Малый Барвинок-Vinca minor L.

SEM. Apocynaceae – Angular

Small periwinkle - description of the plant

Perennial herb with a thin horizontal rhizome, length of 50-70 cm, that is taking root at the nodes and gives vertical roots. Recumbent vegetative stems, length up to 100-150 cm, rooting; erect generative stems, up to 30-35 cm high. Leaves are opposite, elliptical, with sharp tips, rarely dumb, long-term, leathery, bright, top green, bottom - gray-green. Flowers are few, one at a time in the leaf axils, on long peduncles. Corolla tubular-funnel-shaped, dark blue, deep, five-part. The fruit is elongated like a double pod, cylindrical shape, sickle-curved with many oblong, cylindrical, rough seeds. It blooms in April - May.

Spread. Found in Central and Southern Europe. Grown in gardens, parks, in cemeteries, etc.. d.; sometimes grows like a wild plant.

Raw materials. Leaves.

Content of active substances in periwinkle

Chemically, the plant is not yet fully understood.. Alkaloids isolated - vincamine, isovinkamine, reserpine, vinin, herbadein, pubescin et al., which chemically belong to the indole group. Besides, proven presence of vincoside glycoside, tannins and bitterness (vindin) and etc. Leaves also contain flavonoids (robinia), triterpenes (ursolic acid tannins, etc.).

The main medicinal effect of periwinkle

Gipotenzivnoe, dilating blood vessels of the brain.

Experimental and clinical data on the medicinal action of vinca

The total alkaloid mixture and some individual alkaloids have been studied, isolated from it (vynkamyn). Interest in vinca alkaloids is due to the fact, that this plant belongs to the same family, like Rauwolfia the snake, from which the drug reserpine is isolated.

Experimental and clinical studies have shown, that an isolated total mixture of alkaloids is expressed and lowers blood pressure for a long time. The genesis of this action involves primarily the central and peripheral autonomic nervous system.. Against the background of such effects, a pronounced potentiation of the pressor effect of norepinephrine and adrenaline is observed - m. it is. this is a characteristic, which is valid for many modern antihypertensive drugs.

Vinca alkaloids have a negative chronotropic effect on the heart, without affecting the strength of the heart.

The use of the pharmacological action of the total mixture of vinca alkaloids on the cardiovascular system is accompanied by some sedative effect on the central nervous system., that you can even use it yourself.

In addition, you can indicate their effect on the kidneys.. Established, that they moderately increase urinary function in the kidneys.

In the studies of some authors it is indicated, that vinca alkaloids reduce blood sugar levels, including with diabetes mellitus experimentally induced in animals.

In higher doses, vinca alkaloids have a curariform effect on a complex mechanism of action.

The main pharmacological characteristic of vincamine is its vasodilating effect in the area of ​​cerebral blood circulation.. According to Hungarian and French researchers, vincamine and semi-synthetic products derived from it, by its vasodilating effect on the blood vessels of the brain, occupy one of the first places.

The use of periwinkle in traditional medicine

In folk medicine, periwinkle is known as a plant, which is recommended for use in case of bovine effusion from different organs (nose, light, uterus), with diarrhea, fever, malaria, cough, etc.. A decoction from plant raw materials is used externally for compresses with weeping eczema, rashes and itchy skin, as well as for rinsing with inflammation of the oral mucosa, with toothache, etc..

Ways of using periwinkle in medicine

Periwinkle alkaloids, on the basis of which the drugs were obtained and developed - vincapan, devinkan, cavinton and etc., apply: for the treatment of hypertension stage I and II, specially, with her brain forms; for diseases, accompanied by spasms of cerebral vessels; with atherosclerosis of the brain. A good therapeutic effect is also observed with neurogenic and paroxysmal tachycardia..

Traditional medicine recommends the use of a decoction: a tablespoon of chopped leaves, pour a glass of water and cook for 20 minutes; the resulting broth - a portion for one day, distributed over 3-4 receptions.

Vincapan - oral medication in pill form; Each tablet contains 0,01 fraction of vinca alkaloids, antihypertensive. Dose - three times a day, 1-2 tablets. When the therapeutic effect occurs, the dose is reduced.