Selank
Not FDA-approved
Also known as: Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro
Selank is a lab-made chain of seven amino acids, based on tuftsin, a small immune peptide the body makes. It was developed in Russia, where it is used to treat anxiety. All of its published research comes from Russian groups, and no Western clinical trials have been done.
How it works
- It is tuftsin, a four-amino-acid peptide, with three more amino acids, proline-glycine-proline, added to its end.
- In lab tests on human blood plasma, it slowed the enzymes that break down enkephalins, the body's own calming opioid-like signals.
- Russian researchers propose that this enkephalin effect underlies its anti-anxiety action.
- In rats, it increased serotonin activity in parts of the brain and helped them retain a learned task for weeks.
- In blood-cell tests and in patients with anxiety disorders, it shifted immune signals, including IL-6.
Evidence
Anxiety
A small Russian randomized trial found its anti-anxiety effect similar to medazepam, a benzodiazepine. No trial has been run or registered in Western countries.
Caveats
- All published research comes from Russian groups and has not been independently repeated elsewhere.
- Most mechanism findings come from rats, mice and lab tests rather than people.
- Reported side effects are mild, mainly irritation or dryness inside the nose.
- Long-term safety has not been studied in Western trials.
References
This page is for education only. It is not medical advice. Decisions about any treatment belong with a physician who knows your history.