Peptide
Semax
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide derived from ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone). It has been approved as a prescription medication in Russia and Ukraine for treating stroke, cognitive disorders, and peptic ulcers. Research suggests it may enhance BDNF expression and exhibit nootropic and neuroprotective effects. Most clinical research has been conducted in Russia, with limited Western clinical trials.
- Updated
- How we grade
- 46 studies cited
Research notice. This page is for education and research. Peptides may not be FDA-approved for human use and may only be legally available for research. Talk to a qualified clinician before considering any peptide.
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 3
- Outcomes
- 12
- Graded outcomes
- 0165
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
Mental Health
- Anxiety Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Symptoms Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 6 studies | 60 people | ||
Studies that measured anxiety symptoms
| ||||||
General
- GI Protection: improves
- Immune Function: improves
- Safety/Tolerability: improves
Key findings
- BDNF LevelsImproves (the measure goes up)
- Stroke RecoveryImproves (the measure goes up)
- Memory PerformanceImproves (the measure goes up)
Studies cited
46 studies from PubMed
- Genes That Associated with Action of ACTH-like Peptides with Neuroprotective Potential in Rat Brain Regions with Different Degrees of Ischemic Damage.
- The Potential of the Peptide Drug Semax and Its Derivative for Correcting Pathological Impairments in the Animal Model of Alzheimer's Disease.
- Semax, a Copper Chelator Peptide, Decreases the Cu(II)-Catalyzed ROS Production and Cytotoxicity of aβ by Metal Ion Stripping and Redox Silencing.
- Antidepressant-like and antistress effects of the ACTH(4-10) synthetic analogs Semax and Melanotan II on male rats in a model of chronic unpredictable stress.
- Morphofunctional State of the Large Intestine in Rats under Conditions of Restraint Stress and Administration of Peptide ACTH((4-7))-PGP (Semax).
- Investigation of the effect of a modified fragment of neuropeptide Y on memory phases and extrapolation escape of animals.
- Correction of Lipid Metabolism Disorders in Diabetes Mellitus with Peptide Drugs.
- Experimental Substantiation of Application of Semax as a Modulator of Immune Reaction on the Model of "Social" Stress.
- The efficacy of semax in the treatment of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke
- Pharmacological Aspects of Neuro-Immune Interactions.
- Semax, an analog of ACTH((4-7)), regulates expression of immune response genes during ischemic brain injury in rats.
- Changes in Sympathetic Innervation of the Heart in Rats with Experimental Myocardial Infarction. Effect of Semax.
- [POSSIBLE ROLE OF TRANSTHYRETIN IN THE BIOLOGICAL MECHANISM OF THE REGULATORY PEPTIDE NEUROPROTECTION.].
- Semax prevents learning and memory inhibition by heavy metals.
- Changes in Sympathetic Innervation of Rat Caudal Artery in Experimental Myocardial Infarction. Effect of Semax Peptide.
- [Study of neuroprotective, antihypoxic and antiamnesic effects of new mixture of tripeptides].
- Semax, an ACTH4-10 peptide analog with high affinity for copper(II) ion and protective ability against metal induced cell toxicity.
- The peptide semax affects the expression of genes related to the immune and vascular systems in rat brain focal ischemia: genome-wide transcriptional analysis
- The peptide semax affects the expression of genes related to the immune and vascular systems in rat brain focal ischemia: genome-wide transcriptional analysis.
- Sigmoidal maximal effect modeling of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration and annual incidence of coronary heart disease events in secondary prevention trials.
- Effect of semax and its C-terminal fragment Pro-Gly-Pro on the expression of VEGF family genes and their receptors in experimental focal ischemia of the rat brain.
- The effect of Semax and its C-end peptide PGP on the morphology and proliferative activity of rat brain cells during experimental ischemia: a pilot study.
- Semax increases erythrocyte deformability in the shearing blood stream in intact rats and rats with cerebral ischemia.
- [The effect of semax and its C-end peptide PGP on expression of the neurotrophins and their receptors in the rat brain during incomplete global ischemia].
- Semax and Pro-Gly-Pro activate the transcription of neurotrophins and their receptor genes after cerebral ischemia.
- [Nootropic and analgesic effects of Semax following different routes of administration].
- The effect of semax and the C-terminal peptide PGP on expression of growth factor genes and receptors in rats under conditions of experimental cerebral ischemia.
- Therapeutic possibility of "Semax" for depression.
- Effects of semax and its Pro-Gly-Pro fragment on calcium homeostasis of neurons and their survival under conditions of glutamate toxicity.
- Comparative study of analgesic potency of ACTH4-10 fragment and its analog semax.
- Semax, an analog of ACTH(4-10) with cognitive effects, regulates BDNF and trkB expression in the rat hippocampus
- Semax, an analogue of adrenocorticotropin (4-10), binds specifically and increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein in rat basal forebrain
- Semax, an ACTH(4-10) analog with nootropic properties, activates the expression of the genes for BDNF and TrkB in the rat hippocampus
- [Protective effect of peptide semax (ACTH(4-7)Pro-Gly-Pro) on the rat heart rate after myocardial infarction].
- Neuroprotective and antiamnesic effects of Semax during experimental ischemic infarction of the cerebral cortex.
- Semax, an ACTH(4-10) analogue with nootropic properties, activates dopaminergic and serotoninergic brain systems in rodents
- The neuroprotective effects of Semax in conditions of MPTP-induced lesions of the brain dopaminergic system.
- [An experimental substantiation for using the "Semax" neuroprotector in the treatment of optic-nerve diseases].
- [Semax and some glyproline peptides accelerate the healing of acetic ulcers in rats].
- Effect of Semax peptide on survival of cultured rat pheochromocytoma cells during oxidative stress.
- Possible mechanism underlying the effect of Semax on the formation of indomethacin-induced ulcers in rats.
- Therapy of peptic ulcer with semax peptide.
- Semax--a peptide with nootropic and neuroprotective properties
- Novel synthetic analogue of ACTH 4-10 (Semax) but not glycine prevents the enhanced nitric oxide generation in cerebral cortex of rats with incomplete global ischemia.
- Investigation of mechanisms of neuro-protective effect of semax in acute period of ischemic stroke
- [Relationship between the therapeutic effect of the peptide preparation semax and the severity of brain ischemia].