Protective action of vinpocetine against experimentally induced gastric damage in rats

The efficacy of vinpocetine (CAS 42971-09-5) to prevent gastric mucosal damage induced by several noxious agents and its antisecretory effect were studied in rats. Vinpocetine administered orally or intraperitoneally inhibited the development of gastric lesions induced by 96 % ethanol in a dose-dependent way. The highest protective activity was observed when vinpocetine was given intraperitoneally 30 min before ethanol, and its effect was still significant when administered 120 min before ethanol exposure. Oral administration of vincamine also displayed gastroproteetive action in this model. Pretreatment with indometacin counteracted the protective action of vinpocetine against ethanol-induced damage, suggesting the involvement of a prostaglandin-mediated mechanism