Comparison
Curcumin vs Selank
Side-by-side of Curcumin and Selank. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Curcumin
Curcumin supplement guide: turmeric extract at 500-1000 mg/day, piperine and Meriva for absorption, evidence in joint inflammation and mood.
Selank
Selank peptide benefits: tuftsin analog heptapeptide, intranasal anxiolytic and nootropic. Russian clinical data, dosing, half-life, safety.
Effects at a glance
Curcumin
- •Reduces osteoarthritis knee pain comparable to ibuprofen at 1500 mg/day enhanced formulation
- •Modest antidepressant effect (SMD ~0.34) as monotherapy or SSRI adjunct in major depression
- •Standard curcumin has ~3% bioavailability; Meriva, BCM-95, Theracurmin shift absorption 5-30 fold
- •Inhibits NF-kB and COX-2; reduces hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha in chronic inflammation
- •Antiplatelet effect at higher doses; meaningful interaction with warfarin and DOACs
- •Iron chelation can contribute to deficiency in already-marginal patients
Selank
- •Synthetic heptapeptide analog of tuftsin developed in Russia in the 1990s
- •Approved in Russia for generalized anxiety disorder and asthenic conditions
- •Russian RCTs report anxiolytic effects comparable to medazepam without sedation or dependence
- •Modulates GABAergic and serotonergic signaling and BDNF expression in preclinical models
- •Most commonly administered intranasally; subcutaneous use is anecdotal
- •No Western-validated trials; not FDA approved; research-use-only outside Russia
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Curcumin | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Category | natural | peptide |
| Also known as | turmeric extract, diferuloylmethane | TP-7, Tuftsin analog |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 7 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 500 | 0.4 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 2 times daily with meals | 2-3x daily (intranasal) |
| Routes | oral | intranasal, subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | 2 | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | 4 | 1 |
| Molecular weight | 368.38 | 751.85 |
| Molecular formula | C21H20O6 | C33H57N11O9 |
| Mechanism | Inhibits NF-kB transcription factor, COX-2, and lipoxygenase; activates AMPK and Nrf2; modulates JAK-STAT and PI3K-Akt kinase signaling. Pleiotropic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. | Modulates GABAergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic signaling. Increases BDNF expression in hippocampal neurons in preclinical models. Modulates enkephalin levels and immune cytokine signaling via tuftsin-like activity. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement (global) | Approved as a prescription anxiolytic in Russia; not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most other jurisdictions |
| WADA status | allowed | unknown |
| DEA / Rx | Not scheduled | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status outside Russia |
| Pregnancy | Culinary turmeric is safe; supplemental curcumin best avoided in pregnancy | Not recommended; insufficient data |
| CAS | 458-37-7 | 129954-34-3 |
| PubChem CID | 969516 | 11765600 |
| Wikidata | Q312266 | Q4416793 |
Safety profile
Curcumin
Common side effects
- nausea
- diarrhea
- dyspepsia
- yellow stool (benign)
Contraindications
- active gallstones (curcumin stimulates gallbladder contraction)
- severe biliary obstruction
- scheduled elective surgery (discontinue 1-2 weeks prior)
Interactions
- warfarin and DOACs: additive antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects; meaningful bleeding risk at 1000+ mg/day(major)
- aspirin and NSAIDs: additive antiplatelet effect(moderate)
- tacrolimus and cyclosporine: CYP3A4 and P-gp modulation may alter drug levels(moderate)
- iron supplements: curcumin chelates iron; can contribute to deficiency in marginal patients(moderate)
- chemotherapy agents: potential interference with multiple agents; coordinate with oncology team(major)
Selank
Common side effects
- mild nasal irritation (intranasal)
- transient drowsiness (uncommon)
- mild headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- severe psychiatric disorder (insufficient data)
Interactions
- benzodiazepines: additive anxiolytic effect; potential for over-sedation when stacked(moderate)
- SSRIs: no documented adverse interaction; co-administration described in Russian protocols(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Curcumin comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. Selank is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick Curcumin.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick Curcumin.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Selank.
- → If your priority is anxiety reduction, pick Selank.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, Curcumin is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: Curcumin. Lower friction to source, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Selank only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Curcumin and Selank?
Curcumin and Selank differ in category (natural vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Curcumin or Selank?
Curcumin half-life is 7 hours; Selank half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack Curcumin with Selank?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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