SELANK
Selank is a synthetic peptide made by combining a naturally produced peptide called tuftsin with amino acids which improves its stability for application in patient care.
Selank is used as a nasal spray. This is because it would be ineffective if taken orally as it would be digested by the stomach. The method of inhalation is effective as it is with many other types of medications.
A typical dosage is one spray in each nostril daily.
This peptide has anti-anxiety and anti-depression activity. It also has nootropic action which means that it can positively influence the formation of memory processing. Selank may also help those with Metabolic Syndrome as it positively influence blood glucose regulation and stops the accumulation of fat.
There have been numerous animal studies on anxiety reactions and more clinical work is needed to assess these effects in humans.
Clinical studies have shown that Selank has strong antianxiety effects in the treatment of generalized anxiety. The clinical effects of Selank are similar to those of the classical antianxiety medications such as benzodiazepines, which increase the inhibitory action of GABA. This suggests that the molecular mechanism of action of Selank arises from its ability to affect GABA receptors.
Although the effect of Selank is similar to that of benzodiazepine tranquilizers at low doses, it is not accompanied by the unwanted side effects of benzodiazepines such as withdrawal, and dependence.
A summary of its activity and its uses are:
- Reduces anxiety and stress.
- Enhances dopamine and serotonin levels.
- Anti-depression action
- Enhances short-term and long-term memory.
- Enhances focus and learning abilities.
- Depression
Two studies on human subjects have documented help with generalized anxiety disorder. In one study sixty-two patients with generalized anxiety disorder were studied. The effect of selank, given to 30 patients, was compared to that of medazepam (valium-like medication) given to 32 patients. The subjects’ anxiety status was assessed with standard psychometric measurements. The anti-anxiety effects of both substances were similar. This also raises the possibility of Selank enhancing the effects of a benzodiazepine medication with co-administration of these substances.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9583175/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12432865/
Research has also shown that selank also has a nootropic action, positively influencing the formation of memory and learning processes
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18454096/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26356395/
The effect of selank , which is a synthetic derivative of the endogenous tetrapeptide tuftsin, effects the learning and memory processes and metabolism of serotonin (5-HT). In one animal study the experimental subjects were trained with food reward in 30 trials per day. . It was established that selank induces an increase in memory trace stability during the 30 day period. These findings provide direct evidence that selank may enhance memory storage processes. Nootrope activity of the selank is probably caused by its effects on the level of serotonin and its metabolite in the brain.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20919548/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5322660/
The scientific community is awaiting more research in the hope that this peptide, which has beneficial actions against anxiety, might become a more widely used therapeutic agent.