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Background And Development — Reference Sheet

By Editorial Desk · published 2026-05-23 · last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Info

ACTH analog raises a handful of sensible questions. This page answers them in order, starting with the fundamentals and moving to applications.

This page was last updated on 2026-06-15 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.

Background and Development

Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide developed in the Soviet Union during the 1980s by researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow. It was designed as a truncated analog of adrenocorticotropic hormone, retaining only the fragment spanning residues four through ten. Investigators sought a peptide that would preserve the cognitive effects associated with ACTH while eliminating the hormonal stimulation of the adrenal cortex. The compound entered clinical use in Russia during the following decade.

Russian regulatory authorities approved the peptide for nasal administration, and it remains listed in the national pharmacopoeia under several trade names. Documented indications include acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attacks, traumatic brain injury, and certain ophthalmological and neurological conditions. Physicians also prescribe it for cognitive complaints in older patients, although the evidence base for that use is thinner. Outside Russia and a few neighboring states, the substance is not an approved medicine and is sold instead as a research chemical.

Later generations of the molecule include an N-acetylated form and an amidated form, both marketed online alongside the parent peptide. These variants differ in terminal chemistry and stability, and they are frequently discussed in the same breath even though they have not been compared in controlled trials. Supply outside formal healthcare systems comes largely from laboratories that synthesize peptides to order. Purity and identity of these materials vary widely, and no single body oversees the international trade.

Semax 的分子背景与结构

Semax 是一种人工合成的七肽,氨基酸序列为 Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro,单字母缩写记作 MEHFPGP。它被归类为促肾上腺皮质激素片段 ACTH(4-10) 的结构类似物,但并不天然存在于生物体内。母体片段 ACTH(4-10) 的序列为 Met-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly,Semax 替换了中间两个残基,并在羧基端延长了 Pro-Gly-Pro 三肽。这种延长被普遍认为能提升分子对肽酶的耐受性。

该化合物于二十世纪八十年代在俄罗斯被开发,相关工作由俄罗斯科学院分子遗传学研究所的研究团队主导。开发目标并非复制 ACTH 的完整激素活性,而是寻找保留其神经作用方向、同时去除促肾上腺皮质激素释放效应的短肽片段。研究记录显示,这一方向促成了多个相关短肽的合成与筛选,而 Semax 是其中被研究最广泛的一个。当地文献常以 Семакс 这一名称指代它。

Semax at a glance

PropertyValueNotes
Molecular classSynthetic heptapeptideAnalog of an ACTH fragment
Amino acid lengthSeven residuesMet-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro
OriginMoscow, 1980sInstitute of Molecular Genetics
Approved regionsRussia and some neighboring statesNot cleared in Western markets
Common trade namesMultiple national brandsSold as a nasal formulation

Reference notes

In his post-election victory speech, Lula adopted a more moderate tone, saying that he intends to "pacify the country". Though he later, indirectly, called his political opponent Jair Bolsonaro authoritarian and fascist, by saying that he had "defeated authoritarianism and fascism in Brazil". This was considered to be a repeat of previous rhetoric from during the election campaign, when Lula frequently compared his rival to leaders of the military dictatorship and the fascist regimes of Italy and Germany, as well calling Bolsonaro a "plague of locusts". He was inaugurated on 1 January 2023. That day Lula and Geraldo Alckmin were sworn in as president and vice-president of Brazil, respectively, for the period 1 January 2023 – 4 January 2027.

Bombesin is a 14-amino acid peptide originally isolated from the skin of the European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) by Vittorio Erspamer et al. and named after its source. It has two known homologs in mammals called neuromedin B and gastrin-releasing peptide. It stimulates gastrin release from G cells. It activates three different G-protein-coupled receptors known as BBR1, -2, and -3. It also activates these receptors in the brain. Together with cholecystokinin, it is the second major source of negative feedback signals that stop eating behaviour. Bombesin is also a tumor marker for small cell carcinoma of lung, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, and neuroblastoma.

==== By activase ==== The removal of the inhibitory RuBP, CA1P, and the other inhibitory substrate analogs by activase requires the consumption of ATP. This reaction is inhibited by the presence of ADP, and, thus, activase activity depends on the ratio of these compounds in the chloroplast stroma. Furthermore, in most plants, the sensitivity of activase to the ratio of ATP/ADP is modified by the stromal reduction/oxidation (redox) state through another small regulatory protein, thioredoxin. In this manner, the activity of activase and the activation state of RuBisCO can be modulated in response to light intensity and, thus, the rate of formation of the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate substrate.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Related pages on this site

Notes from published material

They perform as high-grade solvents for a broad array of plastics, plasticizers, resins, and lacquers, and are one of the largest classes of synthetic lubricants on the commercial market. Polyesters are important plastics, with monomers linked by ester moieties. Esters of phosphoric acid form the backbone of DNA molecules. Esters of nitric acid, such as nitroglycerin, are known for their explosive properties. There are compounds in which an acidic hydrogen of acids mentioned in this article are not replaced by an organyl, but by some other group. According to some authors, those compounds are esters as well, especially when the first carbon atom of the organyl group replacing acidic hydrogen, is replaced by another atom from the group 14 elements (Si, Ge, Sn, Pb); for example, according to them, trimethylsilyl acetate CH3COOSi(CH3)3 is a trimethylsilyl ester of acetic acid, and dibutyltin dilaurate (CH3(CH2)10COO)2Sn((CH2)3CH3)2 is a dibutylstannylene ester of lauric acid, and the Phillips catalyst CrO2(OSi(OCH3)3)2 is a trimethoxysilyl ester of chromic acid (H2CrO4).

Oxycodone, sold under the brand names Roxicodone and OxyContin (which is the extended-release form) among others, is a semi-synthetic opioid used medically for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. It is a highly addictive and commonly abused drug. It is usually taken orally, and is available in immediate-release and controlled-release formulations. Onset of pain relief typically begins within fifteen minutes and lasts for up to six hours with the immediate-release formulation. In the United Kingdom, it is available by injection. Combination products are also available with paracetamol (acetaminophen), ibuprofen, naloxone, naltrexone, and aspirin. Common side effects include euphoria, constipation, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, drowsiness, dizziness, itching, dry mouth, and sweating. Side effects may also include addiction and dependence, substance abuse, irritability, depression or mania, delirium, hallucinations, hypoventilation, gastroparesis, bradycardia, and hypotension. Those allergic to codeine may also be allergic to oxycodone. Opioid withdrawal may occur if rapidly stopped. Oxycodone acts by activating the μ-opioid receptor. When taken by mouth, it has roughly 1.5 times the effect of the equivalent amount of morphine. Oxycodone was originally produced from the opium poppy opiate alkaloid thebaine in 1916 in Germany. One year later, it was used medically for the first time in Germany. Oxycodone is available as a generic medication. In 2023, it was the 49th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 13 million prescriptions.

Polatuzumab vedotin, sold under the brand name Polivy, is an antibody-drug conjugate medication used for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (cancer). Polatuzumab is an antibody that targets CD79b, and vedotin is an agent that inhibits cell division by blocking the polymerisation of tubulin. It was developed by the Genentech subsidiary of Roche. The most common side effects include low levels of white blood cells (neutropenia), platelets (thrombocytopenia) and red blood cells (anemia); nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy); fatigue; diarrhea; fever; decreased appetite; and pneumonia. Polatuzumab vedotin was approved for medical use in the United States in June 2019, in Australia in October 2019, in the European Union in January 2020, and in Canada in November 2020.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Background from the literature

Neither the participants nor the health care providers knew which treatment was being given until after the trial was completed. All participants were allowed to use a rescue pain medication, if the pain was not well controlled using the trial medications. To assess the benefits of oliceridine, participants used a numerical scale to score how severe the pain was after the surgery. The scores for the participants receiving oliceridine were compared to the scores for the participants who received placebo and those who received morphine. In the third trial, participants who had pain following various type of surgeries or due to a medical condition received at least one dose of oliceridine. Data from this trial were used only to assess the side effects of oliceridine. Oliceridine was approved for medical use in the United States in August 2020. The FDA granted approval of Olinvyk to Trevena Inc.

== Use and effects == Isoergine occurs naturally in morning glory species, including Ipomoea tricolor (tlitliltzin), Ipomoea corymbosa (ololiuhqui), and Argyreia nervosa (Hawaiian baby woodrose). It has been found to constitute 8 to 35% of total alkaloid content relative to 5 to 58% for ergine. Albert Hofmann, the discoverer of LSD's psychedelic effects, tried 2 mg isoergine orally and experienced feelings of unreality, detachment from the outside world, feelings of mental emptiness, tiredness, and apathy, though no specific sensory distortions were mentioned. He described its effects as similar to those of ergine, which he had tested at doses of up to 2 mg. Subsequently Heim and colleagues assessed ergine at higher doses of 3 to 6 mg orally and observed toxic-like effects, while isoergine at 2 to 5 mg orally produced notable hallucinogenic effects. The psychedelic effects of isoergine observed in this study included some euphoria, synaesthesia, and altered time perception. However, although hallucinogenic, isoergine's effects have been described as not LSD-like. The presence of hallucinogenic effects of isoergine has been described as quite unusual for an isolysergamide derivative. It is thought that ergine and isoergine together may account for most or all of the effects of morning glory seeds, with ergine producing intoxication, sedation, and autonomic side effects and isoergine producing hallucinogenic effects. Conversely, other notable constituents, including elymoclavine, lysergol, and chanoclavine, produced no psychoactive or hallucinogenic effects in humans.

== Similar conditions == A food craving is an intense desire to consume a specific food, as opposed to general hunger. Similarly, thirst is the craving for water. A concept of food noise or food chatter has gotten more attention in the early 2020s since the advent of antiobesity indications for a class of medications called GLP-1 agonists (e.g., semaglutide). Food noise is a mental preoccupation with food in general (as opposed to one specific food) that is largely independent from physiological hunger but nonetheless is distracting for many people; it includes recurring thoughts about what one has or hasn't eaten in recent hours, what one would like to eat right now or "shouldn't" eat right now, and what one might be eating (or "should" avoid eating) in upcoming hours. Among people for whom these medications are effective in helping with weight loss, most express that the level of food noise in their mind is noticeably reduced. Even without these medications, some people may be able to reduce food noise by modifying their dietary patterns and exercise; this is more effective for some people than others. An expert panel convened in 2024 defined food noise as "Persistent thoughts about food that are perceived by the individual as being unwanted and/or dysphoric and may cause harm to the individual, including social, mental, or physical problems." The group also developed and conducted a rigorous, multi-step evaluation of an instrument to measure food noise (Ro-Allison-Indiana-Dhurandhar Food Noise Instrument, or RAID-FN).

== Features == An interesting feature of these phases is that both polar and nonpolar compounds can be retained over some range of mobile phase composition (organic/aqueous). The retention mechanism of polar compounds has recently been shown to be the result of the formation of a hydroxide layer on the surface of the silica hydride.[3] Thus positively charged analytes are attracted to the negatively charged surface and other polar analytes are likely to be retained through displacement of hydroxide or other charged species on the surface. This property distinguishes it from a pure HILIC (hydrophilic interaction chromatography) columns where separation by polar differences is obtained through partitioning into a water-rich layer on the surface, or a pure RP stationary phase on which separation by nonpolar differences in solutes is obtained with very limited secondary mechanisms operating. Another important feature of the hydride-based phases is that for many analyses it is usually not necessary to use a high pH mobile phase to analyze polar compounds such as bases. The aqueous component of the mobile phase usually contains from 0.1 to 0.5% formic or acetic acid, which is compatible with detector techniques that include mass spectral analysis.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Frequently asked questions

Where was Semax developed?

It originated at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow during the 1980s. The work was carried out by a Russian research group that specialized in peptide neuropharmacology.

Is Semax an approved medication anywhere?

It is registered as a medicine in Russia and has been used clinically there for decades. No regulatory agency in Western Europe or North America has approved it for any indication.

What is the relationship to ACTH?

Semax corresponds to the four-to-ten fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Because it omits the first three residues, it lacks the adrenal-stimulating action of the full hormone.

Semax 是天然存在的物质吗?

不是。Semax 是完全人工合成的七肽,自然界中没有对应的已知肽段。它的设计灵感来自促肾上腺皮质激素片段 ACTH(4-10),但序列经过了替换和延长。

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