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Cortexin: quick citable summary
Cortexin is listed by PeptaHub as a cognitive peptide with a research only legal-status classification. The page summarizes mechanism, research context, common routes, safety notes, and references for writers and AI answer engines.
PeptaHub. “Cortexin: Mechanism, Research Context, Safety.” peptahub.com, 2026. https://peptahub.com/peptides/cortexin. Licensed CC BY 4.0.
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What is Cortexin?
Cortexin is a bovine cerebral cortex polypeptide preparation registered in Russia since 1999 for stroke, TBI, and cognitive impairment. In rat ischemia models it performed comparably to Cerebrolysin, but no randomized human trial supports it.
Overview
Cortexin is a polypeptide preparation extracted from the cerebral cortex of cattle, developed in part by the Khavinson research group and registered as a pharmaceutical drug in Russia since 1999. It is approved in Russia and several Eastern European countries for treatment of stroke, traumatic brain injury, and cognitive impairment. It contains low-molecular-weight water-soluble polypeptide fractions (1,000–10,000 Da) that cross the blood-brain barrier.
Mechanism of action
Cortexin is a complex mixture of polypeptides, amino acids and trace elements from bovine cerebral cortex. Radiolabeled Cortexin was shown to cross the blood-brain barrier in mice. A Russian-language review proposes that its peptides interact with neuron-specific proteins including beta5-tubulin, creatine kinase B and protein 14-3-3 alpha/beta, touching signal transduction, energy metabolism, cell structure and neuroinflammation, and that it shifts the balance between glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling. Preclinical work found it improved antioxidant system function in rat brain homogenates and inhibited brain caspase-8. These are proposed and largely preclinical mechanisms, and no human mechanistic data was located.
Reported study ranges
| Purpose | Route | Reported range | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| neuroprotection / cognitive research | intramuscular | 10–10 mg | daily for 10 days | Standard Russian clinical protocol: 10 mg IM daily for 10 days. Reconstitute in 1–2 mL sterile saline. Courses repeated 2–3 times per year. Pediatric dosing uses 5 mg. |
Reported ranges are for research context only. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any peptide.
Convert Cortexin research-range units
Need to convert mg to mcg, dose volume, or U-100 syringe units? The Cortexin dose calculator is preloaded with these ranges, or use the general dose unit converter.
Research summary
The strongest study of Cortexin is in rats, not people. Kurkin and colleagues (PLoS One 2021) compared Cortexin, Cerebrolysin and Actovegin in male rats with acute middle cerebral artery occlusion or chronic carotid stenosis. Cortexin and Cerebrolysin improved neurological recovery and reduced sensorimotor and cognitive impairment more than Actovegin, and Cortexin reduced the size of brain tissue necrosis in the acute model; radiolabeled Cortexin also crossed the blood-brain barrier in mice. Human use rests on Russian clinical series and Russian-language comparative reports in ischemic stroke rather than randomized controlled trials, and no systematic review of Cortexin was located. It is approved by the Russian Ministry of Health for neurological conditions, which reflects a different regulatory standard than FDA or EMA approval.[1][2][3][4][5]
Evidence grading
Each claimed benefit is graded by the strength of available evidence. Grades reflect study quality, not effect size.
Strong = multiple RCTs · Moderate = limited trials or observational · Preliminary = animal or in vitro only · Insufficient = anecdotal or no published data
Side effects
Side effects vary by individual. This is not an exhaustive list. Report unusual symptoms to a healthcare professional.
Common stacks
Peptides commonly paired with Cortexin for synergistic effects.
Legal status
Registered pharmaceutical drug approved in Russia (1999) and several Eastern European countries. Not FDA-approved. Available in Western markets only as a research substance. Not approved for therapeutic human use in the US or EU. Comparable to Cerebrolysin in regulatory status.
Sourcing & access
Research compound
Cortexin is classified as a research compound. Regulatory status varies by jurisdiction. Always verify current legal status and source from vendors providing third-party certificates of analysis (COA).
Frequently asked questions
Cortexin is a polypeptide preparation extracted from bovine cerebral cortex, registered in Russia since 1999 for treatment of stroke, traumatic brain injury, and cognitive impairment. It contains water-soluble polypeptide fractions (1,000-10,000 Da) that cross the blood-brain barrier.
The proposed mechanism, from a Russian-language review and preclinical work, is that its peptides interact with neuron-specific proteins including beta5-tubulin and creatine kinase B and shift the balance between glutamatergic and GABAergic signaling. In rats it improved antioxidant system function and reduced brain tissue necrosis after ischemia, and radiolabeled Cortexin crossed the blood-brain barrier in mice. None of this has been demonstrated in humans.
Side effects reported in Russian practice are generally mild, including injection site pain, transient dizziness, headache and rare allergic reactions. It has over 25 years of clinical use in Russia, but that use is not backed by randomized controlled trials, and no systematic review of its safety or efficacy was located.
The standard Russian clinical protocol is 10 mg intramuscularly daily for 10 days, reconstituted in 1-2 mL sterile saline. Courses are repeated 2-3 times per year. Pediatric dosing uses 5 mg.
Research references
- Neuroprotective Action of Cortexin, Cerebrolysin and Actovegin in Acute or Chronic Brain Ischemia in RatsPubMed
- [Molecular mechanisms of brain peptide-containing drugs: cortexin] (Russian-language review)PubMed
- [Peptide drug cortexin inhibits brain caspase-8] (Russian-language)PubMed
- [Comparative analysis of efficacy of certain neuroprotectors in ischemic stroke] (Russian-language)PubMed
- Cortexin Ameliorates High Glucose-Induced Neuropathy in Cultured Rat Sensory NeuronsPubMed