Psychiatria pre prax 4/2023

Protective and therapeutic effect of vinpocetine in the clinical practice of a psychiatrist

Due to the excellent safety profile of vinpocetine, efforts by scientists to explore new therapeutic options and mechanisms of action in various cell types and disease models are increasing. Recent studies have revealed several novel functions of vinpocetine, including anti-inflammatory effects, antagonizing injury-induced vascular remodeling, and influencing the process of high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis, as well as attenuation of pathological cardiac remodeling. The observed beneficial effects of vinpocetine on spatial memory may be due to its ability to favorably modulate cholinergic functions, preventing neuronal cell damage through its antioxidant mechanism. It also has a beneficial effect in the prevention of cognitive disorders related to depression even after the application of electroconvulsive treatment in the therapy of depressive disorders. Vinpocetine protects the brain against degenerative senile cerebral dysfunction through increased cerebral blood flow, cognition, and neuroprotective effects. In addition, it has other effects that can be used in the treatment of disorders related to the use of alcohol, nicotine and cannabis. In this context, an anti-inflammatory action is applied, which can neutralize the ethanol and nicotine proinflammatory responses associated with harmful behavioral changes. It also modulates neurotransmitter levels in cannabis users through selective blockade of voltage-sensitive presynaptic Na channels. It also acts on the vesicular storage of dopamine. Thus, vinpocetine has attracted considerable attention from the academic and scientific community as well as the pharmaceutical industry to characterize its new therapeutic functions, mechanism of action and pharmacological targets.

Keywords: vinpocetine, indicated use, cognitive functions, organic changes, BDNF, central reinforcer, neurotransmitter levels, behavioral changes, memory, learning