Vinpocetine represses the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice by mediating inflammasome components via NF-κB signaling

BACKGROUND

Inflammasome activation is known to be involved in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Vinpocetine is a derivative of vincamine and is reported to suppress the activation of inflammasome.

METHODS

This study explored the therapeutical potential of Vinpocetine on NASH. Mice were fed with a choline-deficient (MCD) or chow diet in the presence or absence of Vinpocetine for 8 weeks. H&E staining and biochemical assays were determined to evaluate the hepatic steatosis and fibrosis symptoms. In addition, primary hepatocytes and Kupffer cells were isolated and induced by MCD or lipopolysaccharides/cholesterol crystals with or without Vinpocetine. ELISAs, qPCR, and Western blotting were applied to determine the levels of NASH-related biomarkers in both in vivo mouse model and in vitro cell models.

RESULTS

Treatment of Vinpocetine did not cause observable side effects against and MCD-induced cells and mouse NASH model. However, treatment of Vinpocetine ameliorated hepatic steatosis and fibrosis and suppressed the levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transferase in the mouse NASH model. In addition, treatment of Vinpocetine suppressed the mRNA and protein levels of inflammasome components both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Vinpocetine suppressed NASH in mice by mediating inflammasome components via nuclear factor κB signaling.

Extended-release vinpocetine: a possible adjuvant treatment for focal onset epileptic seizures

Background

Extended-release vinpocetine is effective to control focal onset epileptic seizures with a low rate of adverse events. A clinical study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of vinpocetine as an adjuvant treatment in patients with this condition.

Methods

A double-blind clinical study of parallel groups was conducted, in which 87 patients with a diagnosis of focal epilepsy treated with one to three antiepileptic drugs were recruited. Patients were randomized to receive vinpocetine (n = 41) or placebo (n = 46) adjuvant to their treatment. Patients entered the baseline phase (4 weeks), the titration phase (4 weeks) and the evaluation phase (8 weeks), maintaining stable doses of vinpocetine and their respective antiepileptic drug treatment.

Results

Vinpocetine was more effective than placebo in reducing seizures at the end of the evaluation phase (p < 0.0001). Sixty-nine percent of the vinpocetine-treated patients had a 50% reduction in seizures compared to 13% of placebo-treated patients. No significant differences in the presence of adverse effects in patients treated with vinpocetine compared to those treated with placebo were observed. The most frequent adverse events observed with vinpocetine were headache (7.9%) and diplopia (5.2%).

Conclusions

As an adjuvant treatment, vinpocetine (2 mg/kg/day) effectively reduced the frequency of epileptic seizures and proved to be well tolerated. Vinpocetine has a wide safety profile and well-known adverse events, which are transient and with no sequelae.