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ACTH(4-10) analogue, Heptapeptide SEMAX
A synthetic heptapeptide analog of ACTH(4-10) that provides nootropic, neuroprotective, and cognitive-enhancing effects by modulating BDNF and neurotransmitter systems.
Arushanian. E B EB; Popov. A V AV
In rats, giving the nootropic peptide Semax over a long period helped their daily activity cycles become more regular and stronger, shifting the peak activity time and smoothing out the rhythm pattern.
Serdiuk. A V AV; Levitskiĭ. G N GN; Miasoedov. N F NF; Skvortsova. V I VI
In a small open‑label trial with ALS patients, daily intranasal semax (12 mg) for 10 days (repeated after a two‑week break) didn’t slow nerve loss or improve motor scores, but participants reported feeling better emotionally and more motivated, especially around day 10, leading to a higher overall quality‑of‑life rating.
Vilenskiĭ. D A DA; Levitskaia. N G NG; Andreeva. L A LA; Alfeeva. L Iu LIu; Kamenskiĭ. A...
In a rat study, giving a tiny daily dose of the peptide Semax through the nose for about two weeks lowered signs of anxiety and depression without changing normal activity, likely by boosting brain serotonin and a growth factor called BDNF.
Golubeva. A V AV; Gavrilova. S A SA; Lipina. T V TV; Shornikova. M V MV; Postnikov. A B AB; Andreeva...
In rats that had a simulated heart attack, giving the peptide semax didn’t change blood pressure or heart pumping ability, but it stopped tiny damage inside heart cells and lowered a blood marker of stress. The effect was seen only at the cellular level and was tested in animals, not people.
Grivennikov. Igor A IA; Dolotov. Oleg V OV; Zolotarev. Yuri A YA; Andreeva. Ludmila A LA; Myasoedov....
Semax, a short peptide similar to a fragment of ACTH, helped rat brain cells that produce the neurotransmitter acetylcholine survive better in a lab dish and increased the activity of the enzyme that makes acetylcholine. It didn’t affect other brain cell types, and it’s still unclear whether this translates to benefits for Alzheimer’s or cognition in people.
Eremin. K O KO; Saransaari. P P; Oja. S S; Raevskiĭ. K S KS
In rats and mice, giving the peptide semax before a dose of amphetamine made the drug release more dopamine in the brain and caused the animals to move around even more than amphetamine alone. This shows semax can boost the brain’s dopamine response to stimulants, but the study was done only in animals, not people.
Maev. I V IV; Dicheva. D T DT
In rats, the peptide semax lowered the amount of stomach acid and the enzyme pepsinogen that can damage the gut, and it briefly boosted the stomach's protective bicarbonate. This suggests semax might help protect against ulcers, but the study was done in animals and used injection, so it isn’t a ready‑to‑use protocol for people.
Vyunova. Tatiana V TV; Andreeva. Lioudmila A LA; Shevchenko. Konstantin V KV; Myasoedov. Nikolai F N...
The study shows that the brain‑active peptide Semax can change how certain brain chemicals (acetylcholine and GABA) bind to their receptors in stressed rats. The effect depends on the dose, and Semax also appears to increase the number of GABA binding sites after stress. This suggests Semax may influence brain signaling pathways linked to memory and stress response.
Shypshyna. M S MS; Veselovsky. N S NS; Myasoedov. N F NF; Shram. S I SI; Fedulova. S A SA
In a lab dish, the peptide Semax made nerve cells that talk with glutamate fire more often and release more neurotransmitter per signal. It also changed how these connections respond to rapid repeated stimulation, making them behave more like a stronger, more flexible link. The work was done on cultured rat neurons, not on people.
Gorbacheva. A M AM; Berdalin. A B AB; Stulova. A N AN; Nikogosova. A D AD; Lin. M D MD; Buravkov. S...
In rats that had a heart attack, the peptide Semax lowered the growth of nerve endings that boost the sympathetic (fight‑or‑flight) system in a leg artery, reduced the number of alpha‑adrenergic receptors there, and made the blood vessels less reactive to electrical signals and norepinephrine. These effects were seen up to 28 days after the injury.
Maslova. M V MV; Maklakova. A S AS; Sokolova. N A NA; Ashmarin. I P IP; Goncharenko. E N EN; Krushin...
In animal studies, lack of oxygen before and after birth caused hyperactivity and poorer learning, similar to attention‑deficit symptoms. Giving a mix of peptide hormones (including semax) during development reduced these problems and helped the animals grow more normally.
Grigorjeva. M E ME; Lyapina. L A LA
In a rat study, giving the peptide semax through the nose helped keep the blood from clotting too much when the animals were under short‑term or long‑term immobilization stress. The peptide seemed to boost the body's natural anticoagulation and fibrinolytic (clot‑breaking) systems, acting as a stress‑protective agent.
Maslova. M V MV; Maklakova. A S AS; Sokolova. N A NA; Ahmarin. I P IP; Goncharenko. E N EN; Krushins...
The study shows that lack of oxygen before and after birth harms brain development and causes behavior problems like hyperactivity, but giving a mix of peptide hormones (including semax) before the damage occurs helped protect the brain and reduced those problems in the test subjects.
Iasnetsov. V V VV; Pravdivtsev. V A VA; Krylova. I N IN; Kozlov. S B SB; Provornova. N A NA; Ivanov....
In a cat study, the brain‑boosting peptide semax was found to calm down individual brain cells in the cortex, and this calming effect seems to involve the brain's M‑choline (muscarinic) receptors. The research was done on immobilized cats using tiny electrodes, so it doesn’t give direct guidance for people, but it hints at how semax might work in the brain.
Medvedeva. Ekaterina V EV; Dmitrieva. Veronika G VG; Povarova. Oksana V OV; Limborska. Svetlana A SA...
In rats that had a small stroke, the peptide Semax changed the activity of many genes, especially those involved in the immune system and blood‑vessel formation. The biggest changes were seen a day after the stroke, with more immune‑related genes turned on and some genes that help blood vessels grow also affected. The researchers think these immune and vascular effects help protect the brain.
Torshin. I Yu IY; Gromova. O A OA; Sardaryan. I S IS; Fedotova. L E LE
The study used computer modeling to compare the drug mexidol with a few brain‑active compounds (including the peptide semax). It predicts that mexidol could boost acetylcholine and GABA‑A activity, reduce inflammation, protect neurons, thin blood, help control blood sugar, and lower lipids, while showing fewer interactions with heart potassium channels, MAO, and liver enzymes than the comparators.
Elagina. A A AA; Lyashev. Yu D YD; Lyashev. A Yu AY; Pronyaeva. T V TV; Chahine. A R AR
In a rat study, the peptide Semax (200 µg/kg) and another peptide called deltalicin helped fix abnormal blood fats caused by diabetes. Both lowered total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and a heart‑risk index, while raising good HDL. Deltalicin worked a bit better than Semax, but the results are from animals, not people.
Vyunova. T V TV; Medvedeva. E V EV; Andreeva. L A LA; Dergunova. L V LV; Limborska. S A SA; Myasoedo...
The study found that the brain‑protective peptide Semax changes the activity of many genes after a stroke in rats, especially boosting the gene for transthyretin (TTR). The authors think that this rise in TTR might be part of how Semax protects brain cells.
Vasil'eva. E V EV; Salimov. R M RM; Kovalev. G I GI
In a mouse study, the peptide semax (along with several other nootropics) helped a strain of mice that is naturally more anxious (BALB/c) explore new environments better and feel less anxious. The same effect was not seen in a less‑anxious mouse strain (C57BL/6).
Zhuĭkova. S E SE; Badmaeva. K E KE; Samonina. G E GE; Plesskaia. L G LG
In rats, the brain‑derived peptide semax (and related short peptides) speeds up the healing of stomach‑like ulcers caused by acetic acid. The peptides help clear dead tissue faster and boost the rebuilding of the lining, with some also lowering inflammation a few days after the injury.