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What is it?

Vinpocetine is an herbal supplement used to treat thinking and memory problems, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Other names for Vinpocetine include: Ethyl apovincaminate, Ethyl apovincaminoate, and vinca minor.

Vinpocetine is a derivative of Vincamine. It facilitates cerebral metabolism by  improving blood flow to the brain, boosting brain cell  ATP production, and increasing utilization of glucose and oxygen by neurons. Vinpocetine increases the production of Noradrenaline and  Dopamine, contributing, in this way, to the release of Serotonin and the concentration of Acetylcholine. Research has shown that the effects of this compound go beyond mere prevention and turn it into a Powerful Memory Enhancer.

Vincamine is a purified extract of Vinca Minor L (Periwinkle plant). Used as a cerebral vasodilator for enhancing mental alertness, it increases blood flow to the brain and improves its oxygenation.  The original use of the plant goes back to European traditional home remedies. This herb is well known and widely used in popular medicine as an important component in herbal teas against nervousness in the elderly suffering from insomnia, anxiety and aggressiveness.

Vinpocetine, a powerful cognitive enhancer presently in use in over 35 countries around the world. As clinical studies have shown, Vinpocetine helps maintain healthy circulation in the brain and accelerates cerebral metabolism. Vinpocetine also aids memory, increasing the concentration of certain neurotransmitters involved in memory formation, such as dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonine, and acetylcholine. By expanding the brain's blood vessels and optimizing the blood flow, Vinpocetine improves the brain's access to oxygen and other essential nutrients thus, maximizing mental performance.

Clinical trials have proven that Vinpocetine meaningfully improves the outcome of stroke patients, even when administered long after the initial stroke event. In a 1985 Japanese study, researchers demonstrated improvement in two-thirds of stroke patients receiving Vinpocetine. Vinpocetine's effectiveness in stroke recovery is likely due in part to its remarkable ability to dilate brain arteries, enhancing brain blood flow in patients with cerebrovascular disease. This improves delivery of lifegiving oxygen to marginally functioning areas of the brain.

As a potent antioxidant and neuroprotector, Vinpocetine limits ongoing brain damage from free radical production. In addition, it increases the flexibility of red blood cells and reduces the tendency of red blood cells and platelets to stick together, further enhancing blood flow to damaged areas of the brain while reducing the risk of subsequent stroke.