This is a working overview of ACTH(4–10), written for readers who want more than a one-paragraph summary but less than a textbook.
Reviewed 2026-07-17. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
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 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.
Pharmacological accounts link semax to melanocortin signalling and to modulation of neurotrophic factor expression, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor. Much of this evidence comes from rodent studies using intranasal delivery, a route chosen because it allows peptides to reach the central nervous system with limited systemic exposure. Whether the same mechanisms operate in humans at comparable magnitude remains an open question. The precise receptor or receptors responsible for the reported behavioural and neuroprotective effects have not been conclusively identified.
Clinical reports describe use in ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack, optic nerve conditions, and cognitive complaints, but most of these studies are small and were conducted in a single region. Systematic reviews have generally described the evidence base as limited in size and variable in methodological quality. Randomised controlled data suitable for international regulatory assessment are scarce. As a result, major treatment guidelines outside Russia do not include the peptide, and interest in it remains largely research-driven rather than routine clinical.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. It is described in the literature as an analogue of the ACTH(4–10) fragment, a short N-terminal portion of adrenocorticotropic hormone that retains some neurotropic activity without the full hormonal effects of the parent peptide. The molecule carries a methionine residue at the N-terminus and two proline residues near the C-terminus, features that shape both its interactions with receptor systems and its chemical stability. The free peptide corresponds to the formula C37H51N9O10S and a molecular mass near 813.9 Da.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular class | Synthetic heptapeptide | Analog of an ACTH fragment |
| Amino acid length | Seven residues | Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro |
| Origin | Moscow, 1980s | Institute of Molecular Genetics |
| Approved regions | Russia and some neighboring states | Not cleared in Western markets |
| Common trade names | Multiple national brands | Sold as a nasal formulation |
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。
研究兴趣主要集中在神经营养因子相关的路径上，包括脑源性神经营养因子与神经生长因子的表达变化。部分实验报告称在特定条件下观察到这些因子的水平上升，但具体信号通路和剂量依赖关系仍未完全厘清。多数公开数据来自细胞模型和动物实验，人体对照研究数量有限。因此，该化合物的作用机制在文献中属于活跃讨论，而非已经确立的定论。
当时的短肽研究普遍关注能否穿越血脑屏障、在低剂量下产生中枢效应，Semax 属于这一路线。鼻内给药是其主要使用方式，俄语文献报道的适应症涵盖缺血性卒中、短暂性脑缺血发作、认知功能减退以及视神经病变。这些研究大多发表在当地期刊上，样本规模与终点设置同西方试验惯例存在差异，国际同行对其临床证据的强度看法不一。
各国监管态度分化明显。俄罗斯按处方药管理，部分东欧国家留有使用记录；欧盟与美国未批准其作为药物上市，市面流通品通常标注为研究用化学品。身份差异意味着标示含量、纯度与无菌性缺少统一核查。体育领域还牵涉反兴奋剂名录，跨境携带则受目的地药品法规约束。
==== MeSH D12.125.072 – amino acids, cyclic ==== MeSH D12.125.072.050 – amino acids, aromatic MeSH D12.125.072.050.342 – dextrothyroxine MeSH D12.125.072.050.685 – phenylalanine MeSH D12.125.072.050.685.400 – dihydroxyphenylalanine MeSH D12.125.072.050.685.400.180 – cysteinyldopa MeSH D12.125.072.050.685.400.500 – levodopa MeSH D12.125.072.050.685.400.600 – methyldopa MeSH D12.125.072.050.685.440 – fenclonine MeSH D12.125.072.050.685.450 – p-fluorophenylalanine MeSH D12.125.072.050.685.500 – melphalan MeSH D12.125.072.050.767 – thyroxine MeSH D12.125.072.050.767.741 – thyronines MeSH D12.125.072.050.767.741.180 – diiodothyronines MeSH D12.125.072.050.767.741.894 – triiodothyronine MeSH D12.125.072.050.767.741.947 – triiodothyronine, reverse MeSH D12.125.072.050.850 – tryptophan MeSH D12.125.072.050.850.479 – 5-hydroxytryptophan MeSH D12.125.072.050.875 – tyrosine MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.064 – betalains MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.064.500 – betacyanins MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.130 – dihydroxyphenylalanine MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.130.180 – cysteinyldopa MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.130.500 – levodopa MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.130.600 – methyldopa MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.262 – diiodotyrosine MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.379 – melanins MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.496 – monoiodotyrosine MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.664 – methyltyrosines MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.664.050 – alpha-methyltyrosine MeSH D12.125.072.050.875.750 – phosphotyrosine MeSH D12.125.072.170 – cycloleucine MeSH D12.125.072.200 – desmosine MeSH D12.125.072.329 – histidine MeSH D12.125.072.329.269 – ergothioneine MeSH D12.125.072.329.539 – methylhistidines MeSH D12.125.072.401 – imino acids MeSH D12.125.072.401.200 – azetidinecarboxylic acid MeSH D12.125.072.401.623 – proline MeSH D12.125.072.401.623.270 – captopril MeSH D12.125.072.401.623.374 – fosinopril MeSH D12.125.072.401.623.478 – hydroxyproline MeSH D12.125.072.401.761 – pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid MeSH D12.125.072.401.830 – technetium tc 99m diethyl-iminodiacetic acid MeSH D12.125.072.401.840 – technetium tc 99m disofenin MeSH D12.125.072.401.900 – technetium tc 99m lidofenin MeSH D12.125.072.415 – isodesmosine
==== Scales ==== The Schmidt sting pain index and Starr sting pain index are pain scales rating the relative pain caused by different hymenoptera stings. Schmidt has refined his pain index (with a 1–4 scale) with extensive anecdotal experience, culminating in a paper published in 1990 which classifies the stings of 78 species and 41 genera of Hymenoptera. The Starr sting pain scale uses the same 1–4 scale.
SNP genotyping is the measurement of genetic variations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between members of a species. It is a form of genotyping, which is the measurement of more general genetic variation. SNPs are one of the most common types of genetic variation. An SNP is a single base pair mutation at a specific locus, usually consisting of two alleles (where the rare allele frequency is > 1%). SNPs are found to be involved in the etiology of many human diseases and are becoming of particular interest in pharmacogenetics. Because SNPs are conserved during evolution, they have been proposed as markers for use in quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis and in association studies in place of microsatellites. The use of SNPs is being extended in the HapMap project, which aims to provide the minimal set of SNPs needed to genotype the human genome. SNPs can also provide a genetic fingerprint for use in identity testing. The increase of interest in SNPs has been reflected by the furious development of a diverse range of SNP genotyping methods.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Cross-country same-day delivery === In October 2019, Roadie and Delta Cargo launched DASH Door-to-Door, a 24/7 door-to-door pick-up and delivery service. Roadie handles the first and last mile and Delta manages the line haul via passenger flights. The service launched originally from Atlanta to 55 cities and is an industry-first for a US commercial airline.
DiCaprio was an executive producer on Virunga, a 2014 British documentary film about four people fighting to protect the world's last mountain gorillas from war and poaching. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2014, and DiCaprio was nominated for the 2015 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret was another documentary film that year for which he was an executive producer—he took part in the new cut released exclusively on Netflix that September. It explores the impact of animal agriculture on the environment. DiCaprio is a patron of The Gorilla Organization, a UK-based charity continuing Dian Fossey's work to protect gorillas in the Virungas. In 2015, DiCaprio produced and played fur trapper Hugh Glass in Alejandro G. Iñárritu's survival drama The Revenant. DiCaprio found his role in the film difficult; he had to eat a raw slab of bison's liver and sleep in animal carcasses. He also learned to shoot a musket, build a fire, speak two Native American languages (Pawnee and Arikara) and apply ancient healing techniques. Built on a budget of $135 million, the film earned $533 million worldwide. The film received positive reviews with particular praise for DiCaprio's acting. Mark Kermode of The Guardian wrote that DiCaprio shone with a performance that prioritizes physicality over speech, and Nick De Semlyen of Empire noted that he uplifted the film. The film earned him numerous awards, including the Academy Award, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, Golden Globe and SAG Award for Best Actor.
A good practice is a procedure or set of procedures that are prescribed or accepted as being suitable or effective within a given professional or commercial setting. They are used in quality guidelines and regulations, including the pharmaceutical and food industries, for example good agricultural practice (GAP) (see more examples below). In general, GxP is a placeholder abbreviation for the good practice within a particular field or fields, where the "x" can be substituted for the field(s) in question. GxP can also be used to refer to collections of quality guidelines. To denote the current good practice, a "c" or "C" is sometimes added to the front of the initialism (cGxP), which may hint that any good practice may be subject to future change. For example, "current good manufacturing practice" may be abbreviated "cGMP".
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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.
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.
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.
It is described as a synthetic analogue of the ACTH(4–10) fragment, a short segment of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Its sequence differs from that fragment and includes two proline residues, which influence stability and behaviour in solution.