Selank and semax as potential hepatoprotectors in medical treatment of tuberculosis

Abstract

Introduction: Drug-induced hepatitis is common in clinical practice. This problem is particularly relevant in the treatment of tuberculous infection, because for this purpose, up to 5–6 hepatotoxic drugs are used simultaneously for a long time, which often (in 15–20% of cases) leads to medical liver lesion. To protect the liver, Semax and Selank are offered – drugs of regulatory peptides group. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted on 96 outbred white male rats weighing 180–220 g. The experimental group included about 10 animals. Drug-induced hepatitis was simulated through the combined 21-day administration of isoniazid, rifampicin and ethanol. Semax and Selank, as well as Essentiale N and Mexidol (comparison drugs) were administered once a day during the experiment. Healthy control animals with experimental hepatitis were used for comparison. Subsequently, the obtained biochemical and histomorphological parameters were evaluated. Results and Discussion: In the experiment, Semax and Selank showed a greater therapeutic activity than the recognized hepatoprotectors – Essentiale and Mexidol. Only in the case of administering Selank and Semax, there was parallelism between the restoration of biochemical parameters of blood and histomorphological parameters of the liver. Selank was also characterized by an increased activity of regenerative processes. Conclusion: Administering Selank and Semax to patients with tuberculosis would significantly reduce the number and severity of hepatotoxic reactions.

Correction of Experimental Hypertensive Neuroretinopathy with Semax

“…6 More and more attention is being paid to the development of short-chain peptide drugs for the cytoprotection. [7][8][9][10][11] in particular, neuroprotection. 12,13 The heptapeptide semax (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) is a synthetic analogue of ACTH (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) which exerts marked nootropic and neuroprotective activities, 14 protects effectively brain against ischemic stroke.…”

“…[7][8][9][10][11] in particular, neuroprotection. 12,13 The heptapeptide semax (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) is a synthetic analogue of ACTH (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) which exerts marked nootropic and neuroprotective activities, 14 protects effectively brain against ischemic stroke. 13 Studies have shown that semax promotes the survival of neurons during glutamate excitotoxicity, 15 protects against atrophy of the optic nerve and optic neuritis of inflammatory or toxic-allergic etiology.…”

Correction of hypertensive retinal changes in rats with Semax

“…Special interest is paid to the development of short-chain peptide drugs for the cytoprotection [8,9,10,11,12], in particular, neuroprotection [13,14]. One of the actively studied classes of peptide regulators are melanocortins, which accelerate regeneration in the neuromuscular system, have a protective effect on damage to the central nervous system.…”