Semax

What is Semax?
Synthetic analogue of the Adrenocorticotropic hormone fragment (ACTH 4-10) with prolonged neurotropic activity
Synonims
(H-Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro-OH), L-Methionyl-L-α-glutamylhistidyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-prolylglycyl-L-proline, (Pro8,Gly9,Pro10)ACTH-(4-10)
Formula and Molar mass
C37H51N9O10S, 813.920 g/mol

Semax is a synthetic analogue of the adrenocorticotropic hormone fragment (ACTH 4-10). It is a new generation of nootropic and neuroprotective compound. The range of its physiological activity and mechanisms of action in the body is still being studied in large scale reseach. Semax was initially pursued as a treatment for stroke and brain damage but was subsequently observed to promote significant cognitive enhancement in healthy individuals as well. Semax stimulates the central nervous system and enhances memory, focus, mental performance and analytical skills.

Semax has no influence on the adrenal cortex - it produces no corticotropic or melanocyte-stimulating activities.

After introduction into the body, regulatory peptides such as ACTH 4-10 (Semax predecessor) undergo rapid degradation by the protease enzymes - therefore, the desired effects are transient and limited. In its natural form the fragment ACTH (4-10) is degraded within 30 - 60 minutes. To counter this and prolong its action proline-carrying Glyproline (Pro-Gly-Pro) was attached to the molecule. This is Semax. Glyprolines are very stable, and protect the Semax molecule against degradation by the proteases. With this modification, Semax effects last between 20 - 24 hours.

History of Semax

In the late 1970s, a research team headed by Drs N.F. Myasoedov and I.P. Ashmarin from the Institute of Molecilar Genetics at the Russian Academy of Scence in Moscow initiated studies to create a nootropic peptide preparation based on the ACTH and its fragments. The final version of Semax was created in 1982. Eventually the preparation "Semax 0.1% was produced in form of nasal drops to be used in clinical practice as a nootropic and neuroprotective remedy. It successfully passed all clinical trials and was registered for use in Russia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia and various other countries of the Eastern block. In 2001 a preparation of "Semax 1%" was released to be used as treatment after brain stroke. Its curative and preventative effects proved to be broad - positively effecting conditions such as dyscirculatory encephalopathy, Parkinson’s disease, ocular nerve atrophy, and a number of pathologies caused by blood circulation deficiency in the brain.

A Semax compound named "Minisem" was developed for children with neurological defects to be used from 3 years of age onward.

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  • improved immune response (reference>)
  • increased formation and functioning of blood and the vascular system (reference)
  • analgesic activity - reduced pain sensitivity but only when injected into the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneal administration) (reference)
  • neural regeneration after brain stroke
  • treatment of Parkinson's disease
  • treatment of ocular nerve atrophy
  • treatment of various pathologies caused by blood circulation deficiency in the brain
  • enhancement of intellectual capacity in healthy persons in extreme stress conditions
  • prevention and therapy for brain damage due to diseases of the central nervous system
  • increased curiosity
  • stimulate memory and attention
  • potential treatment for ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (<a href"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16996699">reference</a>
  • improved visual memory
  • enhanced alertness
  • increased motivation

Semax as a nootropic

in the making

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Semax as a neuroprotective agent

Research has shown that Semax significantly reduces the number of damaged cells under conditions of oxidative stress caused by short-term incubation with hydrogen peroxide (<a href"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12802399">reference</a>). It also significantly increases the survival of cerebellar granule neurons during glutamate neurotoxicity (<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10517-007-0192-x">reference</a>). Experiments performed on cultures of embryonic rat brain cells show that Semax increases the number of surviving neurons by 1.5 - 3.0 times compared with the control, without affecting the proliferation of glial cells (<a href"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12802399">reference</a>). Studies of the antihypoxic properties of Semax performed on rats showed that Semax increases the lifespan of animals at an extreme altitude of 12.000 m by 2.5-fold. Experiments of the effect of Semax after acute hypobaric hypoxia in rats showed that a single Semax dose (50 μg/kg) caused an increase in resistance of animals to hypoxia, had a positive effect on the heart function during hypoxia, and reduced the behavioral changes, which are otherwise caused by the lack of oxygen. We will not list them all here, but there were many studies on survival of the animal under varous types of stress which damage the brain - with and without Semax. On average the survival of the animal was increased by 2-3 fold with Semax. For those interested in the in-depth research, here is the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/nm.2013.44035">reference</a>. In one of such studies clinically dead rats were revived after 10 minutes of cardiac arrest. After the damage of their memory was assessed they were given Semax via daily intranasal administration of 50 micrograms per kg of weight. After 2 weeks the parameters of orienting-exploratory reaction in the damaged rats were equal to the normal animals.

Clinical studies of the effect of Semax on the reparation of amnestic brain function in patients with severe postresuscitational pathology (mental and intellectual disorders) show that the majority of patients treated with Semax exhibit a significant recovery.

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Semax as treatment after brain stroke, aneurysm or traumatic brain injury

Intranasal delivery is an easy, practical and non-invasive method of bypassing the blood-brain barrier to deliver therapeutic agents to the brain and central nervous system within minutes. This is possible because the olfactory and trigeminal nerves provide connections between the brain and external environment. Intranasal delivery does not require any modification to the semax molecule so it can be used in its natural form. Research has shown that intranasal (nasal spray) delivery of Semax is approximately 9 times more effective when compared to injectable (subcutaneous or intramuscular route).

Semax does irritate the mucous membrane (lining of the inside of the nose). After several days of intranasal use people tend to get cold symptoms due to irritation. To prevent this it is advised to alternate the sprays between intranasal (into the nose), subliguial (under the tongue) gingival (pocket between gums of the front teeth and lip) and and floor of the mouth. Select a different location for each use.

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Semax dosage guidelines

<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">duration:</span> from 10 days to as long as needed</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">dosage:</span> between 400 mcg - 9 mg of Selank per day</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">daily frequency:</span>total daily dosage split into 3 doses throughout the day</li>

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Intranasal delivery of Semax (and alternative routes)

Intranasal delivery is an easy, practical and non-invasive method of bypassing the blood-brain barrier to deliver therapeutic agents to the brain and central nervous system within minutes. This is possible because the olfactory and trigeminal nerves provide connections between the brain and external environment. Intranasal delivery does not require any modification to the semax molecule so it can be used in its natural form. Research has shown that intranasal (nasal spray) delivery of Semax is approximately 9 times more effective when compared to injectable (subcutaneous or intramuscular route).

Semax does irritate the mucous membrane (lining of the inside of the nose). After several days of intranasal use people tend to get cold symptoms due to irritation. To prevent this it is adivsed to alternate the sprays between intranasal (into the nose), subliguial (under the tongue) gingival (pocket between gums of the front teeth and lip) and and floor of the mouth. Select a different location for each use.

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Reconstituting (dissolving, mixing) of the freeze dried Semax

Plain sterile water for injection is the most suitable diluent for lyophilized Semax. Alternatively it can be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water (0.9% sodium chloride), normal saline (0.9% NaCl) or water containing 0.9% (9 mg/mL) of benzyl alcohol.

Freeze dried (lyophilized) Semax usually comes in 30 mg vials. Gently inject 1 to 2 ml of water into the vial. Let it sit in refrigerator for 10 - 15 minutes. If there are any undissolved particles left after 15 minutes, gently rotate the vial between your fingers until all of the powder has dissolved and you are left with clear liquid.

Preparing the Selank spray:

Empty sprayer bottles can be found in local pharmacy stores or bought online (ebay, etc). If your local pharmacy doesn't carry empty sprayers you could buy a generic nasal decongestant, discard the liquid and if the bottle is reusable, clean and reuse it.

Determining the correct dosage per spray can be tricky. Our solution was to put 3ml of water into the sprayer, then count the number of sprays while emptying it click by click. The following math is then done: total amount of mg in the selank vial divided by the total number of sprays results in how many mg's there are per each spray.

Example:
5 mg (5000 mcg) of Selank in the vial is mixed with 1ml of water. 2 more ml of water are added to the sprayer - this makes a total of 3ml mixture which is 5mg strong. The 3ml of water results in 38 sprays (this varries from sprayer to sprayer). So the math is: 5000 mcg divided by 38 sprays = 131 mg of Selank per spray. If a person was to take 1mg (1000 mcg) per day, that would be roughly 2 sprays per nosdril, twice per day.

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Semax as an antimicrobial agent

in the making

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Proper storage of Semax

Always store both the freeze dried powder and the mixed solution in refrigerator (but not freezer). Refrigeration should be set to between 2 - 8 degrees celsius (36 - 46 Fahrenheit). After reconstitution to liquid form the Semax should be used within 20 days.

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Where can I find Semax for sale?

coming

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