The peptide Selank has been labeled as an “anti-anxiety” peptide and has also shown improvement in learning, memory, cognition, depression, weakness, and overall energy.
What is selank?
Selank belongs to a class of molecules called synthetic peptides. Selank was made by combining the sequence of a peptide called tuftsin with another sequence that improves its molecular stability. Tuftsin is a peptide closely related to immune function. It occurs naturally and makes up one part of the natural antibody IgG.
It is a small peptide compared to most naturally occurring proteins. Selank was developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in cooperation with the V.V. Zakusov Research Institute of Pharmacology (Russian Academy of Medical Sciences), along with the nootropic drug Semax, sometimes called its cousin peptide.
Selank has been approved in Russia for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and for its use as a nootropic. In clinical trials, the drug has been shown to provide a sustained nootropic and anxiolytic effect which is useful for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Benefits of Selank
While most prescription drugs cause many unwanted side effects, studies have shown this peptide to have no negative side effects or risk of addiction. Both Tuftsin and Selank have shown the ability to reduce anxiety and increase serotonin levels in animal models.
Additionally, selank can:
- improves anxiety;
- improves learning;
- enhances memory;
- helps with brain damage recovery: Increases BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor), an important brain-growth compound;
- helps stabilize enkephalins in the blood: These counteract the stress response;
- helps with alcohol withdrawal;
- helps prevent weight gain and reduce cholesterol.
Selank can strengthen immune function by increasing IL-6 in blood cells. IL-6 is an inflammatory protein that is believed to help fight off infections. Selank can also stimulate the release of interferons, which are anti-viral molecules. Animal studies prove that selank can have antidepressive effects.
A study of mice genetically bred to suffer from depression demonstrated selank’s ability to fight anhedonia and restore pleasure-seeking behaviors. Administration of selank increased sucrose self-administration and reduced immobility during a forced swim test.
How to use selank?
Selank is a peptide used as a nasal spray. This is because it will be digested by the stomach if taken orally. Inhaling is more effective for delivery to the bloodstream and into the brain.
The typical dosage is one spray in each nostril daily.
Background Information
Selank is an anxiolytic heptapeptide drug produced by the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IMG RAS). It is considered to be an anxiolytic or a substance with an anti-anxiety effect.
Selank is a synthetic analog of the endogenously produced peptide Tuftsin and is known to be capable of improving and positively altering the immune system, which classifies selank as immunomodulatory.
Semax, another heptapeptide nootropic that was also developed by researchers, is a drug closely related to Selank that has been approved for human use in both Ukraine and Russia. There have been many reports from researchers and users that indicate that Selank is a more effective alternative than Semax. Selank however, has recently completed stage III clinical trials in Russia and is awaiting to get the green light for release to human use.
Selank’s Method of Action
Immunomodulatory
From a purely pharmacological standpoint, selank mimics a lot of the effects of tuftsin which is the endogenous peptide it is based upon. These effects include the balance of T helper cells and the modulation of the expression of Interleukin-6.
Additionally, there is evidence that suggests selank may modulate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
Serotonin, Noradrenaline and Dopamine Modulation
Selank’s mechanism of action is suspected to be related to the increase of serotonin. Serotonin influences appetite supports a positive mood and regulates the sleep and wake cycle. It is also well established that a serotonin deficient state can lead to depression, difficulty sleeping, and lack of an appetite.
A study on mice to unveil the effects of selank on neurotransmitter monoamines and their metabolites showed significant differences in the content of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and in the levels of their hypothalamus, hippocampus, and frontal cortex. Further research supports selank’s serotonin raising ability.
Selank and tuftsin were also shown to support serotonin levels despite rats being pre-treated with the serotonin synthesis inhibitor p-chlorophenyl alanine. Serotonin metabolism was enhanced within 30 minutes of selank administration, however, tuftsin was unable to raise 5-HT levels.
Rodents exposed to 6-hydroxydopamine, a neurotoxin that damages the catecholaminergic system, had cognitive processes restored with selank.
Anxiolytic / Anxiety Reducing
One study involving 62 patients with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) sought to compare selank to a benzodiazepine treatment. 30 patients were treated with selank, while 32 with benzodiazepines, Remarkably, efficacy for both drugs was similar, however, researchers noted selank carried anti-fatigue effects. Full details on this study are difficult to obtain, as it was conducted in Russia and only the abstract has been indexed in PubMed.
Another study tested the immunomodulatory effects of selank, given that its endogenous “cousin” peptide, tuftsin, is primarily related to immune function. Selank was administered to patients with a generalized anxiety disorder for 14 days, after which, it was noted that selank suppressed IL-6 levels of patients with depression while leaving healthy control subjects unaffected. T-helper cell (Th1/Th2) cytokines were also modulated in patients with GAD.
Selank as a Nootropic / Cognitive Enhancer
One animal study tested selank vs saline placebo during a food reward task that involved learning and memory. While specific study details are unclear, as the research was conducted in Russia, the researchers concluded that selank increased memory consolidation, and this was primarily thought to occur through a serotonin increase.
An animal study of adult rats showed selank was able to compensate for hypoxia-induced cognitive deficit and the subsequent lowering of serotonin and noradrenaline.
Purely for Scientific Research
Despite the fact that there has been plenty of research on Selank in relation to how it functions and the benefits that can be derived from such functionality, it should be emphasized that the peptide is still just intended for scientific study at this point in time. Because of this, any findings or observations relating to Selank’s overall functionality, mechanics, benefits, should exclusively be the product of the study performed in a strictly contained environment.
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