Semax Dosaging Guide
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For Research Purposes Only.
This Semax dosaging guide is a laboratory reference: what the literature says Semax is, how to calculate stock concentration from a 5 mg vial, practical storage notes, and how to verify the lot, including whether it is the standard or an N-acetylated form. It gives no instructions for use in people or animals and makes no medical claims. Browse the research peptide catalog for other materials.
Internal resources:
- Semax research peptide (5mg vial)
- Peptide reconstitution calculator
- COA library (third-party lab reports)
- Selank Dosaging Guide · CJC-1295 No DAC Dosaging Guide · TB-500 Dosaging Guide
- Related research peptides: Selank · CJC-1295 No DAC
Semax in a Research Context
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. Papers describe it in two equivalent ways: as an analog of ACTH(4–10) (Shadrina et al., 2010), and as a peptide containing ACTH sequence 4–7 plus a C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro tripeptide (Magrì et al., 2016). Both descriptions refer to the same compound.
| Item | Detail for lab planning |
|---|---|
| Sequence | Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro |
| Form supplied | Lyophilized powder, 5 mg vial |
| Chemical form | Confirm on the lot CoA whether the N-terminus is free or acetylated |
Magrì et al. (2016) compared Semax with its N-acetylated form in Cu(II) and Zn(II) coordination experiments, a reminder that small chemical modifications change a peptide’s behavior.
Experimental Themes in the Published Literature
- Gene expression across tissues: Shadrina et al. (2010) compared the time course (20 minutes to 24 hours) of NGF and BDNF gene expression in rat hippocampus, frontal cortex and retina and reported tissue- and time-dependent, multidirectional changes.
- Transcriptomic profiling: Medvedeva et al. (2014) profiled gene expression in rat cortex in an experimental focal-ischemia model, reporting that immune-system genes made up over half of the genes with altered expression. The paper is cited for its transcriptomic methods and does not establish any effect of Semax outside that model.
- In vitro enzyme assay: Kost et al. (2001) reported dose-dependent inhibition of enkephalin-degrading enzymes from human serum, with an IC50 of about 10 µM for Semax (English abstract only).
Reconstitution and Concentration Math for Laboratory Research
Stock concentration is peptide mass divided by diluent volume; the volume to draw is the target mass divided by that concentration. Keep to a single unit system (1 mg = 1,000 µg) and use the CoA net peptide content where reported. Using less diluent gives a more concentrated stock, as the table shows. The peptide reconstitution calculator automates the steps.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Vial content | Label amount | 5 mg of Semax |
| 2. Diluent added | Chosen by the lab for the assay | 1 mL |
| 3. Stock concentration | 5 mg ÷ 1 mL | 5 mg/mL (5,000 µg/mL) |
| 4. Example working aliquot | 500 µg ÷ 5,000 µg/mL | 0.1 mL (100 µL) |
The 500 µg target is an arbitrary illustration, not an amount from any study.
Amounts Reported in Preclinical Studies
The only quantitative figure quoted here is the in vitro IC50 of about 10 µM from Kost et al. (2001). The animal studies cited describe time courses and endpoints in particular models; this guide does not restate their administration parameters because they depend on species, route and vehicle and cannot be transferred between experiments. Read the full methods of the primary papers and use the calculator for your own targets.
Storage and Handling for a 5 mg Semax Vial
- Store unopened vials as the lot CoA directs.
- At 5 mg/mL (1 mL diluent), a 100 µL aliquot holds 500 µg, so one vial gives 10 such aliquots.
- Semax contains a methionine residue, which can be sensitive to oxidation in solution in general; limit air exposure and storage time, and validate stability in your buffer (general principles: Manning et al., 2010).
- Record date, diluent and concentration on every tube.
Reading the Semax CoA
- The lot number on the vial matches the report.
- The observed mass fits Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro; an N-acetylated lot would read higher by the mass of the acetyl group.
- HPLC purity, test date and testing laboratory are stated.
Reports are in the COA library.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Semax?
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) described in the literature as an ACTH(4–10) analog, supplied as a lyophilized powder for laboratory research.
Are "ACTH(4–10) analog" and "ACTH 4–7 plus Pro-Gly-Pro" different compounds?
No. They are two descriptions of the same heptapeptide used in different papers.
How do I calculate stock concentration for a 5 mg vial?
Divide mass by diluent volume: 5 mg in 1 mL is 5 mg/mL (5,000 µg/mL). The calculator handles other volumes. This is laboratory arithmetic only.
Does this guide list any amounts?
Only an in vitro IC50 from the literature. Animal-study parameters are not restated, and nothing here is guidance for use in people or animals.
How do I check whether my lot is acetylated?
Compare the observed mass on the report in the COA library with the expected mass of the standard sequence; an acetylated form reads higher.
References
Please read each full paper before relying on any detail.
- Shadrina M, Kolomin T, Agapova T, et al. Comparison of the temporary dynamics of NGF and BDNF gene expression in rat hippocampus, frontal cortex, and retina under Semax action. J Mol Neurosci. 2010;41(1):30–35. PMID: 19662538. DOI: 10.1007/s12031-009-9270-z.
- Medvedeva EV, Dmitrieva VG, Povarova OV, et al. The peptide semax affects the expression of genes related to the immune and vascular systems in rat brain focal ischemia: genome-wide transcriptional analysis. BMC Genomics. 2014;15:228. PMID: 24661604. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-228.
- Magrì A, Tabbì G, Giuffrida A, et al. Influence of the N-terminus acetylation of Semax, a synthetic analog of ACTH(4-10), on copper(II) and zinc(II) coordination and biological properties. J Inorg Biochem. 2016;164:59–69. PMID: 27586814. DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.08.013.
- Kost NV, Sokolov OIu, Gabaeva MV, et al. Semax and selank inhibit the enkephalin-degrading enzymes from human serum [in Russian; English abstract]. Bioorg Khim. 2001;27(3):180–183. PMID: 11443939. DOI: 10.1023/a:1011373002885.
- Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. PMID: 20143256. DOI: 10.1007/s11095-009-0045-6.
Research Disclaimer This article is educational only. BioLabDirect sells research chemicals not intended for human consumption or clinical use. No statement here establishes safety or effectiveness for any condition, and nothing here is a recommendation for any person or animal. Follow institutional biosafety rules.
For Research Purposes Only.
