Research Applications
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Selank's primary approved indication (in Russia) is for anxiety disorders. Clinical studies demonstrate anxiolytic efficacy comparable to medazepam (a benzodiazepine) without sedation, cognitive impairment, or withdrawal syndrome. Onset of action occurs within 2-7 days of nasal administration.
Cognitive Enhancement
Research demonstrates selank improves learning, memory consolidation, and attention through BDNF-mediated neuroplasticity. It enhances performance on memory tasks in both normal and cognitively impaired subjects, supporting its nootropic classification.
Immune System Support
The tuftsin-derived immunomodulatory effects make selank useful for immune research. Studies show improved resistance to viral and bacterial infections, enhanced NK cell activity, and normalized cytokine profiles in immunocompromised subjects.
Neurasthenia and Adjustment Disorders
Clinical studies have evaluated selank for neurasthenia (chronic fatigue syndrome) and stress-related adjustment disorders, showing improvements in fatigue, cognitive function, and emotional stability.
Alcohol and Drug Withdrawal
Preclinical and clinical research suggests selank reduces withdrawal anxiety in alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal states without substitution liability, offering a potential adjunct in addiction treatment.
Neuroprotection
BDNF upregulation and anti-inflammatory effects suggest neuroprotective applications. Preclinical studies show reduced neuronal damage in ischemic and excitotoxic injury models.
Mechanism of Action
GABAergic Modulation
Selank enhances GABA-A receptor sensitivity and increases GABA concentration in the synaptic cleft by inhibiting GABA-transaminase (the primary GABA-degrading enzyme). Unlike benzodiazepines, which directly potentiate GABA-A receptor activity, selank's indirect enhancement of GABAergic tone produces anxiolysis without sedation, motor impairment, or tolerance development.
Serotonergic System Regulation
Selank modulates serotonin (5-HT) metabolism by influencing tryptophan hydroxylase activity and serotonin transporter (SERT) function. It stabilizes serotonergic signaling in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, contributing to mood regulation and anxiolytic effects. Studies show selank normalizes serotonin metabolism markers that are disrupted in anxiety states.
BDNF and Neurotrophin Expression
Selank significantly upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in hippocampus and cortex — a key mediator of neuroplasticity, learning, and mood regulation. BDNF levels are characteristically reduced in anxiety and depression, and selank's ability to restore BDNF expression contributes to both anxiolytic and nootropic effects.
Enkephalin System Modulation
Selank inhibits enzymes that degrade enkephalins (endogenous opioid peptides with anxiolytic and mood-elevating properties). By prolonging enkephalin signaling, selank indirectly enhances μ and δ opioid receptor activity, contributing to stress resilience and anxiolysis without direct opioid receptor binding.
Immunomodulation via Tuftsin Core
The tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) core sequence activates NK cells, macrophages, and T-cells. It modulates cytokine production — enhancing IL-10 (anti-inflammatory) while reducing TNF-α and IL-6 (pro-inflammatory). This immunomodulatory effect may contribute to the anxiolytic action, as neuroinflammation is increasingly recognized as a contributor to anxiety.
Biological Pathways
GABA-A/Chloride Channel Enhancement
Selank increases synaptic GABA availability and enhances GABA-A receptor coupling, promoting chloride ion influx and neuronal hyperpolarization. This reduces excitatory neurotransmission in amygdala and prefrontal cortex — the brain regions most implicated in anxiety processing.
BDNF/TrkB/MAPK Neuroplasticity Pathway
BDNF upregulation activates TrkB receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, engaging the Ras/MAPK/ERK cascade. This promotes dendritic spine formation, synaptic strengthening, and neuronal survival in hippocampus and cortex — enhancing cognitive function and stress resilience.
IL-6/STAT3 Immune Regulation
Selank modulates the IL-6/STAT3 inflammatory signaling pathway, reducing neuroinflammation that contributes to anxiety and cognitive impairment. Simultaneously, it enhances innate immune surveillance through NK cell and macrophage activation.
Dopamine/D2 Reward Pathway
Selank normalizes dopaminergic signaling in mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways, improving motivation and hedonic tone without producing the euphoria or dependence associated with direct dopamine agonists.
Dosage Information
Calculation Results
Syringe Fill Level (100u syringe)
Protocols
Semax + Selank Cognitive StackBeginner🧠Cognitive4-8 weeks
Nootropic peptide stack for focus, memory, anxiety reduction, and neuroprotection.
Warning: May cause restlessness at high doses. Start low.
Stability & Storage
Selank is commercially available as a 0.15% nasal spray solution (in Russia) and as lyophilized powder for research. The nasal spray has a shelf life of 2 years when stored at 2-8°C. Protect from light.
Lyophilized selank powder should be stored at -20°C for long-term stability (18-24 months) or 2-8°C for up to 6 months. The Pro-Gly-Pro C-terminal extension significantly enhances stability compared to native tuftsin by protecting against carboxypeptidase degradation.
For reconstitution, use bacteriostatic water. Store at 2-8°C and use within 21 days. Intranasal administration is the preferred route, providing direct CNS delivery via the olfactory epithelium and avoiding first-pass hepatic metabolism. Subcutaneous injection is an alternative route used in research settings.
Side Effects & Precautions
Remarkably Favorable Safety Profile
Clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance in Russia have documented an exceptionally clean safety profile. No serious adverse effects have been attributed to selank at approved doses.
Nasal Irritation
Mild burning or tingling sensation in nasal passages may occur with intranasal administration, typically lasting less than 1 minute.
No Sedation
Unlike benzodiazepines, selank does not cause drowsiness, motor impairment, or cognitive dulling at therapeutic doses.
No Tolerance or Dependence
Selank does not produce tolerance with chronic use and has no documented withdrawal syndrome. This is a critical advantage over benzodiazepines and represents its most significant safety feature.
No Significant Drug Interactions
No clinically significant drug interactions have been reported. Selank can be used alongside most medications without dose adjustments.
Mild Headache
Occasional mild headache has been reported during initial use, typically resolving spontaneously.
Research Use Only. This information is for educational and research purposes only. Not intended for medical advice or self-medication.
Regulatory Status
Selank is approved in the Russian Federation as an anxiolytic and nootropic medication (registration number: P N003333/01). It is available as a 0.15% nasal spray without prescription classification in Russia.
Selank is not approved by the FDA, EMA, or regulatory authorities outside of Russia and some CIS countries. It is classified as a research peptide in Western countries.
The peptide is not on the WADA prohibited list and is not a controlled substance in most jurisdictions. It has no abuse potential or dependence liability based on available clinical evidence.
Research Studies
Selank: An Anxiolytic Peptide Analog of Tuftsin
Zozulya AA, Sizov SA, Tsvetkova IV.
Effect of Selank on BDNF Gene Expression in the Rat Hippocampus
Inozemtseva LS, Karpenko EA, Dolotov OV, et al.
Selank Modulates the Expression of Inflammation-Related Genes
Kolomin T, Shadrina M, Slominsky P, et al.
Tuftsin-Derived Peptides with Immunomodulatory and Nootropic Properties
Myasoedov NF, Gavrilova SI, Kolomin TA.
Anxiolytic Activity of Selank Versus Medazepam
Seredenin SB, Kozlovskaya MM, Blednov YA, et al.
