database / nootropic
Semax
Skeletal structure drawn from the computed atomic coordinates in PubChem CID 9811102. Carbons are implicit vertices; hydrogens on carbon are suppressed, as in any structural formula. Nothing here is estimated — every atom sits where PubChem placed it.
Research reference only. The observations below are recorded in the cited literature. Nothing here is advice or a recommendation, and no dosing information is published on this site.
Sequence
MEHFPGP
Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro
- hydrophobic
- positive
- negative
- polar
- aromatic
- glycine
- proline
- cysteine
Computed backbone mass 813.93 Da agrees with PubChem's reported 813.9 Da (Δ 0.03 Da). Two independent sources agree on the primary structure.
Molecular data
| molecular formula | C37H51N9O10S |
|---|---|
| molecular weight | 813.9 Da (PubChem) |
| computed backbone mass | 813.93 Da |
| length | 7 residues |
| net charge (pH 7.4) | -1 |
| mean hydropathy | -0.8 |
| half-life | not characterised |
| delivery route | intranasal |
| PubChem CID | 9811102 |
| PDB | not characterised |
| UniProt parent | P01189 |
Mechanism
ACTH(4-7) analogue extended with Pro-Gly-Pro; studied in relation to BDNF expression in animal models.
Reported targets: melanocortin pathway BDNF signalling
Experimental structure
No experimental structure of this peptide is deposited in the PDB. Nothing is rendered here — a predicted fold would not be a structure, and this site does not draw one.
Parent protein
Based on the ACTH(4-7) fragment MEHF. UniProt P01189 · 267 aa
Reported effects
Each row is an outcome described in the literature indexed for this peptide. Reported in the cited work — not a claim, not a recommendation.
| reported outcome | where it appears |
|---|---|
| cognition in models | The Potential of the Peptide Drug Semax and Its Derivative for Correcting Pa… Acta naturae 2025 |
| neuroprotection in models | Semax peptide targets the μ opioid receptor gene Oprm1 to promote deubiquiti… British journal of pharmacology 2025 |
| BDNF expression in models | The Effect of Peptide Semax, an ACTH(4-10) Analogue, on Intracellular Calciu… Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine 2025 |
Literature (8)
The Potential of the Peptide Drug Semax and Its Derivative for Correcting Pathological Impairments in the Animal Model of Alzheimer's Disease — Acta naturae 2025
Alzheimer's disease, first described over a century ago, is currently among the most common neurodegenerative diseases whose significance is increasingly growing with the aging of populations. Throughout the entire period of its study, no remedies have been found that would be effective in treating - or at least significantly slowing - the pathological process, while being sufficiently safe. In this regard, significant attention is paid to the development and application of natural peptide drugs lacking side effects. The present study assessed the effect of the known neuroprotective peptide Semax and its derivative on the behavioral characteristics and development of amyloidosis in transgenic APPswe/PS1dE9/Blg mice acting as a model of Alzheimer's disease. The open field, novel object recognition, and Barnes maze tests demonstrated that both Semax and its derivative improved cognitive fu…
open access ↗ · PMID 41479572 · DOI 10.32607/actanaturae.27808
Semax peptide targets the μ opioid receptor gene Oprm1 to promote deubiquitination and functional recovery after spinal cord injury in female mice — British journal of pharmacology 2025
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · PMID 40692165 · DOI 10.1111/bph.70122
The Effect of Peptide Semax, an ACTH(4-10) Analogue, on Intracellular Calcium Dynamics in Rat Brain Neurons — Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine 2025
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · PMID 41171324 · DOI 10.1007/s10517-025-06501-z
Semax, a Copper Chelator Peptide, Decreases the Cu(II)-Catalyzed ROS Production and Cytotoxicity of aβ by Metal Ion Stripping and Redox Silencing — Bioinorganic chemistry and applications 2025
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive decline and loss of memory. It is postulated that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Fenton-like reaction connected with Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox cycling of the Cu(II)-aβ complex can play a key role in the molecular mechanism of neurotoxicity in AD. Semax (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) is a synthetic regulatory peptide that possesses a high affinity for Cu(II) ions. The ability of the peptide Semax to inhibit the copper-catalyzed oxidation of aβ was studied in vitro and discussed. The results indicate that Semax is able to extract Cu(II) from Cu(II)-aβ species as well as to influence the redox cycling of the Cu(II)-aβ complex and decrease the level of associated ROS production. Finally, our data suggest that Semax shows cytoprotective properties for SH-SY5Y cells against oxidative st…
open access ↗ · PMID 40496623 · DOI 10.1155/bca/4226220
Therapeutic peptides in gerontology: mechanisms and applications for healthy aging — Frontiers in aging 2026
BackgroundPeptide therapeutics represent an emerging frontier in gerontological medicine, targeting fundamental hallmarks of aging including metabolic dysfunction, telomere attrition, tissue repair impairment, and hormonal decline.ObjectiveTo comprehensively review the mechanisms, clinical applications, evidence base, and safety profiles of therapeutic peptides with demonstrated or potential applications in healthy aging and age-related conditions.MethodsA comprehensive narrative review was conducted through systematic searches of PubMed, Scopus, and regulatory databases (FDA, WADA) from inception through January 2026. Search terms included "peptide therapeutics," "aging," "gerontology," "healthspan," combined with specific peptide names (tirzepatide, epitalon, GHK-Cu, BPC-157, TB-500, Semax, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, bremelanotide). Peer-reviewed articles, clinical trials, regulatory docume…
open access ↗ · PMID 42021992 · DOI 10.3389/fragi.2026.1790247
Antidepressant-like and antistress effects of the ACTH(4-10) synthetic analogs Semax and Melanotan II on male rats in a model of chronic unpredictable stress — European journal of pharmacology 2024
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · PMID 39442746 · DOI 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.177068
[Effect of a combined physiotherapeutic approach on changes in functional parameters after endovitreal surgery of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with a favorable anatomical outcome] — Vestnik oftalmologii 2026
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · PMID 42366656 · DOI 10.17116/oftalma202614203129
ACTH-like Peptides Compensate Rat Brain Gene Expression Profile Disrupted by Ischemia a Day After Experimental Stroke — Biomedicines 2024
Background: Ischemic stroke results from a disruption of cerebral blood flow. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) serves as the basis for the creation of synthetic peptides as neuroprotective agents for stroke therapy. Previously, using RNA-Seq we first revealed differential expressed genes (DEGs) associated with ACTH(4-7)PGP (Semax) and ACTH(6-9)PGP peptides under cerebral ischemia conditions. Analysis was carried out at 4.5 h after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model in the ipsilateral frontal cortex of a rat brain. Methods: Here, we analyzed the penumbra-associated frontal cortex of rats and actions under the same peptides at 24 h after tMCAO using RNA-Seq. Results: 3774 DEGs (fold change > 1.5 and Padj Conclusions: We revealed that the effect of ACTH(6-9)PGP was more similar to Semax than different from it a day after tMCAO. At this time point, ACTH-like peptides …
open access ↗ · PMID 39767736 · DOI 10.3390/biomedicines12122830