Vinpocetine is the Forthcoming Adjuvant Agent in the Management of COVID-19

Figures & data

Figure 1. Chemical structure of vinpocetine.

Figure 2. The potential mechanism of vinpocetine in the attenuation of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Vinpocetine inhibits IKK, MAPK, PDE1 and VGSC-induced cell toxicity. Therefore, vinpocetine reduces risk of ALI and ARDS.

ALI: Acute lung injury; ARDS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; IKK: Inducer-κB kinase; MAPK: Mitogen-activated protein kinase; PDE1: Phosphodiesterase 1; VGSC: Voltage-gated sodium channel.

Figure 3. The pulmonary and extra-pulmonary effects of vinpocetine.

The pulmonary effects of VPN including inhibition of lung inflammation, ALI and ARDS through suppression of MAPK, NF-κB with release of NO. The extra-pulmonary effects of VPN including Improvement of brain neurotransmission and reduction cognitive dysfunction, inhibition of SARS-CoV-2-induced acute cardiac injury through inhibition of VGNC, inhibition of COVID-19-induced thrombosis by attenuating ED and platelets hyper-reactivity and inhibition of COVID-19-induced hyperviscosity by improvement of erythrocytes deformability.

ALI: Acute lung injury; ARDS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; ED: Erectile dysfunction; MAPK: Mitogen-activated protein kinase; NO: Nitric oxide; VGNC: Voltage gated Na⁺² channel; VPN: Vinpocetine.