rethinkPeptides Search
Menu
Home / Research library
Study breakdown

BPC-157 Reduces Anxiety in Rats Across Two Different Behavioral Tests

RPEP-006962001Sikiric, P; Jelovac, N; Jelovac-Gjeldum, A; Dodig, G; Staresinic, M; Anic, T; Zoricic, I; Ferovic, D; Aralica, G; Buljat, G; Prkacin, I; Lovric-Bencic, M; Separovic, J; Seiwerth, S; Rucman, R; Petek, M; Turkovic, B; Ziger, T
Animal StudyPreliminary evidence
The takeaway

BPC-157 showed anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects comparable to diazepam in both the shock probe/burying test and the light/dark test in rats, at both microgram and nanogram doses.

Matched diazepam

BPC-157 at nanogram doses matched diazepam's anxiolytic effect in two different anxiety tests — without the benzodiazepine's dependence risk

What the researchers found

BPC-157 at 10 μg/kg and 10 ng/kg IP produced anxiolytic effects comparable to diazepam in both the shock probe/burying test (reduced defensive burying) and light/dark test (increased light exploration) in rats.

Why it matters

Anxiety disorders affect 300+ million people and current treatments (benzodiazepines) cause dependence. A peptide anxiolytic without benzodiazepine side effects could address a massive unmet need.

How the study worked

Animal behavioral study in rats using two validated anxiety models: shock probe/burying test and light/dark test. BPC-157 at two doses compared to diazepam at two doses and saline control.

What this study cannot tell us

Rat anxiety models are approximations of human anxiety. IP injection route. Long-term anxiolytic efficacy and safety not assessed.

How to read the evidence

Preliminary animal evidence from two validated anxiety models with appropriate positive control (diazepam) and dose-response data.

When this study was published

Published in 2001. BPC-157's anxiolytic and broader neurological effects have been studied further, building a substantial behavioral pharmacology profile.

The bigger picture

BPC-157's anxiolytic effect at nanogram doses is remarkable. Combined with its previously shown ability to prevent benzodiazepine dependence, it could potentially serve as both an anxiolytic AND a benzodiazepine-sparing agent.

Questions still open

  • Does oral BPC-157 maintain anxiolytic activity?
  • Could BPC-157 treat anxiety disorders in humans?
  • Is the anxiolytic effect mediated through dopamine, GABA, or another system?

Common questions

Can BPC-157 help with anxiety?
In rats, BPC-157 reduced anxiety behavior as effectively as diazepam (Valium) in two different tests. Remarkably, it worked at incredibly tiny doses (nanograms). Human anxiety studies haven't been done yet.
Is it better than benzodiazepines?
BPC-157 matched diazepam's anti-anxiety effect without being a benzodiazepine. Combined with a separate study showing it prevents benzodiazepine dependence, BPC-157 could potentially provide anxiety relief without the addiction risk.

Read the original research

Anxiolytic effect of BPC-157, a gastric pentadecapeptide: shock probe/burying test and light/dark test.

Acta pharmacologica Sinica, 22(3), 225-30

View on PubMed ↗

Citation

Sikiric, P; Jelovac, N; Jelovac-Gjeldum, A; Dodig, G; Staresinic, M; Anic, T; Zoricic, I; Ferovic, D; Aralica, G; Buljat, G; Prkacin, I; Lovric-Bencic, M; Separovic, J; Seiwerth, S; Rucman, R; Petek, M; Turkovic, B; Ziger, T. (2001). Anxiolytic effect of BPC-157, a gastric pentadecapeptide: shock probe/burying test and light/dark test.. Acta pharmacologica Sinica, 22(3), 225-30.