Dihexa
Get a source-linked, educational explanation from this profile.
Complete Research Guide
Open each section for the available evidence. Gaps are stated rather than inferred.
Overview
Dihexa is listed as cognitive / hgf mimetic.
- •Cognitive enhancement (research)
- •Synaptogenesis
Regulatory status: Research chemical — not approved.
Structure & Properties
Compound: Dihexa; also known as PNB-0408, N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide.
Pharmacologic class: Cognitive / HGF Mimetic.
Known delivery routes: Oral, Transdermal.
Sequence, molecular weight, salt form, and excipient details are formulation-specific and are not listed unless verified by a manufacturer or laboratory COA.
How It Works
Small peptide HGF/c-Met mimetic — promotes formation of new functional synapses; ~7-orders-of-magnitude more potent than BDNF in vitro.
- •Marked synaptogenesis
- •Memory enhancement in rodent AD models
- •Oral bioavailability
Human Research
Evidence grade: Pre-clinical / Observational
Evidence is primarily preclinical or observational; human effectiveness and long-term safety are not established.
Laboratory Research
Pre-clinical rodent cognition models
Preclinical findings describe biological plausibility, not proven benefit in people. Animal and laboratory doses do not translate directly to human use.
Processing & Interactions
Timing and exposure
Once daily oral, morning. Highly experimental.
Potential interactions and combinations to avoid
- •Active malignancy — HGF-mimetic mitogenic concern
Absorption, half-life, metabolism, and clearance can vary by formulation and route. Use prescribing information when an approved product exists.
Safety & Precautions
Known or reported risks
- •No human safety data
- •Theoretical mitogenicity via HGF/c-Met
- •Anxiety / overstimulation reported
Contraindications
- •Cancer history
- •Pregnancy
- •Seizure disorder or history of epilepsy (lowered seizure threshold reported for some agents)
- •Bipolar disorder, psychosis, or active mania
- •Concurrent MAO inhibitors, stimulants, or serotonergic agents without psychiatric oversight
- •Recent intracranial haemorrhage or unstable neurologic injury
- •Not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use — no verified purity, sterility, or potency standards
- •Immunocompromised or transplant patients (unverified sterility and immunogenicity risk)
- •Concurrent participation in drug-tested sport (WADA prohibited or non-cleared substance)
- •Known hypersensitivity or prior reaction to this compound or any excipient/diluent
- •Pregnancy, attempting conception, or breastfeeding unless prescribed and monitored by a physician
- •Children and adolescents with open growth plates (unless under specialist endocrine care)
- •Active or recently treated malignancy without oncology clearance
- •Use without a confirmed diagnosis, baseline labs, and licensed clinical supervision
Unknown long-term toxicity should be assumed where controlled human data are limited. Seek urgent care for a severe or unexpected reaction.
Administration & Studied Formulations
Reference range: 8–45 mg/day (anecdotal oral/transdermal)
Frequency: Daily
Cycling: Short cycles reported; no validated protocol.
Oral
For peptides formulated with absorption enhancers (SNAC) or small stable molecules.
Tablet or capsule. Swallow whole with ≤120 mL plain water, on an empty stomach. Wait 30 min before food, other meds, or additional liquid (bioavailability collapses otherwise).
Dosing information is educational context, not a personal recommendation. Approved products must follow their label and prescriber instructions.
Applications & Related Therapies
Potentially complementary measures
- •Standalone; avoid stacking with other growth-factor mimetics
Clinical use should account for diagnosis, approved alternatives, nutrition, activity, sleep, rehabilitation, current medicines, and appropriate monitoring.
Cases, Considerations & Ethics
Decision framework: establish the clinical goal, confirm evidence quality and legal status, screen contraindications and interactions, compare approved alternatives, define monitoring and stopping criteria, and use shared decision-making with a licensed clinician.
Case evidence: individual reports cannot establish safety or effectiveness and should not outweigh controlled trials.
Ethics: informed consent should distinguish established care from experimental use, disclose uncertainty and cost, avoid overstated claims, and never substitute research products for medically necessary care.
What is Dihexa?
In plain words
Dihexa is a small peptide, a compound built from amino-acid components. It mimics a growth signal and promotes new working connections between nerve cells in laboratory research. Researchers study it for these connections and possible effects on thinking and memory. It is not FDA-approved, and there are no human safety data; unwanted cell growth is a theoretical concern, and anxiety or feeling overstimulated has been reported.
Technical definition
Dihexa (PNB-0408; N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide) is a small peptide mimetic of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) that acts through the HGF/c-Met pathway and promotes formation of new functional synapses. Its reported potency for this effect in vitro is approximately seven orders of magnitude greater than that of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which does not establish human efficacy. It is an unapproved research chemical, not FDA-approved; evidence is preclinical/observational, with no human safety data and a theoretical risk of stimulating cell proliferation through HGF/c-Met.
Function
Dosing
Recommended Time of Day
Morning, with or without food.
See “Timing & Interactions” below for full fasted/fed circumstances, what to avoid combining, and what pairs well.
Administration & Technique
Injection & Application Sites
Dihexa has no injection site — see the routes below.
Diagram is a general illustration, not a medical instruction. Rotate sites every injection, keep 1 in (2.5 cm) between recent sites, and avoid scars, moles, bruises and the navel area.
Cycling
Short cycles reported; no validated protocol.
Timing & Interactions
- ·Active malignancy — HGF-mimetic mitogenic concern
- ·Standalone; avoid stacking with other growth-factor mimetics
Storage & Reconstitution
Reconstitution Calculator
1 mL = 100 units on a standard U-100 insulin syringe. Draw to the nearest 0.5 unit and confirm dosing with a clinician before injection.
Your Notes
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Benefits
- ·Marked synaptogenesis
- ·Memory enhancement in rodent AD models
- ·Oral bioavailability
Risks
- ·No human safety data
- ·Theoretical mitogenicity via HGF/c-Met
- ·Anxiety / overstimulation reported
Contraindications
- ·Cancer history
- ·Pregnancy
- ·Seizure disorder or history of epilepsy (lowered seizure threshold reported for some agents)
- ·Bipolar disorder, psychosis, or active mania
- ·Concurrent MAO inhibitors, stimulants, or serotonergic agents without psychiatric oversight
- ·Recent intracranial haemorrhage or unstable neurologic injury
- ·Not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use — no verified purity, sterility, or potency standards
- ·Immunocompromised or transplant patients (unverified sterility and immunogenicity risk)
- ·Concurrent participation in drug-tested sport (WADA prohibited or non-cleared substance)
- ·Known hypersensitivity or prior reaction to this compound or any excipient/diluent
- ·Pregnancy, attempting conception, or breastfeeding unless prescribed and monitored by a physician
- ·Children and adolescents with open growth plates (unless under specialist endocrine care)
- ·Active or recently treated malignancy without oncology clearance
- ·Use without a confirmed diagnosis, baseline labs, and licensed clinical supervision
Regulatory
Research chemical — not approved
Veterinary Use (Pets)
No established veterinary protocol for Dihexa. Consult a licensed veterinarian before considering off-label use in any species.
Full veterinary reference →Functional Groups
Cited Works
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