Vinca minor - a nootropic vasodilator with a tryptamine as the active substance

[Ginkgo]

Hey everyone!

I recently discovered Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle) growing in the area. It is used as a nootropic drug because of its vasodilative action. Because it widens the blood vessels, it might be a good addition to entheogens that constricts blood vessels, such as LSA.

The active substance is the tryptamine vincamine. From the structure (see attached image) I find it unlikely that it is able to cross the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) in sufficient degree, but it is nonetheless very interesting that it is a tryptamine!

Does anyone have any information on vincamine's ability to cross the BBB and/or its binding profile to 5HT receptors? Or does anyone have any more knowledge or experience about the herb in general?

 

[benzyme]

'tis related to vinpocetine, a vasodilator which helps alleviate tinnitus. it has an interesting pharmacological profile with an array of effects, but the commonly reported side effect is a headache. nevertheless, they're more effective than gingko

 

[jamie]

hmm Id try it with bufotenine if I could find some.

 

[polytrip]

I believe that long term use is definately not a good thing. I've heard that it causes a shortage in red or white bloodcells.

 

[Ginkgo]

I believe that long term use is definately not a good thing. I've heard that it causes a shortage in red or white bloodcells.

Really? It doesn't surprise me that prolonged use may be bad, but I haven't heard about the shortage in red or white blood cells. Do you know which type it was? It is quite a difference, although shortage of both types is serious. Or perhaps you could show me where you read this? The only real adverse effect I have heard of is a drop in blood pressure if an overdose is taken.

 

[Phlux-]

madagascar periwinkle ?
doesnt that contain some preddy toxic stuff tho ?


this seemed interesting

Catharanthus lanceus contains up to 6% yohimbine in its leaves

 

[polytrip]

I believe that long term use is definately not a good thing. I've heard that it causes a shortage in red or white bloodcells.

Really? It doesn't surprise me that prolonged use may be bad, but I haven't heard about the shortage in red or white blood cells. Do you know which type it was? It is quite a difference, although shortage of both types is serious. Or perhaps you could show me where you read this? The only real adverse effect I have heard of is a drop in blood pressure if an overdose is taken.

A while ago, i wanted to purchase some vinca minor for studying. I'd heard that it realy helped as a nootropic drug. The shop owner told me that the EU had banned it because of serious side-effects, having to do with bloodcells.
If this is true, it mustn't be hard to find any evidence of that on the net.

 

[polytrip]

Yeah, i just wiki'd it. Vinca minor contains some nasty chemicals beside vincamine. One of them is vincristine, used in chemotherapy.
It stops cell-growth and cell-division and has specifically strong effects on bonemarrow. Didn't read any further, we know the bonemarrow-bloodcell relation.
Pure vincamine may be safer than plant-extract.

 

[Phlux-]

im sure i recall - and i may be wrong - but could cause hairloss and skin problems.

 

[Ginkgo]

Yeah, i just wiki'd it. Vinca minor contains some nasty chemicals beside vincamine. One of them is vincristine, used in chemotherapy.
It stops cell-growth and cell-division and has specifically strong effects on bonemarrow. Didn't read any further, we know the bonemarrow-bloodcell relation.
Pure vincamine may be safer than plant-extract.

I was under the impression that Vinca minor didn't contain vincristine and vinblastine, only vincamine and related alkaloids. Wiki doesn't list vincristine as a substance in Vinca minor either. You may be thinking of the Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). Vinca minor is lesser periwinkle.

 

[polytrip]

The dutch wikipedia says it does. Probably just smaller amounts.
It completely fit's the story of why the EU banned vinca minor.

I realy think it is safer to experiment with pure vincamine, than with vinca minor extract.