Source: Voacanga africana seed
Main Applications:
Cognitive function.Cerebral circulation.Hearing function.Kidney function.Eye health.
Research:
Stroke Deficits and Dementia: Many clinical trials have demonstrated Vinpocetine’s ability to support brain function. Most of these trials have been performed in stroke victims, but research also supports Vinpocetine’s positive impact on cognitive function in organic dementias and in normal, healthy adults.
A meta-analysis of seven double-blind clinical trials involving a total of 731 people suffering from age-related dementias or cognitive deficits following a stroke found that Vinpocetine improved cognitive and neurological function on a wide variety of measures, including scores tests of memory and mental function like the Sandoz Clinical Assessment-Geriatric (SCAG) and the Mini-Mental Status Questionnaire (MMSQ), neurological symptoms such as coordination and repetitive speaking patters (palilalia), and overall functional status as evaluated using the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale. Furthermore, there were no serious side effects related to Vinpocetine use. Overall, the investigators concluded, the results of these trials prove that patient users of Vinpocetine “become more vivid, the cognitive performance improves, and the daily activity is more intense.”
Reduced Cerebral Blood Flow: One recent long-term observational study examined the safety of 30 mg oral vinpocetine per day for 90 days on 4865 patients with chronic cereobrovascular insufficiency with arterial hypertension. The dose was well tolerated, and their neurological symptoms improved as did their MMSE (mini-mental status exam) score.
Tympanophonia: In addition, vinpocetine’s therapeutic potential in hearing trouble is of interest. In one study, vinpocetine was given to fifty patients with chronic neurosensory hearing loss, and at least 80% experienced reduced tympanophonia. More elaborate clinical trials are warranted.