Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor) Herbal Monograph

What Is Lesser Periwinkle?

Lesser periwinkle is a low, trailing evergreen ground cover of European woodlands, grown commercially as a source of the alkaloid vincamine. Vincamine has been used clinically for cerebrovascular disorders, and the supplement vinpocetine is made from it ^{8,32Reference 8Ren et al. · 2023ReviewVincamine, from an antioxidant and a cerebral vasodilator to its anticancer potential — reviewView study →Reference 32Catlin et al. · 2018AnimalEmbryo-fetal development studies with the dietary supplement vinpocetine in the rat and rabbit — animal modelView study →}.

Vinca minor is native to Europe and western Asia and is widely planted as a garden ground cover ^{36,37Reference 36NC State Extension (n.d.)Vinca minor — description, habit, native range and identification — species databaseView study →Reference 37Center for Invasive Species et al.Common periwinkle, Vinca minor — description, native range, habitat and invasive listings — species databaseView study →}. In older European herbal practice it was used, like greater periwinkle, as an astringent for bleeding and fluxes ^{34Reference 34Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}.

The plant produces a range of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, led by vincamine ^{24Reference 24Mai et al. · 2025In vitroPromiscuous and regiospecific Vinca minor hydroxylases for opioid akuammine biosynthesis and monoterpenoid-indole-alkaloid diversification — in vitroView study →}. Small trials of purified vincamine, mostly from the 1980s and 1990s, explored its effects on memory and cerebral blood flow in older people with dementia. The herb itself has not been tested ^{1,2Reference 1Fischhof et al. · 1996RCTTherapeutic efficacy of vincamine in dementia — randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT)View study →Reference 2Hagstadius et al. · 1984RCTThe effects of bromvincamine and vincamine on regional cerebral blood flow and mental functions in patients with multi-infarct dementia — double-blind crossover clinical trialView study →}.

Lesser periwinkle is sometimes confused with greater periwinkle (Vinca major), which has larger leaves, and with Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), a different genus and the source of the cancer drugs vinblastine and vincristine ^{35,36Reference 35Kumar et al. · 2022ReviewCatharanthus roseus (L.) GView study →Reference 36NC State Extension (n.d.)Vinca minor — description, habit, native range and identification — species databaseView study →}.

How Is Lesser Periwinkle Used?

Alkaloid extraction — the plant is grown commercially for vincamine, which is used as a drug and as the starting material for vinpocetine ^{8,32Reference 8Ren et al. · 2023ReviewVincamine, from an antioxidant and a cerebral vasodilator to its anticancer potential — reviewView study →Reference 32Catlin et al. · 2018AnimalEmbryo-fetal development studies with the dietary supplement vinpocetine in the rat and rabbit — animal modelView study →}.
Herb tea and ointment — in older European practice, a tea for bleeding and diarrhoea, and an ointment of the bruised leaves for inflamed skin and bleeding piles ^{34Reference 34Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}.
Homeopathic tincture — made from the fresh leaves and given for internal bleeding ^{34Reference 34Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}.
Topical formulations — leaf and stem extracts have been developed into experimental skin preparations ^{26Reference 26Neculai et al. · 2023In vitroDevelopment of new dermato-cosmetic therapeutic formulas with extracts of Vinca minor L. plants — in vitroView study →}.

Traditional Uses

European Herbal Medicine

Both the greater and the lesser periwinkle were used in European herbal medicine as astringents and tonics. Dioscorides and Galen recommended periwinkle against fluxes ^{34Reference 34Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}.

Culpeper wrote that periwinkle stops bleeding at the mouth and nose when chewed, and that the small periwinkle has all the virtues of the greater and can take its place ^{34Reference 34Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}.

An ointment of the bruised leaves was used in domestic medicine for inflammatory skin complaints and bleeding piles. Periwinkle tea was given for diarrhoea, congestion and bleeding ^{34Reference 34Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}.

Homeopathy

A homeopathic tincture is prepared from the fresh leaves of lesser periwinkle. It is given for internal bleeding and for milk crust in infants ^{34Reference 34Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}.

Botany

Lesser periwinkle is a low, evergreen perennial ground cover in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) ^{36Reference 36NC State Extension (n.d.)Vinca minor — description, habit, native range and identification — species databaseView study →}. It grows about 8–15 cm high ^{36Reference 36NC State Extension (n.d.)Vinca minor — description, habit, native range and identification — species databaseView study →}.

Its thin, wiry stems stand erect to about 15 cm, then arch over and trail along the ground. They root at the nodes, so the plant spreads quickly into a dense mat ^{36Reference 36NC State Extension (n.d.)Vinca minor — description, habit, native range and identification — species databaseView study →}.

The leaves grow in opposite pairs. They are elliptic, leathery and glossy dark green, up to about 2.5 cm long ^{36,37Reference 36NC State Extension (n.d.)Vinca minor — description, habit, native range and identification — species databaseView study →Reference 37Center for Invasive Species et al.Common periwinkle, Vinca minor — description, native range, habitat and invasive listings — species databaseView study →}.

The flowers grow singly in the leaf axils. They are lilac-blue, occasionally white, with five lobes, and open in spring and early summer, with occasional flowers later in the year ^{36,37Reference 36NC State Extension (n.d.)Vinca minor — description, habit, native range and identification — species databaseView study →Reference 37Center for Invasive Species et al.Common periwinkle, Vinca minor — description, native range, habitat and invasive listings — species databaseView study →}. The plant rarely sets seed and spreads mainly by its trailing stems ^{34,37Reference 34Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →Reference 37Center for Invasive Species et al.Common periwinkle, Vinca minor — description, native range, habitat and invasive listings — species databaseView study →}.

Lesser periwinkle can be told from greater periwinkle by its leaves. Those of lesser periwinkle are broadest near the middle, thicker, with rounded to wedge-shaped bases and no hairs on the margins. Those of greater periwinkle are broadest below the middle, with heart-shaped to rounded bases and fringed margins ^{36Reference 36NC State Extension (n.d.)Vinca minor — description, habit, native range and identification — species databaseView study →}.

Distribution

Lesser periwinkle is native to Europe and western Asia, reaching east to the Caucasus ^{36,37Reference 36NC State Extension (n.d.)Vinca minor — description, habit, native range and identification — species databaseView study →Reference 37Center for Invasive Species et al.Common periwinkle, Vinca minor — description, native range, habitat and invasive listings — species databaseView study →}. It was brought to North America as an ornamental in the 1700s and is still widely sold as a ground cover ^{37Reference 37Center for Invasive Species et al.Common periwinkle, Vinca minor — description, native range, habitat and invasive listings — species databaseView study →}.

It has escaped cultivation across much of the eastern United States. It grows in open to shady sites, including forests, and often around old homesites. Its dense mats on the forest floor displace native herbaceous and woody plants, and many states list it as invasive ^{36,37Reference 36NC State Extension (n.d.)Vinca minor — description, habit, native range and identification — species databaseView study →Reference 37Center for Invasive Species et al.Common periwinkle, Vinca minor — description, native range, habitat and invasive listings — species databaseView study →}.

Growing Conditions

Cultivation snapshot for Lesser Periwinkle

Lifeevergreen perennial ground coverSunfull sun to part shade; tolerates deep shadeSoilaverage, dry to medium, well-drained

ZoneUSDA 4–9 ^{36Reference 36NC State Extension (n.d.)Vinca minor — description, habit, native range and identification — species databaseView study →}.

Waterdry to medium — drought-tolerant once established.

Habittrailing stems root at the nodes; spreads aggressively.

Grow it yourself

Farm Wiki is our cultivation-focused sister site, also run by Justin Cooke.

How to growComing soon

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Indications

Cognitive decline in older adults, including dementia [isolated vincamine] Caution: The trials used purified vincamine at drug doses, mostly in the 1980s and 1990s, and the herb itself has not been tested. A Cochrane review found the evidence for the derivative vinpocetine inconclusive ^1,2,5.
Bleeding, including nosebleeds [herb; European herbal use]
Diarrhoea and fluxes [herb tea; European herbal use]
Inflamed skin and bleeding piles [leaf ointment; European folk use]
Internal bleeding [fresh leaf tincture; homeopathy]

Pharmacology & Research

Research on lesser periwinkle centres on one of its alkaloids, vincamine, rather than on the herb. Purified vincamine has been used clinically for cerebrovascular disorders, and a handful of small trials, mostly from the 1980s and 1990s, tested it in older people with dementia ^{1,2,3,4,8Reference 1Fischhof et al. · 1996RCTTherapeutic efficacy of vincamine in dementia — randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT)View study →Reference 2Hagstadius et al. · 1984RCTThe effects of bromvincamine and vincamine on regional cerebral blood flow and mental functions in patients with multi-infarct dementia — double-blind crossover clinical trialView study →Reference 3Casale et al. · 1984RCTEvaluation of the effect of vincamine teprosilate on behavioural performances of patients affected with chronic cerebrovascular disease — randomised controlled trialView study →Reference 4Lanfranchi et al. · 1984Clinical trialEffects induced by vincamine teprosilate on chronic cerebrovascular disease: preliminary results — clinical trialView study →Reference 8Ren et al. · 2023ReviewVincamine, from an antioxidant and a cerebral vasodilator to its anticancer potential — reviewView study →}.

Since about 2020, rodent studies have reported that vincamine protects the liver, kidney, heart and brain against a range of injuries, largely through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects ^{14,15,16,17,18,19Reference 14Xin et al. · 2026AnimalVincamine attenuates alcoholic liver injury through modulation of a CDK1–glycolysis–NLRP3 immunometabolic axis — mouseView study →Reference 15Ürün et al. · 2025AnimalVincamine mitigates methotrexate-induced liver fibrosis model — ratView study →Reference 16Jiang et al. · 2025AnimalVincamine ameliorates hepatic fibrosis via inhibiting S100A4-mediated farnesoid-X-receptor activation — animal modelView study →Reference 17Alaaeldin et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine alleviates intrahepatic cholestasis in rats through modulation of NF-κB/PDGF/klf6/PPARγ and PI3K/Akt pathways — ratView study →Reference 18Alaaeldin et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine exerts hepato-protective activity during colon-ligation-puncture-induced sepsis by modulating oxidative stress, apoptosis and TNFα/Nrf-2/Keap-1 — ratView study →Reference 19Abouelhamd et al. · 2025AnimalVincamine induces cytoprotective autophagy via AMPK/mTOR in gentamicin-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats — animal modelView study →}.

Vinpocetine, the best-known derivative, is a synthetic ethyl ester of apovincamine. It has never been approved by a regulatory body for cognitive impairment, and a Cochrane review judged the evidence for its use in dementia inconclusive ^{5Reference 5Szatmari et al. · 2003Meta-analysisVinpocetine for cognitive impairment and dementia — systematic review / meta-analysisView study →}.

About five or six human trials exist, all of the isolated alkaloid. The whole herb has no registered trials.

What the Evidence Supports

Best-supported: modest cognitive and cerebral-blood-flow benefit in elderly cerebrovascular/dementia patients — from small, dated human trials of the isolated alkaloid, not the herb ^{1,2Reference 1Fischhof et al. · 1996RCTTherapeutic efficacy of vincamine in dementia — randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT)View study →Reference 2Hagstadius et al. · 1984RCTThe effects of bromvincamine and vincamine on regional cerebral blood flow and mental functions in patients with multi-infarct dementia — double-blind crossover clinical trialView study →}.
Emerging, worth watching: a consistent rodent signal that vincamine protects the liver, kidney and heart via Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB modulation ^{14,16,18,19Reference 14Xin et al. · 2026AnimalVincamine attenuates alcoholic liver injury through modulation of a CDK1–glycolysis–NLRP3 immunometabolic axis — mouseView study →Reference 16Jiang et al. · 2025AnimalVincamine ameliorates hepatic fibrosis via inhibiting S100A4-mediated farnesoid-X-receptor activation — animal modelView study →Reference 18Alaaeldin et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine exerts hepato-protective activity during colon-ligation-puncture-induced sepsis by modulating oxidative stress, apoptosis and TNFα/Nrf-2/Keap-1 — ratView study →Reference 19Abouelhamd et al. · 2025AnimalVincamine induces cytoprotective autophagy via AMPK/mTOR in gentamicin-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats — animal modelView study →}; early neuroprotection in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s models ^{10,11Reference 10Wang et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine alleviates brain injury by attenuating neuroinflammation and oxidative damage in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease through NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 signalling — animal modelView study →Reference 11Lyu et al. · 2026AnimalVincamine as a GPR40 agonist shows potential in treating female Alzheimer’s disease — animal modelView study →}.
Mechanistically thin: anticancer activity in cell and mouse work, the mouse result using a silver-nanoparticle formulation ^{8,23Reference 8Ren et al. · 2023ReviewVincamine, from an antioxidant and a cerebral vasodilator to its anticancer potential — reviewView study →Reference 23Dahran et al. · 2024AnimalEvaluation of vincamine loaded with silver nanoparticles against Ehrlich’s solid carcinoma in mice — animal modelView study →}; antibacterial compounds isolated from a fungus living in the plant rather than from the plant itself ^{25Reference 25He et al. · 2025In vitroThe endophytic fungus Cosmosporella spView study →}.
The caveat: essentially all data are on isolated vincamine (or the derivative vinpocetine) at drug-level doses; the whole herb is not standardised and has no modern clinical trials of its own.

The research material is purified vincamine, or its derivative vinpocetine, at drug doses. None of the studies tested a tea, tincture or other preparation of the whole plant.

Evidence by IndicationStrength of support

Cognitive & Cerebrovascular SupportPromising

68%

Cerebral VasodilationPromising

64%

HepatoprotectivePromising

61%

AntioxidantPromising

59%

Anti-InflammatoryPromising

56%

NeuroprotectivePromising

54%

AnticancerShaky

36%

1. Cognitive & Cerebrovascular Support

The human evidence belongs to the isolated alkaloid vincamine, used in Europe for age-related cognitive decline.

In a 12-week double-blind trial, 152 patients aged 50–85 with mild to moderate degenerative or vascular dementia were enrolled and 142 completed it. Vincamine 30 mg twice daily was statistically superior to placebo on all four target measures, including the Sandoz Clinical Assessment Geriatric (SCAG) scale and a short cognitive performance test ^{1Reference 1Fischhof et al. · 1996RCTTherapeutic efficacy of vincamine in dementia — randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT)View study →}.

In a double-blind crossover trial in ten patients with multi-infarct dementia, oral vincamine 20 mg four times daily raised global cerebral blood flow and improved verbal memory over two weeks, with no change in overall psychiatric ratings ^{2Reference 2Hagstadius et al. · 1984RCTThe effects of bromvincamine and vincamine on regional cerebral blood flow and mental functions in patients with multi-infarct dementia — double-blind crossover clinical trialView study →}.

In a placebo-controlled trial of 30 patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease, the salt vincamine teprosilate at 120 mg daily for 90 days improved behaviour, memory and perceptual-motor performance ^{3Reference 3Casale et al. · 1984RCTEvaluation of the effect of vincamine teprosilate on behavioural performances of patients affected with chronic cerebrovascular disease — randomised controlled trialView study →}. A second, uncontrolled report followed 90 patients on the same treatment ^{4Reference 4Lanfranchi et al. · 1984Clinical trialEffects induced by vincamine teprosilate on chronic cerebrovascular disease: preliminary results — clinical trialView study →}.

The derivative vinpocetine has a weaker record. A Cochrane review of three trials (583 people) found benefit at 30 and 60 mg/day, but few patients were treated for six months or more, and the reviewers concluded that the evidence was inconclusive and did not support clinical use ^{5Reference 5Szatmari et al. · 2003Meta-analysisVinpocetine for cognitive impairment and dementia — systematic review / meta-analysisView study →}.

Gap: No trial has tested the whole Vinca minor herb (tea, tincture, powder); all positive data are on the isolated alkaloid at pharmaceutical doses, and the most widely sold derivative, vinpocetine, is unproven.

2. Cerebral Vasodilation

Vincamine is described as a vasodilator that increases cerebral blood flow and the brain’s use of oxygen and glucose ^{9,13Reference 9Han et al. · 2017In vitroVincamine alleviates amyloid-β 25-35-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells — in vitroView study →Reference 13Fayed · 2010AnimalBrain trace element concentration of rats treated with the plant alkaloid, vincamine — animal modelView study →}.

In the crossover study in ten multi-infarct-dementia patients, oral vincamine significantly increased global cerebral blood flow, measured by ¹³³Xe inhalation, and reduced the initial difference between the two hemispheres. Regional flow patterns did not change, and verbal memory improved ^{2Reference 2Hagstadius et al. · 1984RCTThe effects of bromvincamine and vincamine on regional cerebral blood flow and mental functions in patients with multi-infarct dementia — double-blind crossover clinical trialView study →}.

The eburnamine–vincamine alkaloids as a class share effects on brain circulation and antihypoxic activity ^{7Reference 7Vas et al. · 2005ReviewEburnamine derivatives and the brain — reviewView study →}.

Gap: human blood-flow data exist only for the purified alkaloid and its derivatives, and there is no dose-ranging in whole-herb form.

3. Hepatoprotective

Isolated vincamine has protected the liver in a series of independent rodent models: alcoholic liver injury through a CDK1–glycolysis–NLRP3 pathway ^{14Reference 14Xin et al. · 2026AnimalVincamine attenuates alcoholic liver injury through modulation of a CDK1–glycolysis–NLRP3 immunometabolic axis — mouseView study →}, methotrexate-induced fibrosis with 50 mg/kg by mouth daily for ten days ^{15Reference 15Ürün et al. · 2025AnimalVincamine mitigates methotrexate-induced liver fibrosis model — ratView study →}, thioacetamide-induced fibrosis through S100A4 and farnesoid-X-receptor signalling ^{16Reference 16Jiang et al. · 2025AnimalVincamine ameliorates hepatic fibrosis via inhibiting S100A4-mediated farnesoid-X-receptor activation — animal modelView study →}, intrahepatic cholestasis ^{17Reference 17Alaaeldin et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine alleviates intrahepatic cholestasis in rats through modulation of NF-κB/PDGF/klf6/PPARγ and PI3K/Akt pathways — ratView study →}, and sepsis-associated liver injury through TNF-α and Nrf-2/Keap-1 ^{18Reference 18Alaaeldin et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine exerts hepato-protective activity during colon-ligation-puncture-induced sepsis by modulating oxidative stress, apoptosis and TNFα/Nrf-2/Keap-1 — ratView study →}.

It also reduced liver and kidney damage from the antibiotic gentamicin in rats, by promoting protective autophagy through AMPK/mTOR ^{19Reference 19Abouelhamd et al. · 2025AnimalVincamine induces cytoprotective autophagy via AMPK/mTOR in gentamicin-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats — animal modelView study →}.

Gap: every study is in animals or cells and uses the isolated alkaloid. There is no human liver-disease trial and no study of the whole herb.

4. Antioxidant

Antioxidant activity runs through nearly all of vincamine’s protective effects. In liver, brain and other injury models, vincamine raises superoxide dismutase and glutathione and lowers malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, often alongside activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway ^{10,17,18Reference 10Wang et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine alleviates brain injury by attenuating neuroinflammation and oxidative damage in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease through NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 signalling — animal modelView study →Reference 17Alaaeldin et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine alleviates intrahepatic cholestasis in rats through modulation of NF-κB/PDGF/klf6/PPARγ and PI3K/Akt pathways — ratView study →Reference 18Alaaeldin et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine exerts hepato-protective activity during colon-ligation-puncture-induced sepsis by modulating oxidative stress, apoptosis and TNFα/Nrf-2/Keap-1 — ratView study →}.

In neuronal PC12 cells, vincamine reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis caused by amyloid-β, and activated PI3K/Akt signalling ^{9Reference 9Han et al. · 2017In vitroVincamine alleviates amyloid-β 25-35-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells — in vitroView study →}.

A 2023 review frames vincamine primarily as an antioxidant and links this to its vascular and possible anticancer actions ^{8Reference 8Ren et al. · 2023ReviewVincamine, from an antioxidant and a cerebral vasodilator to its anticancer potential — reviewView study →}.

Gap: this is cell and animal evidence for the isolated compound. There is no human biomarker study, and the antioxidant capacity of the whole herb has not been measured.

5. Anti-Inflammatory

Vincamine dampens inflammatory signalling in the same rodent models that show organ protection, chiefly by suppressing NF-κB activation and the cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β ^{10,18Reference 10Wang et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine alleviates brain injury by attenuating neuroinflammation and oxidative damage in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease through NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 signalling — animal modelView study →Reference 18Alaaeldin et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine exerts hepato-protective activity during colon-ligation-puncture-induced sepsis by modulating oxidative stress, apoptosis and TNFα/Nrf-2/Keap-1 — ratView study →}.

In an ethanol-induced gastric-ulcer model in mice, it lowered IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA in the stomach lining ^{20Reference 20Imam et al. · 2025AnimalProtective effects of vincamine against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer by attenuation of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA expression in gastric mucosa of BALB/c mice — mouseView study →}.

In gentamicin-induced heart injury in rats, it modulated Nrf2/HO-1, Klotho and pERK/NF-κB signalling ^{21Reference 21Abouelhamd et al. · 2026AnimalMechanistic insights into vincamine’s cardio-protection against gentamicin toxicity — ratView study →}.

In kidney ischaemia/reperfusion injury in rats, vincamine given with the drug pantoprazole reduced MAPK and apoptosis signalling more than either alone ^{22Reference 22Fawzy et al. · 2022AnimalVincamine modulates the effect of pantoprazole in renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury by attenuating MAPK and apoptosis signalling — ratView study →}.

Gap: this is preclinical work on the isolated alkaloid, and it has not been shown with an oral whole-herb preparation in people.

6. Neuroprotective

Vincamine reduced dopaminergic-neuron loss, neuroinflammation and oxidative damage in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease through NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 ^{10Reference 10Wang et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine alleviates brain injury by attenuating neuroinflammation and oxidative damage in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease through NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 signalling — animal modelView study →}.

It protected retinal ganglion cells in a rat model of anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy ^{12Reference 12Li et al. · 2021AnimalEfficacy of vincamine treatment in a rat model of anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy — animal modelView study →}.

In a 2026 study, it reduced Alzheimer-like pathology in female 3×Tg-AD mice by acting as a GPR40 agonist, suppressing neuroinflammation and tau hyperphosphorylation and promoting synaptic plasticity ^{11Reference 11Lyu et al. · 2026AnimalVincamine as a GPR40 agonist shows potential in treating female Alzheimer’s disease — animal modelView study →}.

Injected into rats for 14 days, vincamine also lowered brain iron by about half ^{13Reference 13Fayed · 2010AnimalBrain trace element concentration of rats treated with the plant alkaloid, vincamine — animal modelView study →}.

Gap: these are animal and cell studies, one in a genetically engineered mouse line, and the GPR40 work is a single study awaiting replication. There are no human data.

7. Anticancer

Vincamine is cytotoxic to cancer cells and modulates tumour-related proteins including acetylcholinesterase, MAPK, NF-κB, Nrf2 and TBX3, as reviewed in 2023 ^{8Reference 8Ren et al. · 2023ReviewVincamine, from an antioxidant and a cerebral vasodilator to its anticancer potential — reviewView study →}.

In mice with Ehrlich solid carcinoma, vincamine loaded into silver nanoparticles reduced tumour size and weight and improved survival ^{23Reference 23Dahran et al. · 2024AnimalEvaluation of vincamine loaded with silver nanoparticles against Ehrlich’s solid carcinoma in mice — animal modelView study →}.

The anticancer vinca alkaloids vinblastine and vincristine come from Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), a different plant ^{35Reference 35Kumar et al. · 2022ReviewCatharanthus roseus (L.) GView study →}.

Gap: the evidence is cell-line work and one mouse model of a nanoparticle formulation. There are no whole-herb or human cancer data.

Mechanisms

Every mechanism studied belongs to vincamine. It increases cerebral blood flow, and in rodent injury models it has been studied for antioxidant activity through Nrf2/HO-1 and anti-inflammatory activity through NF-κB ^{2,8,10Reference 2Hagstadius et al. · 1984RCTThe effects of bromvincamine and vincamine on regional cerebral blood flow and mental functions in patients with multi-infarct dementia — double-blind crossover clinical trialView study →Reference 8Ren et al. · 2023ReviewVincamine, from an antioxidant and a cerebral vasodilator to its anticancer potential — reviewView study →Reference 10Wang et al. · 2024AnimalVincamine alleviates brain injury by attenuating neuroinflammation and oxidative damage in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease through NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 signalling — animal modelView study →}.

In an Alzheimer’s mouse model it acted as an agonist at the receptor GPR40, and in gentamicin injury it promoted autophagy through AMPK/mTOR ^{11,19Reference 11Lyu et al. · 2026AnimalVincamine as a GPR40 agonist shows potential in treating female Alzheimer’s disease — animal modelView study →Reference 19Abouelhamd et al. · 2025AnimalVincamine induces cytoprotective autophagy via AMPK/mTOR in gentamicin-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats — animal modelView study →}. No mechanism has been studied in a preparation of the whole plant.

Mechanism	Drives	Key compounds
Nrf2/HO-1 ↑, MDA ↓, SOD/GSH ↑	antioxidanthepatoprotectiveneuroprotective	vincamine
NF-κB ↓, TNF-α/IL-6/IL-1β ↓	anti-inflammatoryorgan protection	vincamine
Cerebral vasodilation, ↑ cerebral blood flow	cognitive supportcerebrovascular	vincamine
GPR40 agonism → GSK3β/tau ↓, PKA/CREB/BDNF ↑	neuroprotection (Alzheimer’s models)	vincamine
NLRP3 ↓; AMPK/mTOR autophagy ↑	hepato-/nephro-/cardio-protection	vincamine

Clinical Trials

Human trials exist only for the isolated alkaloid vincamine and its salts, are mostly from the 1980s and 1990s, and are small. The whole herb has no registered trials, and the derivative vinpocetine was judged inadequately evidenced by a Cochrane review ^{5Reference 5Szatmari et al. · 2003Meta-analysisVinpocetine for cognitive impairment and dementia — systematic review / meta-analysisView study →}.

Completed	Planned	Terminated	Preclinical
~5–6(isolated alkaloid, historic)	0	0	~30+

Last checked: July 2026.

Phytochemistry

Lesser periwinkle produces a diverse set of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, mainly of the aspidosperma and akuammiline types, among them vincamine ^{24Reference 24Mai et al. · 2025In vitroPromiscuous and regiospecific Vinca minor hydroxylases for opioid akuammine biosynthesis and monoterpenoid-indole-alkaloid diversification — in vitroView study →}. Other alkaloids identified in the plant include vincaminoreine, akuammidine, pericyclivine and apparicine. Two of the plant’s cytochrome P450 enzymes hydroxylate these alkaloids and diversify the pool ^{24Reference 24Mai et al. · 2025In vitroPromiscuous and regiospecific Vinca minor hydroxylases for opioid akuammine biosynthesis and monoterpenoid-indole-alkaloid diversification — in vitroView study →}.

Apovincamine is a vinca alkaloid obtained from the leaves. Its synthetic ethyl ester is vinpocetine, which does not occur in the plant ^{5,7Reference 5Szatmari et al. · 2003Meta-analysisVinpocetine for cognitive impairment and dementia — systematic review / meta-analysisView study →Reference 7Vas et al. · 2005ReviewEburnamine derivatives and the brain — reviewView study →}.

Hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaves and stems showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in experimental skin formulations ^{26Reference 26Neculai et al. · 2023In vitroDevelopment of new dermato-cosmetic therapeutic formulas with extracts of Vinca minor L. plants — in vitroView study →}. Separately, antibacterial compounds, chiefly nectriapyrone, have been isolated from a fungus that lives inside the plant, Cosmosporella sp. VM-42 ^{25Reference 25He et al. · 2025In vitroThe endophytic fungus Cosmosporella spView study →}.

Constituent Summary

Alkaloids reported from the plant; amounts have not been published in the cited sources.

Grouped by class · 4 compounds

Indole Alkaloid4 compoundsno data

Indole AlkaloidVincamineNo data

Indole AlkaloidApovincamineNo data

Indole AlkaloidVincaminoreineNo data

Indole AlkaloidAkuammidineNo data

Dosage

There is no established dose for the whole herb. The figures below are doses of purified vincamine or its salt, used in clinical trials.

Research Doses

Indication	Preparation	Dose	Est. dried-herb equivalent	Source
Cognitive support (degenerative/vascular dementia)	Isolated vincamine, oral	30 mg twice daily (60 mg/day), 12 weeks	—	^{1Reference 1Fischhof et al. · 1996RCTTherapeutic efficacy of vincamine in dementia — randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT)View study →}
Multi-infarct dementia (cerebral blood flow + memory)	Isolated vincamine, oral	20 mg four times daily (80 mg/day), 2 weeks	—	^{2Reference 2Hagstadius et al. · 1984RCTThe effects of bromvincamine and vincamine on regional cerebral blood flow and mental functions in patients with multi-infarct dementia — double-blind crossover clinical trialView study →}
Chronic cerebrovascular disease	Vincamine teprosilate (salt), oral	120 mg/day, 90 days	—	^{3,4Reference 3Casale et al. · 1984RCTEvaluation of the effect of vincamine teprosilate on behavioural performances of patients affected with chronic cerebrovascular disease — randomised controlled trialView study →Reference 4Lanfranchi et al. · 1984Clinical trialEffects induced by vincamine teprosilate on chronic cerebrovascular disease: preliminary results — clinical trialView study →}

Traditional Dosage

System	Preparation	Dose
European herbal	Herb tea; leaf ointment	Not quantified
Homeopathy	Tincture of the fresh leaves	2–10 drops in a spoonful of water, three or four times daily ^{34Reference 34Grieve · 1931Periwinkles — traditional uses, history and preparations — herbal referenceView study →}

Safety & Pregnancy

Lesser periwinkle contains active indole alkaloids and is grown commercially for their extraction. It has no established safe dose as a herb.

Safety at a Glance

Moderate toxicityCardiac caution

Heart rhythm problems with injected vincamine. Vincamine given by injection has caused severe ventricular arrhythmias, including QT prolongation and torsades de pointes ^{29,30,31Reference 29Dany et al. · 1980Severe ventricular arrhythmia following parenteral administration of vincamine: predisposing factors in 6 casesView study →Reference 30Dany et al. · 1981Case reportCardiac toxicity of vincamine: seven cases of ventricular arrhythmias by parenteral administration — case reportsView study →Reference 31Richichi et al. · 1978Case reportA case of torsade de pointes during vincamine therapy — case reportView study →}.
No established dose for the herb. Whole-herb preparations have no modern toxicity data.
Care with QT-prolonging drugs and low potassium. In the case reports, low potassium, certain other drugs and existing heart disease predisposed patients to arrhythmia ^{29Reference 29Dany et al. · 1980Severe ventricular arrhythmia following parenteral administration of vincamine: predisposing factors in 6 casesView study →}. An interaction with the herb has not been tested.
Vinpocetine is a separate product. It harmed fetal development in animal studies, and the FDA has warned against its use by anyone who is or could become pregnant ^{32,33Reference 32Catlin et al. · 2018AnimalEmbryo-fetal development studies with the dietary supplement vinpocetine in the rat and rabbit — animal modelView study →Reference 33Maki et al. · 2026In vitroDevelopmental toxicity evaluation of the dietary supplement vinpocetine using mouse and human 3D gastruloids — in vitroView study →}.

Full Safety Detail

Heart rhythm. The documented human harm comes from injected vincamine. In one series, six patients developed ventricular arrhythmias after direct intravenous injection, intravenous infusion or intramuscular injection. Five had torsades de pointes, and one fainted and was later found to have a long QT interval. Some recovered on their own, and others needed the drug stopped and resuscitation; none died ^{29Reference 29Dany et al. · 1980Severe ventricular arrhythmia following parenteral administration of vincamine: predisposing factors in 6 casesView study →}. Further case reports describe the same problem ^{30,31Reference 30Dany et al. · 1981Case reportCardiac toxicity of vincamine: seven cases of ventricular arrhythmias by parenteral administration — case reportsView study →Reference 31Richichi et al. · 1978Case reportA case of torsade de pointes during vincamine therapy — case reportView study →}.

Risk factors. Predisposing factors in that series included low potassium or calcium stores, previous treatment with the drugs thioridazine or fenoxidil, a congenital long QT syndrome and lung disease with right-heart strain. Three patients had no predisposing factor other than age ^{29Reference 29Dany et al. · 1980Severe ventricular arrhythmia following parenteral administration of vincamine: predisposing factors in 6 casesView study →}. These reports concern injected vincamine, not the oral herb.

Drugs and potassium. Care with other QT-prolonging drugs and potassium-depleting diuretics follows from these cases. It has not been formally tested.

Metabolism. In human liver microsomes, vinpocetine weakly inhibited CYP2C9 (IC50 about 69 µM) and had no apparent effect on CYP3A4, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 or CYP2E1 ^{28Reference 28Kong et al. · 2016In vitroThe effect of vinpocetine on human cytochrome P450 isoenzymes using a cocktail method — in vitroView study →}. Vincamine interacted minimally with the drug efflux transporters Pgp and Bcrp in vitro ^{27Reference 27Fandy et al. · 2016In vitroIn vitro characterisation of transport and metabolism of the alkaloids vincamine, vinpocetine and eburnamonine — in vitroView study →}.

Vinpocetine. The Cochrane review found few adverse effects at the doses studied ^{5Reference 5Szatmari et al. · 2003Meta-analysisVinpocetine for cognitive impairment and dementia — systematic review / meta-analysisView study →}. Its reproductive toxicity is described in the pregnancy note below.

Pregnancy & Lactation

Avoid in pregnancy Avoid while breastfeeding

Avoid. The herb has not been studied in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Its derivative vinpocetine, given to pregnant rats at 60 mg/kg, increased pregnancy loss, lowered fetal weight and raised the rate of heart septal defects; rabbits showed similar effects at higher doses ^{32Reference 32Catlin et al. · 2018AnimalEmbryo-fetal development studies with the dietary supplement vinpocetine in the rat and rabbit — animal modelView study →}. The FDA has warned against vinpocetine use by anyone who is or could become pregnant, and it disrupted development in human stem-cell embryo models at low concentrations ^{33Reference 33Maki et al. · 2026In vitroDevelopmental toxicity evaluation of the dietary supplement vinpocetine using mouse and human 3D gastruloids — in vitroView study →}.

Given the plant’s alkaloid content and cardiac activity, it is best avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

References

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