Semax

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Not to be confused with semaxanib.

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Systematic (IUPAC) name
L-Methionyl-L-α-glutamylhistidyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-prolylglycyl-L-proline
Clinical data
Trade names Ladasten
Legal status
  • US: Unscheduled
Identifiers
CAS Number 4037-01-8 80714-61-0 (free base)
ATC code N06BX
PubChem CID: 122178
ChemSpider 108969
Synonyms (Pro8,Gly9,Pro10)ACTH-(4-10)
Chemical data
Formula C37H51N9O10S
Molecular mass 813.920 g/mol
  • O=C(N[C@@H](CCC(O)=O)C(N[C@@H](CC1=CNC=N1)C(N[C@@H](CC2=CC=CC=C2)C(N3[C@@H](CCC3)C(NCC(N4[C@@H](CCC4)C(O)=O)=O)=O)=O)=O)=O)[C@H](CCSC)N
  • InChI=1S/C37H51N9O10S/c1-57-16-13-24(38)32(50)42-25(11-12-31(48)49)33(51)43-26(18-23-19-39-21-41-23)34(52)44-27(17-22-7-3-2-4-8-22)36(54)46-15-5-9-28(46)35(53)40-20-30(47)45-14-6-10-29(45)37(55)56/h2-4,7-8,19,21,24-29H,5-6,9-18,20,38H2,1H3,(H,39,41)(H,40,53)(H,42,50)(H,43,51)(H,44,52)(H,48,49)(H,55,56)/t24-,25-,26?,27-,28-,29-/m0/s1
  • Key:AFEHBIGDWIGTEH-CXFOGXNKSA-N

Semax is a drug produced and prescribed mostly in Russia and Ukraine for a broad range of conditions but predominantly for its purported nootropic, neuroprotective, and neurogenic/neurorestorative properties. It is a heptapeptide, synthetic analog of a fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), ACTH (4-10), of the following structure: Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. Semax has not been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. It is unscheduled in the U.S. and legal to import by private citizens for personal use.[1]

Semax has undergone extensive study in Russia and is on the Russian List of Vital & Essential Drugs approved by the Russian Federation government on December 7, 2011.[2] Medical uses for Semax include treatment of stroke, transient ischemic attack, memory and cognitive disorders, peptic ulcers, optic nerve disease, and to boost the immune system.[1][1][3][4][5]

In animals, Semax rapidly elevates the levels and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its signaling receptor TrkB in the hippocampus,[6] and rapidly activates serotonergic and dopaminergic brain systems.[7][8] In accordance, it has been found to produce antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects,[9][10] attenuate the behavioral effects of exposure to chronic stress,[9][10] and potentiate the locomotor activity produced by D-amphetamine.[8][11] As such, it has been suggested that Semax may be effective in the treatment of depression,[12] as well as in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).[13]

Though the exact mechanism of action of Semax is unclear, there is evidence that it may act through melanocortin receptors. Specifically, there is a report of Semax competitively antagonizing the action of the melanocortin receptor full agonist α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) at the MC4 and MC5 receptors in both in vitro and in vivo experimental conditions, indicating that it may act as an antagonist (or partial agonist) of these receptors.[14] Semax did not antagonize α-MSH at the MC3 receptor, though this receptor could still be a target of the drug.[14] As for the MC1 and MC2 receptors, they were not assayed.[14] In addition to actions at receptors, Semax, as well as a related peptide drug, Selank, have been found to inhibit enzymes involved in the degradation of enkephalins and other endogenous regulatory peptides, and this action may also be involved in their effects.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences website (http://old.img.ras.ru/semax1-e.htm)
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.


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