Neuropeptides and cognitive research compounds

Neuropeptide analogues studied in central-nervous-system models.

Neuropeptide analogues studied in central nervous system models. The category spans two quite different research traditions, and knowing which an entry belongs to is the best guide to how its evidence should be read.

The larger group is a Russian series of short regulatory peptides, most of them built on the same structural device: a short endogenous fragment extended at the C-terminus to slow enzymatic cleavage. Semax and Selank are the two best known, and both are registered as pharmaceutical products in the Russian Federation while being approved nowhere else. Their clinical literature is published largely in Russian-language journals and indexed in English mainly as translated titles and abstracts, which bounds what can be verified from the indexed record.

The remaining entries are unrelated to that series and to each other, and each carries its own account.

Neither of the two best-known compounds has an established receptor, which is set out alongside their other differences on the Semax and Selank comparison page.

Compounds listed below without a link do not yet have a published entry.

Compounds in this category

8 of 8 entries are published. Compounds without a published entry are listed without a link.

  • SemaxSemax is a synthetic heptapeptide built from the 4–7 fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone with a C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension. It is registered as a pharmaceutical product in the Russian Federation and is not approved by the FDA for any indication.
  • N-Acetyl SemaxN-Acetyl Semax is an acetylated analogue of Semax, the synthetic ACTH(4-7)-PGP heptapeptide. Its own indexed literature consists of two chemistry reports; it has no animal or human research record of its own, and it is not approved by the FDA for any indication.
  • SelankSelank is a synthetic heptapeptide consisting of the immunoglobulin-derived tetrapeptide tuftsin extended by a Pro-Gly-Pro tripeptide. It is registered as a pharmaceutical product in the Russian Federation and is not approved by the FDA for any indication.
  • N-Acetyl SelankN-Acetyl Selank is an acetylated analogue of Selank, the synthetic tuftsin-derived heptapeptide. It is recorded in PubChem as a distinct chemical substance and has no indexed research literature of its own. It is not approved by the FDA for any indication.
  • DSIPDSIP is a linear nonapeptide, sequence WAGGDASGE, isolated from rabbit cerebral venous dialysate in 1977 and known by the International Nonproprietary Name emideltide. No receptor, gene or precursor protein has been identified for it, and it is not approved by the FDA for any indication.
  • PE-22-28PE-22-28 is a seven-residue synthetic peptide derived from spadin, a fragment of the sortilin propeptide, and reported to inhibit the TREK-1 two-pore-domain potassium channel. Its entire research record is preclinical. It is not approved by the FDA for any indication.
  • PinealonPinealon is the synthetic tripeptide Glu-Asp-Arg, one of the short peptides in the Khavinson bioregulator series. Its literature is concentrated in one research programme and consists chiefly of cell-culture and rodent work, with one small uncontrolled human report. It is not approved by the FDA for any indication.
  • CerebrolysinCerebrolysin is a mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides and free amino acids produced by enzymatic breakdown of purified porcine brain protein. It has no single structure, has been studied in large randomised trials in stroke, head trauma and dementia, and is not approved by the FDA for any indication.

For in vitro research use only. This material is a laboratory reagent. It is not a drug, food, dietary supplement, or cosmetic and is not for human or veterinary use, including ingestion, injection, or any other administration. No information on this page describes or implies any effect in humans or animals. Sold only to researchers under our Terms of Sale.