[Effect of semax and mexidol on brain ischemia models in rats].
Iasnetsov. V V VV; Voronina. T A TA
Key Findings
- Semax and mexidol both reduced neurological deficits and increased survival in a rat brain‑ischemia model
- Mexidol’s benefit grew with higher doses (30‑120 mg/kg/day), whereas semax’s benefit dropped as the dose rose (0.3‑1.2 mg/kg/day)
- Preventive dosing of both agents lessened memory loss in rats after ischemic stress
Practical Outcomes
- For DIY health enthusiasts, the data hint that semax could have neuroprotective properties at low doses, but the evidence is limited to rats and may not translate to humans. Mexidol shows a clear dose‑response but also lacks human data. Until clinical trials confirm safety and efficacy, these findings are interesting but not ready for real‑world dosing protocols.
Summary
In rats that had a simulated stroke, giving the peptide semax (and the antioxidant mexidol) helped them survive longer and showed less brain damage. Mexidol worked better with higher doses, while semax actually worked less well when the dose got higher, meaning a low dose might be best. Giving these compounds before the injury also helped the rats remember better in a simple memory test.
Abstract
It was established that semax and mexidol significantly reduced neurological deficiency and increased the survival in rats with model brain ischemia induced by the bilateral ligation of common carotid arteries. Mexidol exhibited a linear dose-effect relationship (in a range of doses from 30 to 120 mg/kg per day), while the effect of semax decreased with increasing dose (in a dose range from 0.3 to 1.2 mg/kg per day). Preventive course administration of semax and mexidol considerably reduced neurologic deficiency and amnesia in a step-down passive avoidance situation in rats with model brain ischemia caused by gravitation overload.
Study Information
pubmed
2009