Selank — Research Summary

Research Use Only · Not for Human or Veterinary Use

Synthetic heptapeptide analog of tuftsin studied for anxiolytic, nootropic, and

Selank

An evidence summary of published preclinical research on Selank. This page is educational and summarizes findings reported in third-party scientific literature. No claims are made regarding safety or efficacy in humans.

Molecular Data

FORMULA C33H57N11O9
MOLECULAR WEIGHT 751.87 g/mol
SEQUENCE Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro

Compound Overview

Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide derived from the endogenous immune peptide tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) with an added Pro-Gly-Pro C-terminal tripeptide for enhanced metabolic stability. Developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Selank has been studied extensively for its anxiolytic and nootropic properties. It is often paired with Semax in neurological research.

Reported Mechanism (Preclinical)

Selank modulates the GABAergic system by influencing GABA-A receptor sensitivity, producing anxiolytic effects without sedation or cognitive impairment. It also affects serotonin metabolism by inhibiting enkephalinase, which indirectly increases enkephalin levels. Additionally, Selank enhances IL-6 expression and modulates T-helper cell balance, contributing to its immunomodulatory profile. Research shows it stabilizes blood enkephalin levels, which may underlie its anxiolytic properties.

Mechanisms described above are reported in preclinical (animal and in vitro) literature and have not been established for human use.

Key Research Highlights

  • Demonstrated anxiolytic activity comparable to benzodiazepines without sedation or dependence in animal models (Seredenin et al., 1998)
  • Enhanced memory consolidation and retrieval in passive avoidance learning paradigms
  • Modulated expression of 36 genes related to GABA, serotonin, and dopamine neurotransmission
  • Showed immunostimulatory effects including enhanced NK cell activity and IFN-gamma production
  • Stabilized blood enkephalin levels in stress-exposed animal models (Kozlovskii et al., 2002)

Published References

  1. Anxiolytic effects of Selank peptide
    Bull Exp Biol Med, 1998
  2. Selank and its metabolic stability and neuroprotective effects
    Neurosci Behav Physiol, 2005
  3. Immunomodulatory effects of Selank in anxiety-depression models
    Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova, 2008

Available for Research

Lab-tested, third-party COA published, U.S. ships same day.

View Product · Selank View COA Library
Compliance Notice: American Peptides products are sold strictly for laboratory and academic research purposes only. They are not intended for human or veterinary consumption, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of any disease. All content on this page is educational in nature, summarizes findings from preclinical literature, and does not constitute medical advice or product claims. Researchers are responsible for handling these compounds in accordance with their institution's safety protocols and applicable laws.