A mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides from pig brain, licensed in parts of Europe and Asia for stroke and dementia. Large trials have been repeatedly inconclusive.
Cerebrolysin is not one molecule. It is a standardised extract of enzymatically broken-down pig brain tissue, containing a mixture of short peptides and free amino acids. The claim is that it mimics the action of the body's own neurotrophic factors — the signals that keep neurons alive and encourage them to form connections. The evidence has never been decisive: individual trials report benefit, large well-controlled trials tend to report much less, and meta-analyses come out cautious.
A porcine brain hydrolysate containing peptides below approximately 10 kDa plus free amino acids, administered parenterally. Proposed mechanisms include neurotrophic activity resembling BDNF, GDNF and CNTF signalling, reduced excitotoxicity, inhibition of calpain-mediated proteolysis, and modulation of amyloid processing in preclinical models. Clinical evaluation spans acute ischaemic stroke, traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's disease. A Cochrane review in acute ischaemic stroke found no evidence of benefit on death or dependency, while some individual trials and meta-analyses in stroke rehabilitation report modest functional gains. Batch-to-batch composition standardisation is an inherent limitation of a biological hydrolysate.
Research areas
Community-specified data
Source note: 30-day cycles, 5x/year
Not medical guidance. These third-party figures have not been independently verified, clinically reviewed, or endorsed by DB Peptide. They may be inaccurate or unsafe and should not replace product labelling or advice from a qualified clinician.
Every protocol below is reproduced from a published study or approved labelling, with its source named. These are records of what was studied — not recommendations, and not a suggestion that any of them is appropriate for any person.
| Protocol as reported | Source |
|---|---|
| 30 ml daily by intravenous infusion for 10 days, starting within 12 hours of stroke onsetThe trial did not demonstrate a significant benefit on its primary endpoint. | CASTA trial protocol |
| 30 ml daily for 21 days in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation studies | TBI rehabilitation trial literature |
Numerous randomised trials in stroke, TBI and dementia, with inconsistent results and a negative Cochrane assessment in acute stroke.
Two structural reasons. It is a biological hydrolysate whose exact composition varies between batches, so trials are not testing an identical product. And much of the positive literature comes from smaller trials in specific regions, while the largest and most rigorously controlled trials have generally been null.
Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke
Cerebrolysin in patients with acute ischemic stroke in Asia: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial
Cerebrolysin in vascular dementia: improvement of clinical outcome in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial
Medical disclaimer
This page is for informational and research purposes only. Nothing here constitutes medical advice. The compounds discussed are research chemicals. Consult a qualified clinician before starting any protocol.
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