Actovegin

According to Gulevsky, et al., Actovegin "is highly purified hemodialysate extracted from vealer blood by ultrafiltration." Actovegin has been shown to improve the transport of glucose over a plasma membrane and the uptake of oxygen by tissues. ==Uses and side effects==

Nycomed, a Swiss drug company which manufactures Actovegin, claims it can be used for circulation and nutrition disturbances, skin grafting, burns, and wound-healing impairment. Actovegin has also been used as a performance enhancer. It has been investigated for use in treatment of polyneuropathy in diabetes, and for stroke. One study found that when tissues suffer from hypoxia caused circulation abnormalities, Actovegin helps capillaries improve circulation by enhancing the neogenic mechanism in blood vessels. There are reports suggesting that Actovegin have ergogenic ability, however one small trial found no apparent benefit from short-term use. Another study certified Actovegin to have a positive impact on the growth of muscle cells. == Manufacturing process ==

Actovegin is a deproteinated, pyrogen- and antigen-free hemodialysate of calf blood. It is manufactured from calf blood in several steps by ultrafiltration using various precipitation techniques and filters. The analysis of the final product shows that it contains a mixture of natural substances: both inorganic components such as common blood electrolytes (e.g. chloride, phosphate, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, several sources for nitrogen, amino acids, peptides, glucose, acetate and lactate) and organic components such as amino acids, a number oligopeptides, nucleosides, glycosphingolipids and products of the intermediary metabolism. ==Market approvals==

As of July 2011, the drug was not approved for sale, importation, or use in the United States. It is an unapproved drug in Canada as well. ==References==