Focus & calm
Semax: published research
Also known as ACTH(4–7)-Pro-Gly-Pro
A synthetic peptide built from a short piece of the hormone ACTH with three extra amino acids that make it more stable. It was developed in Russia and is mostly studied as a nasal spray. Research looks at BDNF — a growth factor for nerve cells — attention, memory and recovery after stroke.
Evidence at a glance
2 studies 2006–2020
- 1 Human trial
- 1 Animal study
What researchers look at
- BDNF
- Attention and memory
- Stroke recovery
- Nasal delivery
What is still unknown
Most studies were published in Russian journals; independent trials outside Russia are scarce.
Studies in people
1- Human trial
In 52 healthy volunteers, resting-state brain scans showed that Semax (given to its own group, not with Selank) altered connectivity between the right amygdala and temporal cortex compared with placebo.
Panikratova YR, et al. Functional Connectomic Approach to Studying Selank and Semax Effects. Doklady Biological Sciences. 2020. PMID 32342318
Animal studies
1- Animal study
In rats, a single Semax application increased hippocampal BDNF and trkB expression and trkB activation, alongside better performance in a learning task.
Dolotov OV, et al. Semax, an analog of ACTH(4-10) with cognitive effects, regulates BDNF and trkB expression in the rat hippocampus. Brain Research. 2006. PMID 16996037
Short summaries of published studies, with links to the original papers. Results in animals or cells may not apply to people. This is not medical advice and not a guide to use.