Even though the first nootropic, Piracetam, was discovered by a Romanian chemist, we can truly say that Russia is the true motherland of nootropics. From the “oldies”, such as Phenibut and Picamilon, to the newest additions, Russia has always been the bleeding edge of nootropic research. Today we are going to talk about Cerebramin and other compounds of the cytamins family.
Cytamins are nucleoproteins complex isolated from the organs of healthy cattle. These compounds are part of a new family of compounds developed in Russia, and called peptide bioregulators, that are being researched as anti-aging treatments.
Peptide bioregulators
From 1971 to 1996, researchers at the St Petersburg Bioregulation and Gerontology Institute studied and documented the role of peptides in aging. [1] [2] What they discovered is the body releases tissue-specific compounds, of peptide structure, that mediate interactions between cells. As such, they were named peptide bioregulators.
The researchers then isolated and purified those peptides from the organs of healthy cattle and pigs and found out that they had a normalizing effect on the abnormal cells of senescent and/or sick animals. These promising peptides have been developed into a new class of pharmaceuticals, the cytomedins, (e.g. Cortexin, Thymalin and Epithalamin, which has been further developed into Epitalon) as well as para-pharmaceuticals, the cytamins, such as Cerebramin, Vasalamin and Retinalamin.
Cytamins?!
So what’s the difference between the cytamins and the cytomedins?
Cytamins are “interpolymer complexes of tissue-specific proteins with nucleic acids.”[3] Essentially, they are a mixture of compounds such as nucleoproteins, vitamins, peptides and amino acids. The patented technology of cytamins manufacture includes alkaline hydrolysis from tissue cells, consecutive precipitation of nucleoprotein complexes, their purification from ballast substances, and manufacture of the ready form as enterosoluble tablets or capsules.[4]
In the manufacturing of Cytamins only calves and pigs less than 12 months old are employed, and strictly from Russian farms where “no human-endangering infectious diseases including transmissive bovine spongiform encephalopathy has been registered”.[5] Also, Russia is known for “its epizootological and epidemiological safety in respect to prion diseases.”[6] Not only that, but electrophoresis and Congo red staining (the recommended method of testing for Mad Cow disease) are employed to check for the presence of prion proteins.
There are over 17 cytamins on the market, and they are manufactured at “Longvy Farm” in Russia. More information about the cytamins can be found at the official website.
Some of the most famous cytamins are:
- Brain (Cerebramin)
- Liver (Hepatamin)
- Stomach and duodenum (Ventramin)
- Pancreas (Pancramin)
- Lungs and respiratory system (Bronchalamin)
- Heart (Coramin)
- Circulatory system (Vasalamin)
Dr. A.S. Bashkireva[7] tested the use of Cerebramin and Vasalamin on driving performance, in both healthy subjects as well subjects with depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. The results were that the cytamins were “very effective in the correction of psychoemotional disorders and for attaining stable psychic adaptation”. [8]
[…] 150 professional drivers (men aged 30-59 years) were examined using a clinical questionnaire to identify, estimate and compare neurotic states according to 6 scales of anxiety, neurotic depression, asthenia, hysterical type of reacting, obsessive-phobic disorders and neurovegetative disturbances. The drivers were divided into 5 groups, 30 persons in each: I group received Cerebramin→, II — Vasalamin→, III — Cerebramin→ + Vasalamin→, IV — placebo, V — no preparations. […] The analysis of the incidence of various PES revealed a statistically significant increase in the number of drivers with stable psychic adaptation in Groups I, II, and III after cytamin correction as compared to the baseline level (3.3-, 2.4-, and 2.3-fold, correspondingly, p<0.001-0.05). A statistically relevant decrease in the number of the drivers with unstable psychic adaptation in Groups I, II, and III after a cytamin course was noted in comparison with the baseline level (2.5-, 3.0-, and 3.3-fold, respectively, p<0.001- 0.05). […] A detailed examination of the drivers’ PES according to different scales convincingly demonstrated the efficacy of combined application of Cerebramin and Vasalamin in correction of anxiety (p=0.001), neurotic depression (p=0.0001), asthenia (p=0.0001), hysterical type of reacting (p=0.0004), obsessive-phobic states (p=0.0001), and neurovegetative disorders (p=0.003). […]
The presented results showed the occupational hazards and long driving experience being the risk factors for the development of BMD. The applied parameters of PES and early manifestations of BMD are informative criteria for assessing the life quality and professional suitability of lorry-drivers. Cytamins […] are very effective in the correction of psychoemotional disorders and for attaining stable psychic adaptation. [9]
Cerebramin: My Experience
In my anecdotal, and totally unscientific experience with Cerebramin (the cattle brain extract), I can’t say to have noticed any effect. However, I am 24 years old, and this supplement is to be used in the elderly, so I cannot make any real judgment. That said, I feel that “real drugs” like the cytomedins (eg Epitalon, a pineal gland peptide, and Cortexin, a brain peptide) have a huge potential, and I’d like to try them out in the future.
You can buy Cerebramin, Cortexin and other rare Russian nootropics at RUPharma.
References