heptapeptide comes up often in conversation and rarely with the context attached. Here we lay out the basics in order, then work through the practical considerations.
Last reviewed on 2026-05-28. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. Its chain combines the first seven residues of corticotropin with a C-terminal proline-glycine-proline extension, a modification intended to slow enzymatic breakdown. The free peptide has a molecular mass near 813.9 daltons. It belongs to the class of ACTH-derived fragments studied for central nervous system activity rather than for adrenal steroid stimulation. This structural relationship to a natural hormone fragment is the usual starting point for describing the compound in the literature.
Development took place during the 1980s at institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where peptide fragments of ACTH were screened for cognitive and neuroprotective effects. The compound received regulatory approval in Russia as a nasal preparation, marketed for conditions such as ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attacks, and optic nerve disorders. Registration in other countries has not followed. Most published clinical reports originate from a small number of Russian research groups, and independent replication outside that setting remains limited. The regulatory status therefore differs sharply between Russia and the rest of the world.
Laboratory work points toward modulation of neurotrophic signaling, particularly expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in hippocampal tissue. Studies also describe effects on monoamine turnover, inflammatory mediators, and oxidative markers. These observations come mainly from animal models and cultured cells, so the causal chain in humans is not firmly established. Whether the reported molecular changes translate into measurable clinical benefit is an open question. Reviews generally present the mechanism as plausible rather than demonstrated.
The compound was developed during the 1980s at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow as part of research on fragments of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Early work examined short ACTH-derived sequences that retained neurotrophic effects while lacking the endocrine activity of the full hormone. Semax entered clinical use in Russia during the 1990s, where it received registration for several neurological indications. Outside that region it remained primarily a laboratory research material rather than an approved therapeutic. English-language literature on it grew more slowly and frequently cited the original Russian studies.
Terminology around the compound varies by source. It appears in catalogues and papers as Semax, as the heptapeptide ACTH(4-7)-Pro-Gly-Pro, and under various alphanumeric laboratory codes used by individual suppliers. These names refer to the same sequence but may imply different salt forms, purity grades, or counter-ions. Peptide databases usually list the free base mass, while product descriptions sometimes report acetate or trifluoroacetate salts with a different formula weight. Because naming conventions for research peptides are not standardised across vendors, checking the declared sequence and measured mass is more reliable than relying on a trade name alone.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sequence | Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro | Heptapeptide; ACTH(4-10) analog extended at C-terminus |
| Molecular mass | ~813.9 Da | Free peptide, unmodified |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Typical lyophilized solid |
| Solubility | Soluble in water and saline | Also soluble in common aqueous buffers |
| Storage (solid) | -20 °C, desiccated | Protect from moisture and repeated thawing |
Published research on this peptide originates mainly from Russian laboratories, and the wider international literature is comparatively thin. Studies have used rodent models of stroke, hypoxia, and memory tasks, with a smaller number of human trials reported. Reported outcomes include changes in attention and memory measures, along with effects on neurotrophic factor expression in some experiments. Small sample sizes, inconsistent dosing protocols, and limited independent replication are widely noted limitations, so the strength of the clinical evidence remains an open question.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide whose sequence is Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. The first four residues correspond to the ACTH(4-10) fragment, while the terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension was added to improve metabolic stability. Its molecular formula is C37H51N9O10S and its monoisotopic mass is approximately 813.9 Da. The compound is classified as a peptide research chemical and as a registered pharmaceutical product in Russia, but it does not hold marketing approval in the European Union or the United States. Naming conventions vary across supplier catalogs.
Laboratory descriptions of the material are consistent across suppliers. It appears as a white to off-white lyophilized powder that dissolves readily in water and in polar organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide. Aqueous solutions are clear and colorless at low concentrations. Because the peptide contains methionine, oxidation at the sulfur atom is a recognized degradation pathway, and handling notes usually call for protected, desiccated storage. Reported purity for research-grade lots is generally above 95 percent as measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.
The compound is registered in Russia as a pharmaceutical product, most commonly formulated as a nasal solution, and has been used in that setting since the 1990s. Outside that jurisdiction it is generally handled as a research chemical rather than an approved medicine. Regulatory status therefore differs sharply between countries, and material sold internationally may not correspond to the Russian pharmaceutical formulation. Documentation with commercial samples is typically limited to a certificate of analysis covering purity and identity, not clinical status or local legal classification.
The hill tribe people in Indochina were "hunted incessantly and carried off as slaves by the Siamese (Thai), the Anamites (Vietnamese), and the Cambodians". A Siamese military campaign in Laos in 1876 was described by a British observer as having been "transformed into slave-hunting raids on a large scale". The census, taken in 1879, showed that 6% of the population in the Malay sultanate of Perak were slaves. Enslaved people made up about two-thirds of the population in part of North Borneo in the 1880s.
=== Red peppercorns === Red peppercorns usually consist of ripe peppercorn drupes preserved in brine and vinegar. Ripe red peppercorns can also be dried using the same colour-preserving techniques used to produce green pepper.
=== Appeal === In January 2024, Letby applied to the Court of Appeal for permission to challenge her convictions, but this was refused by a single judge. She renewed her application, and at a three‑day hearing in April 2024 her legal team advanced four grounds of appeal relating to the trial judge's rulings. In May 2024, a panel comprising Dame Victoria Sharp, Lord Justice Holroyde and Mrs Justice Lambert refused permission to appeal. As part of the appeal, Letby's counsel, Ben Myers, again challenged the admission of evidence from paediatrician Evans, arguing that it should have been excluded on the basis that Evans had been "dogmatic and biased". The appeal judges rejected this, finding that Evans did not lack impartiality, was suitably qualified to give expert evidence, and that it was for the jury to assess its weight. A second ground of appeal concerned the medical evidence relating to alleged fatal air injections, which the defence described as "very weak". A third ground argued that the trial judge had erred in directing the jury that they could convict even if they were uncertain about the precise method used in each case. The final ground alleged that the judge had failed to investigate a question of juror impartiality. All four grounds were dismissed, with the Court concluding in its written judgement that the trial had been "thoughtful, fair, comprehensive and correct" and that none of the challenges raised by the defence were "arguable".
== Proof == The detection as well as the quantitative determination of lactobacillic acid is carried out - as is usual for fatty acids - by gas chromatography of the methyl ester, often as gas chromatography with mass spectrometry coupling (GC/MS). Because of the cyclopropane ring, however, care must be taken to use a suitable methylation reagent. Not suitable, for example, is hydrogen chloride in anhydrous methanol, as this reagent can react with the cyclopropane ring, resulting in a branched-chain fatty acid with a methoxy group. However, sodium methanolate in anhydrous methanol is well suited, as is sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide in methanol. The formation of 3-pyridyl methyl esters (picolinyl esters) with nicotinyl alcohol is particularly recommended for structural elucidation using mass spectrometry methods. (pyridylmethanol) is recommended.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
As of 2025, Einstein has over 2,000 faculty members, yielding a faculty-student ratio of 2.6:1. Faculty members that have taught or are currently teaching at Einstein include 18 members of the National Academy of Sciences and five members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. One faculty member—William R. Jacobs Jr.—has been a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator. Neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks taught at the college for over 40 years. His 1973 book Awakenings—documenting his work with encephalitis lethargica in the Bronx—was adapted into a 1990 film starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. In 1983, professor Berta Scharrer, considered the co-founder of neuroendocrinology, was awarded the National Medal of Science for establishing the concept of neurosecretion. In 1987, professor Harry Eagle was awarded the National Medal of Science for developing Eagle's minimal essential medium (MEM), widely used for cell culture. Genetics professor Salome Gluecksohn-Waelsch was a Royal Society Fellow and received the National Medal of Science in 1993 for her fundamental research on mammalian genetics. Professor Michael Baden served as Chief Medical Examiner of New York City.
== Medical uses == Ropinirole is prescribed for mainly Parkinson's disease, restless legs syndrome, and extrapyramidal symptoms. It can also reduce the side effects caused by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including Parkinsonism syndrome as well as sexual dysfunction and erectile dysfunction caused by either SSRIs or antipsychotics. A 2008 meta-analysis found that ropinirole was less effective than pramipexole in the treatment of restless legs syndrome.
=== 1963 === January 20: Indonesia declares that it rejects the formation of Malaysia, through the statement of their then-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Subandrio. Sukarno himself, as the first President of Indonesia, regarded Malaysia as a neo-colonial project and as a British puppet state in Southeast Asia. This marks the beginning of Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation. January 23: Kim Philby, the leader of the Cambridge Five, defects to the Soviet Union from Beirut. The fight for independence in Portuguese Guinea begins. February 10: the overthrow of Abd al-Karim Qasim. June 9: The Dhofar Liberation Front wages a war in Oman known as the Dhofar Rebellion. June 13: Mars 1 likely reaches Mars conducting flyby. Yet, radio contact was lost with the probe on March 21. June 16: Vostok 6 was launched, with Valentina Tereshkova becoming the first woman in space. June 20: The United States agrees to set up a hotline with the USSR, thus making direct communication possible. June 21: France announces that it is withdrawing its navy from the North Atlantic fleet of NATO. June 26: U.S. President John F. Kennedy delivers his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in Berlin. July 31: The Manila Accord was signed by the Republic of Indonesia, the Federation of Malaya (soon to become Malaysia), and the Philippines. This agreement contains an agreement on self-determination by the people of Sabah and Sarawak through free elections. A conference called Maphilindo was formed, which consisted of three countries that signed the Manila Accord.
Wright Museum of African American History, and several other institutions—by constructing a public space that creates a sense of inclusion and harmony with the rest of the city. Public transportation within the Downtown area has also been a target for private investors, as evidenced by Quicken Loans' investment in Detroit's QLine railcar, which currently runs a 3.3 miles (5.3 km) track along Woodward Avenue. Gilbert's investment within the city is not limited to real estate; he has also assembled a security force that patrols the downtown area and monitors hundreds of security centers attached to buildings operated by his own Rock Ventures. These agents have eyes on almost every corner of downtown Detroit and coordinate public safety and monitor legal infractions in partnership with Wayne State University's private police agency and Detroit's own police force. In addition to these efforts to revitalize Detroit's social atmosphere, Gilbert and Quicken Loans have cultivated a strong and diverse workforce within Detroit by incentivizing employees to live in Midtown and offering subsidies and loans. Through such initiatives, Gilbert has focused on "creating opportunity" for Detroiters and encouraged reinvestment within the city's economy. However, the approach many of these private investors have taken within the downtown area has been criticized. Many have argued that the influx of private capital into Downtown Detroit has resulted in dramatic changes to the social and socio-economic character of the city.
=== External nasal anatomy === The form of the nasal subunits—the dorsum, the sidewalls, the lobule, the soft triangles, the alae, and the columella—are configured differently, according to the race and the ethnic group of the patient, thus the nasal physiognomies denominated as: African, platyrrhine (flat, wide nose); Asiatic, subplatyrrhine (low, wide nose); Caucasian, leptorrhine (narrow nose); and Hispanic, paraleptorrhine (narrow-sided nose). The respective external nasal valve of each nose is variably dependent upon the size, shape, and strength of the lower lateral cartilage.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Semax is a synthetic seven-amino-acid peptide derived from a fragment of corticotropin. It is used in Russia as a nasal preparation, while elsewhere it is studied as a research compound. It is not approved as a medicine in most countries.
Its sequence corresponds to the 4-10 region of corticotropin extended by three residues. This fragment lacks the region responsible for adrenal steroid release, so it is explored for neural rather than hormonal effects. The relationship explains the compound's classification among ACTH-derived peptides.
It holds approval in Russia for several neurological indications as a nasal spray or drop formulation. Regulatory agencies in the United States and the European Union have not approved it. Products sold elsewhere are generally labeled for research use only.
It is a synthetic seven-amino-acid peptide built from the ACTH(4-7) sequence plus a Pro-Gly-Pro tail. It belongs to the family of short ACTH fragments studied for nervous-system effects. Its backbone contains only standard amino acids.