Cortexin

Cognitive & Mood

Also known as: Кортексин, Cortex Peptide Extract, Bovine Brain Cortex Peptides

Neuroprotective ExtractsResearch phase: Post-marketing (Russia), no Western clinical trialsRegulatory: Approved in Russia as a prescription neuroprotective drug. Not FDA-approved. Not EMA-approved. Available as research product or through international pharmacies. IM injection formulation.

Mechanism

Cortexin is a pharmaceutical-grade extract of peptides from bovine brain cortex, approved and widely used in Russia as a neuroprotective agent. It contains a complex mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that work together to protect brain cells from damage, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive function. It is used clinically for stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, and age-related cognitive decline. Think of it as a cocktail of brain-specific repair signals.

Technical detail

Cortexin is a lyophilized polypeptide complex (MW <10 kDa) extracted from bovine cerebral cortex. Contains neuropeptides, amino acids, ribonucleic acids, vitamins (B1, B2, PP), and microelements. Proposed mechanisms: (1) Neurotrophic — upregulates BDNF and NGF expression, promoting neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity; (2) Antioxidant — enhances superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity, reducing oxidative damage; (3) Anti-excitotoxic — modulates glutamate/GABA balance, reducing excitotoxic neuronal death; (4) Anti-apoptotic — inhibits caspase-3 activation and cytochrome c release from mitochondria; (5) Anti-inflammatory — suppresses microglial activation and reduces IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α in CNS tissue. Russian RCTs report improved neurological outcomes in ischemic stroke patients when administered within 6 hours (10mg IM daily for 10 days). Also studied for cognitive improvement in TBI, perinatal CNS injury, and epilepsy.

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