Cerebrolysin

Research Reagent · Laboratory Use Only

What does current research show about Cerebrolysin's neuroprotective effects?

Cerebrolysin, a porcine brain-derived peptide mixture, has demonstrated neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties in preclinical and clinical studies. Research published in PubMed-indexed journals suggests potential benefits in stroke recovery and Alzheimer's disease, with proposed mechanisms involving BDNF-like activity, reduced apoptosis, and modulation of neuroinflammatory pathways.

Scientific AbstractPMID 41920231 · 2026

Previous studies from our laboratory show that intraperitoneal injections of 1-metyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin (MPTP, 20 mg/kg) daily within 2-h intervals for 5 days in mice induce Parkinson's disease (PD)-like symptoms on the 8th day. A significant decrease in dopamine (DA) and its metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) along with a marked decrease in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and striatum (STr) confirms the validity of this model for studying PD. Since cerebrolysin (CBL) is a well-balanced composition of several neurotrophic factors and active peptide fragments, in the present investigation we examined the timed release of CBL using titanate nanospheres (TiNS) in treating PD in our mouse model.

) given after 2 days of MPTP administration for 5 days resulted in a marked increase in TH-positive cells in the SNpc and STr as compared to normal CBL. Also, TiNS-CBL resulted in significantly higher levels of DA, DOPAC, and HVA in SNpc and STr on the 8th day as compared to normal CBL therapy. TiNS-CBL also thwarted increased α-synuclein levels in the brain and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as well as neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the in PD brain as compared to untreated group.

Behavioral function was also significantly improved in MPTP-treated animals that received TiNS-CBL. These observations are the first to demonstrate that timed release of TiNS-CBL has far more superior neuroprotective effects in PD than normal CBL.

Mechanistic Research SummaryCurated from PubMed

This data is for laboratory research purposes only. Not for human or animal consumption.

What is Cerebrolysin?

Cerebrolysin is a standardized peptide and amino acid preparation derived from porcine brain tissue, designed to modulate neuroprotective and neuroregenerative pathways. Research indicates it functions as a multi-target agent affecting neuroinflammation and cellular stress responses.

Mechanism of Action

Cerebrolysin operates through multiple proposed mechanisms: (1) inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, particularly TNF-α and IL-6, (2) enhancement of neurotrophic signaling through interaction with growth factor receptors, and (3) modulation of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress pathways. The active components—primarily low-molecular-weight peptides and free amino acids—cross the blood-brain barrier and interact with neuronal membrane receptors and intracellular signaling cascades.

Observed Laboratory Results

  • Neuroprotection in vitro: Reduced neuronal apoptosis in glutamate-induced excitotoxicity models by approximately 30-40% at physiologically relevant concentrations
  • Anti-inflammatory activity: Decreased microglial activation markers and reduced NF-κB phosphorylation in brain tissue preparations
  • Mitochondrial preservation: Improved ATP synthesis and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in damaged neural tissue

Note: Limited peer-reviewed literature available for this agent. Most clinical data derives from European and post-Soviet research databases.

Clinical Research Parameters
10 trials4 human studies

The following data represents formally registered clinical research studies and peer-reviewed human subject research indexed in public registries. All dose ranges, endpoints, and observations below reflect published study parameters — not recommendations. For research reference only.

ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
NCT06273020
UNKNOWNPhase IVn=60

Effect of Cerebrolysin on the Blood Brain Barrier in Patients With Diabetes and Ischemic Stroke

A prospective, single-center study would be carried out in the Neurology Department of the University Hospital "Dr. José Eleuterio González" in order to analyze the effect of cerebrolysin on the blood-brain-barrier in patients with ischemic stroke with personal history of type-2 diabetes

Study Interventions
Cerebrolysin, Brain-MRI with contrast after 10-14 days of cerebrolysin
Primary Endpoints
Blood-Brain-Barrier Permeability after 10-14days of cerebrolysin in patients with AIS of the middle cerebral artery
Study Period
2022-11-17 → 2024-12
NCT07043686
RECRUITINGN/An=30

Cerebrolysin in Early Stroke Rehabilitation - Tertiary Study

The study evaluates the effect and safety of Cerebrolysin administered during early rehabilitation in patients with moderate neurological impairment after acute ischemic stroke, conducted at the Department of Vascular Neurology and Intensive Neurological Therapy, UMC Ljubljana.

Study Interventions
Cerebrolysin treatment, Standard treatment (including neurorehabilitation) of acute ischemic stroke
Primary Endpoints
90-day Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) Score change
Study Period
2025-06-13 → 2027-10-15
NCT01388738
COMPLETEDPhase IIIn=30

Navigation Brain Stimulation for Evaluation of the Neuroprotective Drug Efficiency in Patients After Ischemic Stroke.

Ischemic stroke (IS) causes high mortality and severe disability. To improve outcome it's very important to choose the right way of the management of the patient and an appropriate drugs. There is a large number of the so-called neuroprotective drugs, which were effective in laboratory, but didn't show positive results in clinical studies with using traditional clinical scales scores as a primary

Study Interventions
citicoline, L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, cerebrolysin
Primary Endpoints
MEP(motor evoked potential) parameter: motor threshold; MEP(motor evoked potential) parameter: latency
Study Period
2011-01 → 2011-11
NCT02116348
UNKNOWNPhase IIn=100

Cerebrolysin Neural Repair Therapy in Children With Traumatic Brain Injury and Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most frequent cause of motor handicap among children. The economic burden of CP in USA includes $1.18 billion in direct medical costs, $1.05 billion in direct non-medical costs, and an additional $9.24 billion in indirect costs, for a total cost of $11.5 billion or $921,000 average cost per person. Associated disabilities as mental retardation, delayed speech development

Study Interventions
Cerebrolysin (Nerve growth factor)
Primary Endpoints
neurodevelopment
Study Period
2014-04 → 2016-04
NCT01787123
COMPLETEDPhase II / Phase IIIn=50

Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial to Investigate Safety and Efficacy of Cerebrolysin™ in Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-center clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of administrating intravenous Cerebrolysin™ (EVER NEURO Pharma, Austria), a preparation of low-molecular weight neurotrophic peptides and free amino acids, in improving the functional outcome of patients suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage ( SAH). Cerebrolysin™ is a porcine-derive

Study Interventions
Intravenous Cerebrolysin, Normal Saline
Primary Endpoints
Global functional performance
Study Period
2013-12-01 → 2019-01-01
NCT06677502
ENROLLING BY INVITATIONN/An=500

Cerebrolysin in Critically Ill Patients With Delirium

Delirium is a severe problem in critically ill patients, and it is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and extended stay in hospital. The pathophysiology of delirium is multifactorial and still poorly recognized. Several authors proposed different pathomechanisms of delirium. The most likely of these are a metabolic response to cerebral hypoxia/hyperoxia, oxidative stress with excessiv

Study Interventions
Cerebrolysin, Saline Solution - IV
Primary Endpoints
CAM-ICU test; ICDSC test
Study Period
2024-01-01 → 2025-12-31
NCT01822951
WITHDRAWNPhase IV0

Cerebrolysin Compared to Donepezil in Patients With Mild to Moderate Dementia of Alzheimer's Type (DAT)

The objective of this trial is the global risk-benefit assessment of Cerebrolysin as compared to donepezil in patients with mild to moderate dementia of Alzheimer's Type (DAT). In addition, a traditional approach will be taken based on the evaluation of the separate risk and benefit domains in comparison with donepezil. Global risk-benefit as compared to donepezil will be analyzed by determining

Study Interventions
Cerebrolysin, Donepezil
Primary Endpoints
Change from Baseline in ADAS-cog. and CIBIC+ score distribution
NCT06897176
RECRUITINGPhase IVn=40

Effects of Cerebrolysin on Language Ability in Non-fluent Aphasia Patients After Stroke: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blinded, Single Center Study

" This study aims to measure changes in language ability after adding cerebrolysin to standard treatment for non-fluent aphasia patients with post-stroke language impairment. The patients are divided into two groups: the experimental group, which receives a combination of standard treatment (speech therapy) and cerebrolysin, and the control group, which only receives standard treatment (speech the

Study Interventions
Cerebrolyisin, Placebo
Primary Endpoints
Paradise Korean Western Aphasia Battery (PK-WAB)
Study Period
2025-03-12 → 2027-12-31
NCT06052787
COMPLETEDPhase IIIn=150

Combined Cerebrolysin and Amantadine Sulfate Administration for Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury in the ICU

The goal of this interventional study is to Measure the potential benefits of combined administration of cerebrolysin and amantadine sulfate as an add-on therapy to the standard management of patients admitted to the ICU with traumatic brain injury.

Study Interventions
Cerebrolysin, amantadine sulfate
Primary Endpoints
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS); Disability rating-scale for severe head trauma (DRS)
Study Period
2023-09-01 → 2025-08-01
NCT02581371
UNKNOWNPhase IVn=30

Comprehensive Reparative Therapy in Ischemic Stroke COMplex Repair in Ischemic Stroke-Arm

The aim of the present clinical phase IV study is to estimate the influence of Cerebrolysin in combination with standard therapy on the dynamics of recovery of the paretic upper limb in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Each patient participates in the study for 176-190 days (approximately 6 months). The estimated duration of the study is 2 years.

Study Interventions
Cerebrolysin infusion, Placebo infusion
Primary Endpoints
Overall dynamics of the hand function assessed by the Frenchay Arm Test
Study Period
2015-02 → 2017-02

All data presented on this page is for laboratory research purposes only. Cerebrolysin is referenced here as a research reagent. This page does not constitute medical advice, clinical guidance, or endorsement of any compound for human or animal use. All referenced studies are available via PubMed (PMID: 41920231) and the DOI-linked journal publication. Researchers must consult applicable institutional and regulatory frameworks before conducting any protocols.