[Metabolism of vincamine in the rat]

The metabolism of vincamine hydrochloride was studied in the rat after oral administration of the drug. Vincamine is almost completely metabolized, only a small fraction of the original compound being excreted in the urine. The metabolites detected in blood, urine and tissues were purified by preparative thin layer and column chromatography in several solvent systems, and analyzed by mass spectrometry. It was found that the main urinary metabolites were vincamine conjugates (sulphates and glucuronides). Two new metabolites were detected in all the biological fluids and specimens analyzed: these compounds are more polar than vincamine and their structure was characterized by mass spectrometry, I.R. and U.V. spectroscopy and confirmed by synthesis in our laboratory.