RESEARCH MONOGRAPH · KDC-MN-061
Noopept
Noopept is a Russian-developed dipeptide nootropic that gets metabolized to cycloprolylglycine in the body. It supports BDNF and NGF expression and has memory-enhancing effects in animal studies at very low doses. Not stocked by Kodiac. This monograph is provided for research and educational reference.
Intrigue 0–100 blends mechanism novelty, evidence strength, and translational potential. Kodiac editorial, not peer-reviewed.
Dipeptide nootropic (proline-glycine N-phenyl)
A Russian-developed dipeptide cognitive enhancer (GVS-111) marketed in Russia as Noopept and characterized by NGF and BDNF upregulation with effective oral doses 1000-fold lower than piracetam.
Abstract
Noopept (GVS-111; N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester; CAS 157115-85-0; molecular formula C17H22N2O4; molecular weight 318.37) is a dipeptide nootropic developed at the Zakusov Institute of Pharmacology in Russia in the 1990s and marketed in Russia and several former Soviet states under the trade name Noopept for cognitive impairment of vascular and post-traumatic origin. The compound is structurally a piracetam-derived dipeptide; metabolism produces cycloprolylglycine (CPG), an endogenous dipeptide also detectable in human cerebrospinal fluid. Mechanism includes upregulation of NGF and BDNF expression in cortical and hippocampal regions, antioxidant effects, modulation of NMDA and AMPA receptor expression, and modest cholinergic facilitation. Effective oral doses reported in the literature are 10 to 30 mg, approximately 1000-fold lower than equivalent piracetam doses by mass. Pharmacokinetics: rapid oral absorption; the parent compound is rapidly hydrolyzed to CPG; plasma half-life of CPG is approximately 2 hours but the cognitive effect persists 6 to 8 hours, suggesting the action is not solely plasma-concentration-dependent. The clinical evidence base is largely Russian-language; English-language randomized trials are sparse.
Mechanism of action
Hydrolyzed to cycloprolylglycine (CPG); upregulates NGF and BDNF; modulates NMDA/AMPA expression. Antioxidant.
Reported research dose ranges
Reported research dose ranges in the literature span 10 to 30 mg.
References
- Ostrovskaya RU, et al. Noopept stimulates the expression of NGF and BDNF in rat hippocampus. Bull Exp Biol Med 2008.
- Gudasheva TA, et al. The major metabolite of dipeptide piracetam analogue GVS-111 in rat brain. Biochem Biophys Methods 1996.
Read the full monograph
The full reference document covers compound identification, discovery and developmental history, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, reported research dose ranges, sourcing and quality verification, reconstitution and handling, stack interaction considerations, and a curated reference list. Available as a research-use-only PDF download.
The full reference document is provided strictly for research use only. It reports research dose ranges from the published literature, not instructions for use in humans or animals.
FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. Not for medical, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes. Not for human consumption. All information is provided for research and educational purposes only.