Category
Cognition & Nootropics
Nootropic peptides studied for cognition, memory, and neuroprotection.
Cortexin
Cortexin (porcine cerebral cortex polypeptide complex, 10 mg lyophilized)
A Russian-developed porcine cerebral cortex polypeptide complex from Geropharm. Not a single peptide. Used clinically in Russia and CIS for stroke, TBI, pediatric encephalopathy, and cognitive disorders. Standard course: 10 mg intramuscular daily for 10 days. Not FDA-approved.
Dihexa
Dihexa (PNB-0408, N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6)-aminohexanoic amide)
A small peptidomimetic derived from angiotensin IV. Reportedly potentiates HGF/c-Met receptor signaling and promotes synaptogenesis. Preclinical rodent data only. Foundational biochemistry was retracted. No human evidence.
FGL
FGL — NCAM-Derived FGFR1 Agonist Peptide
Synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide derived from neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) FG loop. Activates FGFR1, promotes synaptic plasticity in aged-rat models. No human trial.
N-Acetyl Selank Amidate
N-Acetyl Selank Amidate — Stabilized Selank Analog
Modified Selank analog with N-acetyl and C-terminal amide groups added for protease resistance. Russian research literature exists; no peer-reviewed RCT of the modified form. Not FDA-approved.
N-Acetyl Semax Amidate
N-Acetyl Semax Amidate — Stabilized Semax Analog
N-terminally acetylated and C-terminally amidated analog of Semax, the Russian ACTH(4-10) heptapeptide nootropic. Modifications target protease resistance.
Noopept
Noopept (GVS-111, Omberacetam, N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester)
A small-molecule prodrug of the endogenous dipeptide cycloprolylglycine. Approved as a prescription nootropic in Russia since 1996. Increases hippocampal BDNF and NGF. Limited Western trial validation.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin (OT, OXT)
An endogenous 9-amino-acid neuropeptide. FDA-approved (Pitocin) for labor induction. Intranasal use widely studied for social cognition, autism, and bonding with inconsistent controlled trial results.
P-21
P021 — CNTF-Derived Neurotrophic Tetrapeptide
Synthetic adamantylated tetrapeptide derived from CNTF by epitope mapping. Promotes hippocampal neurogenesis and BDNF expression in animal Alzheimer's models. No published human clinical trial.
PE-22-28
PE-22-28 — Spadin Synthetic Peptide for TREK-1 Inhibition
Synthetic 7-amino-acid peptide derived from sortilin propeptide. Inhibits TREK-1 potassium channel, producing antidepressant-like effects in rodent models. No human trial.
Pinealon
Glu-Asp-Arg (EDR) — Khavinson Pineal Cytogen
Synthetic Glu-Asp-Arg tripeptide developed by the Khavinson group as the pineal-derived Cytogen for neural and cognitive bioregulation. Russian-network clinical observation data only.
Selank
Selank (TP-7)
Russian-developed heptapeptide anxiolytic based on tuftsin sequence, approved in Russia, no FDA approval.
Semax
Semax (Pro-Gly-Pro analog)
Russian heptapeptide nootropic derived from ACTH(4-7); approved in Russia for stroke and cognitive disorders.
Nootropic Peptides
Nootropic peptides are short amino-acid sequences studied for effects on memory, attention, mood, and neuroprotection. Most fall into three groups by mechanism. Russian-developed compounds like Selank and Semax act on melanocortin and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) signaling. Cerebrolysin is a porcine-brain-derived peptide mixture approved in several markets for stroke and neurodegenerative disease. Dihexa is an angiotensin IV analog studied preclinically for synaptogenesis.
The evidence picture varies sharply by compound. Cerebrolysin has decades of human trial data across stroke, traumatic brain injury, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer's. Selank and Semax have a smaller Russian clinical literature, primarily open-label, and are approved in Russia for anxiety and ischemic stroke respectively. Neither has FDA or EMA authorization. Dihexa has no completed human trial.
User-reported effects center on focus, verbal fluency, and reduced anxiety. These reports are uncontrolled and have not been replicated in placebo-controlled Western trials. Mechanistic models point to BDNF upregulation, hepatocyte growth factor receptor activation, and melanocortin signaling. Mechanism is not the same as demonstrated cognitive benefit in healthy adults.
None of these compounds is FDA-approved in the United States. Sale in the US generally falls under Research Use Only labeling. Cerebrolysin is available in Europe, Asia, and Latin America under prescription. Semax and Selank are prescription-only in Russia and unlicensed elsewhere.
Each compound entry on PeptScope summarizes the trial dataset, the strongest mechanistic finding, and the gaps that remain in human evidence.