It is derived from the racetam family of drugs and shares similar mechanisms of action,[2][3] but is, according to studies, 1000 times more potent than the prototypical racetam drug, piracetam.[4] Animal studies have shown noopept to be neuroprotective and enhance memory in various tests.[5][6][7][8][9] Unusually for a peptide-derived compound, noopept displays both high oral bioavailability[10] and good blood–brain barrier penetration[11] in rats (although a previous study concluded that "GVS-111 itself was not found in rat brain 1 h after 5 mg/kg i.p. administration up to limit of detection" and that administration of Noopept only increases the concentration of endogenous nootropic Cyclo-L-prolylglycine[3]), and human studies have shown promising results, with potential application in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.[12] It is also an "immunocorrector" in mice.[13]
It has been found to stimulate the expression of NGF and BDNF in rat hippocampus.[8] Expression of the studied neurotropic factors in the cerebral cortex was below the control after single administration of Noopept, while chronic administration caused a slight increase in BDNF expression. In the hippocampus, expression of mRNA for both neurotrophins increased after acute administration of Noopept. Chronic treatment with Noopept was not followed by the development of tolerance, but even potentiated the neurotrophic effect.[8]
