Vinpocetine (pronounced vin-poe-ce-teen) is a synthetic compound derived from , a substance found naturally in the leaves of the lesser periwinkle plant . Vinpocetine was developed in the late 1960s.Vinpocetine is available as a prescription drug in Europe and Japan. In the the United States and Canada, it's sold in health food stores and online as a dietary supplement. Vinpocetine is widely marketed as a supplement for vasodilation and as a nootropic for the improvement of memory. In other words, Vinpocetine may help support brain functions such as concentration and memory by activating cerebral metabolism.