Selank

Selank (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) is a synthetic analogue of the endogenous immunopeptide tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg), developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Pro-Gly-Pro C-terminal extension substantially increases the peptide's stability and extends its duration of action in vivo.

Research consistently demonstrates significant reductions in anxiety measures in rodent models without the sedation, motor impairment, or dependence potential associated with benzodiazepines. Selank does not appear to act through GABA-A receptor modulation — proposed mechanisms include BDNF expression enhancement, serotonergic system modulation, and effects on enkephalin expression involved in stress response.

Nootropic effects — improved learning, memory consolidation, and attentional performance — have been documented in animal studies, alongside data on immune modulation consistent with its tuftsin heritage. The combination of anxiolytic efficacy with cognitive enhancement (rather than cognitive blunting seen with conventional anxiolytics) distinguishes Selank in the peptide neuroscience literature.