Abstract
Vinpocetine (VPN) is a synthetic ethyl-ester derivative of the alkaloid apovincamine from Vinca minor leaves. VPN is a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 1 (PDE1) has potential neurological effects through inhibition of voltage gated sodium channel and reduction of neuronal calcium influx. VPN have noteworthy antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects with inhibitory effect on glial and astrocyte cells during and following ischemic stroke (IS). VPN is effective as an adjuvant therapy in the management of epilepsy; it reduces seizure frequency by 50% in a dose of 2 mg/kg/day. VPN improves psychomotor performances through modulation of brain monoamine pathway mainly on dopamine and serotonin, which play an integral role in attenuation of depressive symptoms. VPN recover cognitive functions and spatial memory through inhibition of hippocampal and cortical PDE-1with augmentation of cAMP/cGMP ratio, enhancement of cholinergic neurotransmission and inhibition of neuronal inflammatory mediators. Therefore, VPN is an effective agent in the management of ischemic stroke and plays an integral role in the prevention and attenuation of post-stroke epilepsy, depression and cognitive deficit through direct cAMP/cGMP-dependent pathway or indirectly through anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects.
Highlights
Vinpocetine (VPN) is a synthetic ethyl-ester derivative of the alkaloid apovincamine from Vinca minor leaves which is known as lesser periwinkle
VPN is a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 1 (PDE1) which increasing of cAMP and cGMP leading to vasodilatation
These events lead to reduction of cAMP system which is important in the expression and regulation of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which improves neuronal survival
Summary
Vinpocetine (VPN) is a synthetic ethyl-ester derivative of the alkaloid apovincamine from Vinca minor leaves which is known as lesser periwinkle. VPN is effective in the management of acute kidney injury, renal stone, hair loss and peptic ulceration [2]. This critical review only focused on the potential role of VPN in the management of ischemic stroke. The terms used for these searches were as follows: [Vinpocetine OR apovincamine] AND [cognitive function OR stroke OR brain ischemia OR blood flow OR cerebral circulation OR oxidative stress OR blood. [Vinpocetine OR apovincamine] AND [cerebral metabolism OR cerebral hypoxia OR ischemic degeneration OR minor stroke]. The key features of recognized applicable search studies were considered and the conclusions summarized in a critical review
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