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Semax

ACTH(4-10) analogue, Heptapeptide SEMAX

Quick Stats
Studies 172
Trials 37
Overview Studies Clinical Trials
Score 2
2001 pubmed

[Semax and selank inhibit the enkephalin-degrading enzymes from human serum]].

Kost. N V NV; Sokolov. O Iu OIu; Gabaeva. M V MV; Grivennikov. I A IA; Andreeva. L A LA; Miasoedov. N F NF; Zozulia. A A AA

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Key Findings

  • Semax inhibits enkephalin‑degrading enzymes with an IC50 of ~10 ”M; Selank does so with an IC50 of ~20 ”M
  • Both peptides are more potent inhibitors than common peptidase blockers like puromycin (IC50 ≈ 10 mM)
  • Pentapeptide fragments of semax and selank also inhibit the enzymes, while shorter or longer fragments do not

Practical Outcomes

  • The main takeaway is that semax and selank may boost levels of natural regulatory peptides by slowing their breakdown, which could contribute to their reported mood‑enhancing or stress‑reducing effects. However, because the data are from isolated serum enzymes, you can’t directly translate this into dosing guidelines or guaranteed benefits without further in‑vivo research.

Summary

The study shows that the brain‑active peptides semax and selank can block enzymes in human blood that break down natural opioid‑like compounds, doing so at fairly low concentrations. This suggests a possible way these peptides work, but the work was done in a test‑tube, not in people, so it doesn’t tell you how to dose or what effects to expect in real life.

Abstract

A dose-dependent effect of synthetic heptapeptides Semax (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) and Selank (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) on the enkephalin-degrading enzymes of human serum was demonstrated. The inhibitory effects of Semax (IC50 10 microM) and Selank (IC50 20 microM) are more pronounced than those of puromycin (IC50 10 mM), bacitracin, and some other inhibitors of peptidases. Beside the heptapeptides, their pentapeptide fragments also possessed an inhibitory effect; tri-, tetra-, and hexapeptide fragments did not display such an effect. As the above enzymes take part in degradation of not only enkephalins but also other regulatory peptides, it can be assumed that one of the mechanisms of biological activity of Semax and Selank is related to this inhibitory activity of theirs.

Study Information

Provider

pubmed

Year

2001

DOI

10.1023/a:1011373002885