nasal drops raises a handful of sensible questions. This page answers them in order, starting with the fundamentals and moving to applications.
Reviewed 2026-03-24. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
The parent fragment ACTH(4-10) carries the sequence Met-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly. Semax replaces the arginine and tryptophan positions with a proline-glycine-proline tail, giving Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. That change removes residues associated with adrenal stimulation, so the peptide does not drive cortisol release the way full ACTH does. This distinction shapes how the compound is grouped in the literature, where it sits with neuropeptides and peptide neuromodulators rather than with corticosteroids.
Regulatory status varies sharply by country. Semax is registered for medical use in Russia, where it appears in formularies as a nasal solution, and it also holds registration in a small number of neighbouring states. It has no approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency, and it is not a scheduled controlled substance in most jurisdictions. Elsewhere it circulates mainly as laboratory material, so purity documentation comes from suppliers rather than from a national pharmacopoeia.
Semax is a synthetic peptide created in the Soviet Union during the early 1980s by researchers working in Moscow. It was built from the short adrenocorticotropic hormone fragment known as ACTH(4-10), and the chain was then extended with three additional amino acids. The resulting molecule was named semax and entered clinical use in Russia in 1994. It is generally described as a nootropic and neuroprotective agent rather than as a hormone analogue.
Regulatory status differs sharply between jurisdictions. In Russia the peptide is registered as a prescription nasal preparation, while agencies such as the United States Food and Drug Administration have not approved it for any indication. Products sold elsewhere are typically labeled for laboratory research only, and such labels shift responsibility for safe handling to the purchaser. Because the same name covers pharmaceutical-grade nasal drops and bulk research powder, identity and purity documentation becomes the main practical concern when comparing sources.
Semax is a synthetic seven-amino-acid peptide whose sequence extends the ACTH(4-10) fragment with a C-terminal proline-glycine-proline tripeptide. The commonly cited sequence is Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro, giving a molecular formula near C37H51N9O10S and a molecular weight close to 813.9 g/mol. It belongs to the broader class of synthetic ACTH fragments studied for central nervous system effects rather than for adrenal steroid stimulation. In practice the material appears as a lyophilized white powder for laboratory work or as a dilute saline solution in clinical settings.
Development is attributed to researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow during the early 1980s, building on earlier Soviet work with ACTH fragments. Russian regulatory approval followed for intranasal use, and the compound has remained commercially available there for decades. Most published human data originate from Russian and, later, some Eastern European clinical reports, which are not always accessible in English translation. Outside that region the material is generally handled as a research chemical rather than a licensed medicine.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical class | Synthetic heptapeptide | Analogue of the ACTH(4-10) fragment |
| Amino acid sequence | Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro | Single-letter form MEHFPGP |
| Molecular formula | C37H51N9O10S | Free peptide, nominal mass near 814 Da |
| First registration | 1994, Russia | Nasal formulation for neurological indications |
| Typical purity grade | 95% or higher by HPLC | Research material; higher grades used as reference standards |
A more commonly used parameter is the half-life T1/2. Given a sample of a particular radionuclide, the half-life is the time taken for half the radionuclide's atoms to decay. For the case of one-decay nuclear reactions:
== Function == The protein encoded by this gene is an enzyme that belongs to the subtilisin-like proprotein convertase family. The members of this family are proprotein convertases that process latent precursor proteins into their biologically active products. This encoded protein is a calcium-dependent serine endoprotease that can efficiently cleave precursor proteins at their paired basic amino acid processing sites. Some of its substrates are: proparathyroid hormone, transforming growth factor beta 1 precursor, proalbumin, pro-beta-secretase, membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase, beta subunit of pro-nerve growth factor and von Willebrand factor. A furin-like pro-protein convertase has been implicated in the processing of RGMc (also called hemojuvelin), a gene involved in a severe iron-overload disorder called juvenile hemochromatosis. Both the Ganz and Rotwein groups demonstrated that furin-like proprotein convertases (PPC) are responsible for conversion of 50 kDa HJV to a 40 kDa protein with a truncated COOH-terminus, at a conserved polybasic RNRR site. This suggests a potential mechanism to generate the soluble forms of HJV/hemojuvelin (s-hemojuvelin) found in the blood of rodents and humans. The furin substrates and the locations of furin cleavage sites in protein sequences can be predicted by two bioinformatics methods: ProP and PiTou.
=== Secretariat === The commission is serviced by a Secretariat headed by a Secretary with four Additional Secretaries, several Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, and other supporting staff. The secretariat, for administrative purposes, is further divided into divisions, each undertaking having a specific responsibility:
The human body subjects most, but not all, compounds to various chemical processes (i.e. metabolism) to make them suitable for elimination. This involves chemical transformations to (a) reduce fat solubility and (b) to change biological activity. Although almost all tissues in the body have some ability to metabolize chemicals, smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the liver is the principal "metabolic clearing house" for both endogenous chemicals (e.g., cholesterol, steroid hormones, fatty acids, proteins) and exogenous substances (e.g., drugs, alcohol). The central role played by liver in the clearance and transformation of chemicals makes it susceptible to drug-induced injury. Drug metabolism is usually divided into two phases: phase 1 and phase 2. Phase 1 reaction is generally speaking to prepare a drug for phase 2. However, many compounds can be metabolized by phase 2 directly or be excreted without any phase 2 reactions occurring. Phase 1 reaction involves oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, hydration and many other rare chemical reactions. These processes tend to increase water solubility of the drug and can generate metabolites that are more chemically active and/or potentially toxic. Most of phase 2 reactions take place in cytosol and involve conjugation with endogenous compounds via transferase enzymes. Phase 1 are typically more suitable for elimination. A group of enzymes located in the endoplasmic reticulum, known as cytochrome P-450, is the most important family of metabolizing enzymes in the liver.
=== Mandatory breaks === Cooling or hydration breaks were introduced at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in every half for all matches. Broadcasters were permitted to run commercials during these pauses. Since the clock did not stop during the breaks, the three minutes were automatically included in the stoppage time for each half.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Examples of application === The rise of antibiotic resistance poses a serious threat to public health. The presence of antibiotic residues in wastewater exacerbates the problem. SIRIUS identifies and predicts the chemical structures of degradation products created by fungi as a promising biological solution to remove persistent antibiotic residues from wastewater. The widespread use of synthetic polymers in food contact materials have raised significant concerns about plastic contamination in food and beverages. A non-targeted approach to analysis is essential for uncovering both known and unknown contaminants. Researchers screened suspected and unanticipated chemicals in a variety of liquor samples using SIRIUS. SIRIUS is used in forensic science to analyze the chemical changes during decomposition, helping to understand microbial networks and potentially predict the time since death. Neonatal dried blood spots are important for newborn screening and a powerful source for investigating the potential metabolic etiologies of various diseases using untargeted LC-MS-based metabolomics. Researchers used SIRIUS to investigate the stability of metabolites and classes of molecules in neonatal dried blood spot biobanks. Marine microorganisms offer a rich source of bioactive compounds with unique structures and remarkable biological activity. This makes them an important resource for the search for new therapeutic compounds. Researchers are using SIRIUS, to narrow down the search to the most promising microorganisms.
==== Belgium ==== Brussels hosts most of the European Institutions, hence a large number of international think tanks are based there. Notable think tanks are Bruegel, the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Centre for the New Europe (CNE), the European Centre of International Political Economy (ECIPE), the European Policy Centre (EPC), the Friends of Europe, the Global Governance Institute (GGI), Liberales, and Sport and Citizenship, among others.
Instant coffee (Two packets) Coffee creamer (One packet, four grams) Sugar (One packet, six grams) Candy-coated gum (Two pieces) Compressed fruitcake bar or Tropical Bar Toilet paper Cardboard matches (One book) Cigarettes (Four sticks; eliminated in 1975) Although compact, the LRP daily ration was 'energy depleted', supplying 5,000 kilojoules (1,200 kcal) less energy per day than the MCI.
As the father of classical utilitarianism, Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) proposed the felicific calculus as a method to measure, compare, and aggregate degrees of pleasure and pain, considering factors such as their intensity and duration. He also suggested a direct link between well-being and right action, arguing that individuals and governments should promote "the greatest happiness of the greatest number". His student John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) modified Bentham's idea, proposing that the contribution to well-being depends on the quality of the pleasure. He held that higher pleasures of the mind are more valuable than lower pleasures of the body, even if they have the same intensity and duration. Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) rejected the utilitarian pursuit of happiness and the individualist market economy associated with Adam Smith, arguing instead that a sense of community and meaningful work are essential to well-being. The emergence of psychology as an empirical science prompted research into the internal factors of well-being, such as William James's (1842–1910) introspective research into the connection between happiness and religious experience. The psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) characterized the pursuit of pleasure and the reduction of tension as central aims of life. His early collaborator Carl Jung (1875–1961) explored how well-being depends on individuation as a form of psychological growth in which conscious and unconscious aspects are integrated.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Role in hunger circuitry == According to Mark L. Andermann and Bradford B. Lowell: "...AgRP neurons and the wiring diagram within which they operate can be viewed as the physical embodiment of the intervening variable, hunger." Stimulation of neurons expressing AgRP can induce robust feeding behavior in mice that will trigger: increased food consumption, increased willingness to work for food, and increased investigation of food odors. Despite this, AgRP neurons are rapidly inhibited upon food presentation and the onset of eating. One mechanism which may account for this discrepancy is the fact that AgRP neurons signal with Neuropeptide Y in order to allow for sustained feeding behavior that outlasts the activation of the neurons. AgRP neurons are also sensitive to satiety and hunger hormonal signals. One is an appetite stimulant, ghrelin which makes AgRP neurons more excitable through interactions with specialized ghrelin receptors. Another is a satiety signal, leptin, which modulates AgRP activity through inwardly rectifying potassium channels, which alter the excitability of the neurons. Leptin can also decrease the ability of AgRP neurons to carry out other physiological functions, such as triggering Long Term Potentiation of adjacent neurons. Although AgRP neurons can drive many different phases of feeding behavior, separate AgRP neurons project to different areas of the brain, demonstrating a parallel organizational structure.
== Detection == With continuing experience, particularly on the upper continental slope in the Gulf of Mexico, the successful prediction of the presence of tubeworm communities continues to improve; however, chemosynthetic communities cannot be reliably detected directly using geophysical techniques. Hydrocarbon seeps that allow chemosynthetic communities (Guaymas Basin) to exist do modify the geological characteristics in ways that can be remotely detected, but the time scales of co-occurring active seepage and the presence of living communities is always uncertain. These known sediment modifications include (1) precipitation of authigenic carbonate in the form of micronodules, nodules, or rock masses; (2) formation of gas hydrates; (3) modification of sediment composition through concentration of hard chemosynthetic organism remains (such as shell fragments and layers); (4) formation of interstitial gas bubbles or hydrocarbons; and (5) formation of depressions or pockmarks by gas expulsion. These features give rise to acoustic effects such as wipeout zones (no echoes), hard bottoms (strongly reflective echoes), bright spots (reflection enhanced layers), or reverberant layers (Behrens, 1988; Roberts and Neurauter, 1990). Potential locations for most types of communities can be determined by careful interpretation of these various geophysical modifications, but to date, the process remains imperfect and confirmation of living communities requires direct visual techniques.
The pepper plant is a perennial woody vine growing up to 4 m (13 ft) in height on supporting trees, poles, or trellises. It is a spreading vine, rooting readily where trailing stems touch the ground. The leaves are alternate, entire, 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) long and 3 to 6 cm (1 to 2+1⁄2 in) across.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Registered medical products are most often 0.1% nasal drops. Research suppliers ship lyophilized powder, usually in milligram quantities, which is dissolved before use. The active peptide is the same in both cases; presentation and excipients differ.
No. The peptide is synthetic, although it is modelled on a fragment of a naturally occurring hormone. ACTH(4-10) is generated when ACTH is cleaved, but the Pro-Gly-Pro extension is not a known endogenous sequence. It is therefore a designed analogue rather than a natural metabolite.
The label reflects reported effects on attention, memory and recovery after neurological injury in regional clinical reports. Those reports are mostly small and have not been widely replicated outside the region. The classification is descriptive and does not imply a single defined mechanism.
It is a short synthetic peptide built from seven amino acids: methionine, glutamic acid, histidine, phenylalanine and three prolines. The sequence derives from the 4-10 fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone with an added proline-glycine-proline tail. No plant or animal extract is involved; the material is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis.