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Vinca minor
Toxic🐾Kleines Immergrün · (Vinca minor)
Dogbane family (Apocynaceae)
Description
An evergreen groundcover with glossy dark leaves and blue-violet flowers appearing from April to June, lesser periwinkle spreads across shaded woodland edges and old cemeteries. The plant contains numerous indole alkaloids, including vincamine, vincaminorine, minovine and eburnamenine, alongside flavonoids and tannins. Historically the flowering herb was used in folk medicine as a tincture for circulatory complaints and nervous conditions, and externally for skin injuries. All parts of the plant, however, are considered toxic: total alkaloid content ranges from 0.2 to 0.7 percent, and German authorities revoked approval for all whole-herb preparations in 1986 after animal studies showed blood damage caused by accompanying alkaloids. Today only isolated vincamine in licensed pharmaceutical products remains permitted, under medical prescription. Periwinkle is also toxic to pets, contraindicated in brain tumours, and should be avoided during pregnancy.
CONTRAINDICATED during pregnancy
Use during pregnancy contraindicated — both the whole herb and vincamine preparations.
CONTRAINDICATED during breastfeeding
Breastfeeding: contraindicated due to lack of safety data and alkaloid toxicity.
CONTRAINDICATED for children
Not suitable for children — alkaloid content toxic, no paediatric safety data.
Historically used in European folk medicine externally as an astringent compress for small wounds and skin irritations, as the herb contains tannins. This external application is not affected by the German approval revocation but is not well scientifically documented.
Preparation & dosage
Sources: [1]
Historical documentation only — do NOT use
These internal applications are historically documented. This plant is highly toxic — self-treatment can cause severe poisoning or death. For documentation only, explicitly NOT a recommendation.
Vincamine, the main alkaloid from the leaves of lesser periwinkle, acts as a vasodilator and increases regional cerebral blood flow. In European folk medicine, preparations from the herb were used for dizziness, tinnitus, and cerebrovascular insufficiency. Since 1986, approval for whole-herb preparations has been revoked in Germany; isolated vincamine (synthetic or plant-derived) remains approved.
Preparation & dosage
In the folk medicine of central and southern Europe, periwinkle tincture was used for memory weakness, concentration difficulties, and age-related cognitive impairments. Vincamine shows neuroprotective and anti-hypoxic properties in studies, as well as modulating effects on neuronal homeostasis.
Preparation & dosage
Used in folk medicine in Europe for heart rhythm disorders and peripheral circulation problems. Vincamine improves oxygen and glucose utilisation in the brain through vasodilation. Use for heart conditions without medical supervision is not recommended.
Preparation & dosage
Used in medieval and early modern European folk medicine for menstrual complaints. Albertus Magnus mentioned the plant in the 13th century. Due to the documented toxicity of the whole herb, internal use as an infusion is no longer recommended today.
Preparation & dosage
Used in folk medicine for anxiety and nervous exhaustion. Recent research shows that whole plant extracts can have a sevenfold higher oral bioavailability compared to isolated compounds — this synergy effect is discussed but does not justify self-medication with non-approved preparations.
Preparation & dosage
Lesser periwinkle is toxic in all plant parts (total alkaloid content 0.2–0.7 %). In Germany in 1986 approval for all whole-herb preparations was revoked because animal studies revealed blood damage from accompanying alkaloids. Only isolated vincamine in approved commercial preparations is permitted. Contraindicated in brain tumours due to possible intracranial pressure increase. Do not use during pregnancy.
⏱ Max continuous use: 12 weeks
Use during pregnancy contraindicated — both the whole herb and vincamine preparations.
Breastfeeding: contraindicated due to lack of safety data and alkaloid toxicity.
Not suitable for children — alkaloid content toxic, no paediatric safety data.
Drug interactions
Antihypertensiva
Vincamine acts as a vasodilator and may enhance the blood pressure-lowering effect of antihypertensive drugs.
Herzglykoside (Digoxin)
High doses of Vinca minor extracts may reduce the absorption of digoxin.
Antikoagulantien / Thrombozytenaggregationshemmer
Theoretical interaction potential; vincamine may enhance anticoagulant effects and increase bleeding risk.
Contraindications
- Brain tumours and raised intracranial pressure (risk of intracranial bleeding).
- Severe hypotension (vincamine has blood pressure-lowering effects).
- Severe cardiovascular disease without medical supervision.
- Known hypersensitivity to Vinca alkaloids.
Harvested part: flowering herb
- Time of day:
- Cut flowering and non-flowering shoots in the morning or late morning hours.
- Drying:
- Dry as quickly as possible, maximum temperature 45 °C. Spread in a single layer on drying racks or tie into small bundles and hang upside-down.
- Storage:
- 12 months — Store dry, dark, and airtight. Due to the toxicity of the raw material: store securely out of reach of children and pets.
- Time of day:
- Collect fresh green leaves before full bloom — vincamine content is highest at this time.
- Drying:
- Dry gently at a maximum of 45 °C to minimise alkaloid losses.
- Storage:
- 12 months — Cool, dark and dry; inaccessible to children and pets.
- VincaminAlkaloidContent: 0.05-0.07 %Aerial parts
Dominant indole alkaloid; represents approx. 20–25% of all alkaloids in the plant. Vasodilatory and neuroprotective properties; increases cerebral blood flow.
- VincaminoreinAlkaloidAerial parts
One of the accompanying alkaloids; documented in leaves and stems. Little clinical data on its properties.
- MinovinAlkaloidAerial parts
Indole alkaloid isolated from the whole herb. Among the accompanying alkaloids held responsible for blood damage in animal studies.
- MinovincinAlkaloidAerial parts
Additional accompanying alkaloid from the herb, identified in phytochemical analyses.
- EburnameninAlkaloidLeaf
Secondary alkaloid of the leaves, described together with vincamine as the main alkaloids.
- Quercetin-GlycosideFlavonoidAerial parts
Flavonoids with antioxidant properties; documented in whole-herb extracts.
- ChlorogensäurePhenolic acidAerial parts
Phenolic acid with antioxidant activity; identified in hydroalcoholic macerate extracts from Vinca minor.
- Gerbstoffe (Tannine)TanninAerial parts
Astringent compounds; basis of the historical external application for wounds and skin irritations.
- [2]MonographLesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor): Benefits, Safety, Uses — Herbal Reality(accessed: 2026-05-22)
- [3]MonographDetermination of Active Ingredients, Mineral Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Hydroalcoholic Macerates of Vinca minor L. — Molecules 2023, 28(15), 5667(accessed: 2026-05-22)
- [1]WikipediaKleines Immergrün (Wikipedia DE)(accessed: 2026-05-22)