusis).9 A preliminary study
concluded that supplementation with ethyl-apovincaminate (a vinca alkaloid) may reduce
symptoms of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) due
to impaired blood flow to the inner ear.10 One review of the use of vinpocetine in
people who have suffered strokes found that
the only double-blind study did not show efficacy,11 though previous uncontrolled
studies have suggested there might be a benefit.12 13
Vinpocetine tends to act as a calcium-chelating agent. One uncontrolled study found that
use of vinpocetine for 3 to 12 months could eliminate calcium buildup in people undergoing
dialysis.14 Further research is needed to determine whether this could be helpful
in other conditions associated with excess calcium, or whether vinpocetine might interfere
with calcium’s beneficial actions.
One double-blind and one preliminary study have found that brovincamine, a compound closely
related to vinpocetine, was helpful in people with chronic glaucoma.15 16 Until studies
have been conducted using actual vinpocetine, it is unknown whether it would be as effective
as brovincamine.
Crude periwinkle also contains tannins. These make it a mild astringent. It may relieve
pain from canker sores or sore throats, according to traditional use. Clinical trials have not
been conducted to confirm this.
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2. Hoffmann D. The New Holistic Herbal, 3rd ed. Shaftesbury,
Dorset, UK: Element, 1990:223.
3. Fischhof PK, Moslinger-Gehmayr R, Herrmann WM, et al. Therapeutic
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of intractable tumoral calcinosis in haemodialysis patients with renal failure. J Int Med
Res 1992;20:435–43.
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visual field damage in patients with normal-tension glaucoma with low-normal intraocular
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21. Hoffmann D. The New Holistic Herbal, 3rd ed. Shaftesbury,
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22. Kidd PM. A review of nutrients and botanicals in the integrative
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