Peptides

Short peptides and peptide-derived molecules developed largely in Russia and registered there as medicines, with little literature outside that tradition. Noopept is a dipeptide ester, orally active, designed as a peptide analogue of piracetam and often grouped with the racetams for that reason; Semax and Selank are derived from larger endogenous molecules — ACTH and tuftsin — are not orally stable, and are given intranasally. Route, mechanism and evidence all differ inside a family whose members are usually spoken of in one breath.

What varies most is what a reader can actually verify. These are sold as research chemicals and lyophilised powders: identity, purity and sterility are not established by the seller, peptide content is not something a reagent test can check, and a nasal spray made up at home is a route with its own infection risk. The claimed effects rest on studies few people outside Russia have replicated.