Hypoxen / OlifenГипоксен / Олифен
What is it?
A synthetic sulfur-containing polyphenolic/polymeric antihypoxant, formerly called Olifen. Its active ingredient is sodium polydihydroxyphenylene thiosulfonate; it is not a peptide.
Identity / background source ↗
Research context
A synthetic polyphenolic preparation studied in hypoxia, environmental stress, exercise and cellular-energy metabolism. Human findings are limited, and laboratory effects depend on experimental conditions.
What the studies found
human comparative · 2009
Healthy men aged 20–24; Tabai chamber heat, cold and hypobaric hypoxia
The healthy-volunteer chamber comparison reports environment-dependent effects. Hypoxen was associated with psychological and psychomotor responses during heat exposure; benefits were not uniform across the four agents and three environments.
Limit: Noopept was not one of the tested drugs.
Meteoadaptogenic properties of antihypoxants ↗in vitro · 2010
Isolated rat liver mitochondria
Hypoxen reduced phosphorylating and uncoupled respiration, with substrate-dependent concentration thresholds. Malate, glutamate and succinate dehydrogenase activities decreased. This qualifies the claim that it uniformly increases mitochondrial respiration.
Limit: Isolated organelles and experimental concentrations do not establish effects of oral use in humans.
The drug Hypoxen: a new inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration and dehydrogenases ↗animal · 2002
C57BL/6 mouse bone-marrow chromosome-aberration assay
Simultaneous injected Hypoxen reduced dioxidine-associated genotoxicity by a reported 35% over 24 hours. Five-day oral pretreatment did not reduce damage.
Limit: Route- and timing-dependent results; the oral negative finding must be retained.
Antimutagenic Hypoxen activity in vivo ↗Selected findings, not a systematic review or a treatment recommendation. Combination and related-preparation results cannot be attributed to this compound alone. See each source for access status and remaining limitations.
- Working classification
- Polymeric antihypoxant
- Research collection
- Actoprotection & occupational pharmacology · editorial grouping
- Institutional provenance
- Not established for this compound record
- Last evidence review
- Full evidence review pending; source-check scope appears with each publication below.
What do we know?
- Human research
- —Environmental and clinical comparisons; limited methodological detail
- Study methods
- —Human comparisons, rat studies, mitochondrial assays and analytical chemistry
- Independent replication
- —Independent clinical confirmation remains limited; historical cohorts may overlap
- Source access
- —Indexed abstracts, publisher records, patent text and explicit archival leads
- Safety evidence
- —Long-term and combination safety not established by this collection
These are independent review fields, not a rating. Missing evidence in this starter does not mean no research exists.
Energy metabolism under stress.
Hypoxen belongs to the antihypoxant research tradition: compounds investigated when oxygen availability or cellular energy production becomes limiting. Its polyphenolic chemistry differs from Bemitil’s benzimidazole structure and Bromantane’s adamantane structure. Shared research settings do not make these preparations interchangeable.
Follow the names, then the original documents.
Olifen is the earlier name linked to Hypoxen in the published literature. Biotop and Polyfen are retained as historical search terms; their formulation equivalence and the precise synthesis, authorization and renaming chronology still need original archival documents. The 2025 review identifies a substantial but difficult-to-access Military Medical Academy literature from the 1980s–1990s.
The research trail connects Medvedev, Aleksandrova and Enokhin’s chemistry/mechanism work; Nasonkin, Kuzmich and Popov’s performance and clinical publications; Smirnov’s monograph; and the later mitochondrial work of Grishina, Maevsky, Kosenko and Murzaeva. Gutimine and Amtizol are related historical research branches, not established chemical ancestors of Hypoxen.
What the studies actually contribute
| Branch | Finding or document | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Heat, cold and hypoxia | 2009 chamber comparison ↗: Hypoxen’s reported psychological and psychomotor effects were especially associated with heat exposure. | Abstract-level evidence; effect sizes, allocation and safety need full-text appraisal. |
| Altitude comparison | 2014 altitude study ↗: Hypoxen served as a comparator to Metaprot–Ladasten and placebo. | Comparison is not coadministration, and does not establish altitude-illness prevention. |
| Lactate and recovery | 2008 study ↗: a substrate–Hypoxen combination was associated with faster recovery-phase lactate utilization. | Combination contribution and in-vivo sample remain unresolved from the abstract. |
| Mitochondria | Respiration inhibition ↗ and low-concentration stimulation/channel findings ↗. | Different concentrations, tissues and substrates. Neither supports a universal “oxygen booster” claim. |
| Clinical adjunct | 2012 postoperative comparison ↗: biochemical changes and less prolonged pain reported. | 52 treated versus 339 controls; allocation and baseline comparability unclear. |
| Toxicology | Bednov’s gas-exposure experiment ↗ and route-dependent antimutagen assay ↗. | Animal evidence. Oral pretreatment was negative in the antimutagen experiment; no benzene-protection claim is supported. |
Historical combinations, separate levels of evidence
The Center for Extreme Medicine patent proposes support before, during and after extreme work. Hypoxen, Sydnocarb, Mebix, Deltoran and ascorbate appear in its phased protocol. It cites a 1999 Novikov–Shustov Academy document. This verifies an explicit proposal, not a clinically validated program.
The 2002 Navy diving-rule reproduction names piracetam and Olifen among recovery adjuncts after carbon-monoxide poisoning. The historical text is not a controlled study or current treatment advice.
Hypoxen plus aspirin is a separate rat inflammation experiment. Bromitil, the Bromantane–Bemitil combination, is a neighboring branch and does not contain Hypoxen. No convincing controlled human Hypoxen–Bemitil coadministration study has been verified in this collection.
View the historical combination records ↗
Modern analytical work and monitoring
The urinary-marker study was published online in 2024 and assigned to a 2025 journal issue. Detecting exposure is a different research question from demonstrating benefit. The official 2026 WADA Monitoring Program lists Hypoxen in and out of competition. Monitoring is distinct from prohibition and is not a safety endorsement. Status checked 4 October 2026.
Bibliography and original-source priorities
The 1999 athlete paper, 2001 monograph, early cardiovascular reports and original heat/altitude experiments remain important acquisition targets. Numerical tables reproduced in later accounts are not treated here as independently verified trial results.
Russian Navy diving rules — historical Olifen recovery mention
Historical rule reproduction names piracetam, Olifen and vitamins during recovery after carbon-monoxide poisoning. It is not a comparative trial or current emergency-treatment guidance.
Bibliography & access details ↗Methods for optimizing functional state and human work capacity in extreme and subextreme conditions
Prior-art citation verified in the later patent. Original document not recovered; citation does not verify its clinical evidence.
Bibliography & access details ↗Bednov sulfur-containing-gas dissertation — author abstract PDF
PDF acquisition link from the source trail; scan not reviewed. The online transcription is separately appraised in hypoxen-bednov-2004.
Bibliography & access details ↗Meteoadaptogenic properties of antihypoxic drugs — publisher PDF
PDF located; abstract reviewed. Same source as antihypoxants-meteo-2009, not an additional trial.
Bibliography & access details ↗Hypoxen — monograph acquisition target
Secondary bibliography confirms the citation. Original monograph not recovered; page-count variants exist. Priority source for tracing older Olifen work.
Bibliography & access details ↗2026 WADA Monitoring Program
Hypoxen is monitored in and out of competition. Monitoring is distinct from prohibition and is not an endorsement of safety or efficacy. Checked 4 October 2026.
Bibliography & access details ↗Olifen: a new domestic means of increasing athletes’ physical work capacity
Reported citation: Vestnik Sportivnoy Meditsiny Rossii 24(3):43–44. Original article and sample details await recovery. Linked review is an entry point, not the original document.
Bibliography & access details ↗Antihypoxic activity and mechanism of action of Olifen
Reported conference abstract: Hypoxia: Mechanisms, Adaptation, Correction, Moscow, p. 5. Original proceedings await recovery. Linked review is an entry point, not the original document.
Bibliography & access details ↗Hypoxen and middle-/long-distance runner performance
Original report, sample and allocation await recovery; do not pool with the 2004 athlete paper without checking overlap. Linked review is an entry point, not the original document.
Bibliography & access details ↗Olifen in ischemic-heart-disease therapy
Clinical lineage lead; original methods, participant counts and outcomes require appraisal. Linked review is an entry point, not the original document.
Bibliography & access details ↗Olifen in combined therapy of angina pectoris
Adjunct-treatment citation trail; not yet an appraised clinical study. Linked review is an entry point, not the original document.
Bibliography & access details ↗Olifen and Amtizol in chronic circulatory failure
Original paper needed to distinguish comparison from coadministration. No combination efficacy claim is made. Linked review is an entry point, not the original document.
Bibliography & access details ↗Original Olifen heat and 4,500-m altitude experiments
Numerical tables circulated in later sources need original samples, allocation, statistics and source-version checks. The reported percentages are not reproduced as verified effects. Linked review is an entry point, not the original document.
Bibliography & access details ↗Biotop / Polyfen / Olifen development and Academy research archives
Original synthesis, 1988 authorization-related documents and the Rang-97/Biorhythmology project records remain acquisition targets. Shared institutions do not establish chemical descent or a single continuous program. Linked review is an entry point, not the original document.
Bibliography & access details ↗Other leads that still need original sources
A reported 140-volunteer haemodynamic dataset, the Sydnocarb–Hypoxen combination, diclofenac experiments, leukocyte studies and proposed thiosulfate/Olifen/Elcar/Energostim mixtures require original methods and formulation checks. They are research leads, not evidence-backed stacks. The same applies to exact Biotop/Polyfen formulation identity and claims of standard Soviet civil-defense use.
Linked sources
Explore the research map and unresolved leads ↗
A review of Hypoxen pharmacology and potential to enhance sports performance
Format: Journal article · Reviewed: Abstract reviewed
K. Jędrejko, O. Catlin, R. Faiss, A. Pokrywka · Drug Testing and Analysis. 17(10):1896–1911
The review identifies a difficult-to-access Military Medical Academy literature from the 1980s–1990s and limited human evidence. It discusses several mitochondrial mechanisms rather than establishing a single oxygen-boosting effect.
- Population / setting
- Review of historical, experimental and human literature
- What was checked
- Indexed or publisher abstract reviewed; full methods and risk of bias not appraised.
Limitations & review scope
- A literature review is not independent replication.
- The authors report a lack of clinical trials meeting international standards; historical use does not establish effectiveness or safety.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Changes in bioenergetic functions and performance capacity of athletes after administration of polyphenolic antihypoxic agents
Format: Journal article · Reviewed: Bibliographic metadata only
N. D. Altukhov, N. I. Volkov, S. L. Khoronyuk · Fiziologiya Cheloveka. 30(2):101–109; English translation: Human Physiology 30:216–223
An indexed clinical-trial record connects the polyphenolic antihypoxant research to athlete bioenergetics. PubMed has no abstract; numerical performance claims are withheld pending original-text review.
- Population / setting
- Athletes; sample and allocation not recovered
- What was checked
- PubMed citation checked; full text and results not reviewed.
Limitations & review scope
- Clinical Trial indexing does not establish randomization or methodological quality.
- Russian and English versions are one publication, not two studies.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Accelerated utilization of lactate under the effect of hypoxen after intensive exercise
Format: Journal article · Reviewed: Abstract reviewed
E. V. Grishina, Ya. V. Khaustova, V. G. Pogorelova, A. G. Pogorelov, M. K. Kuzmich, E. I. Maevskii · Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. 145(2):198–201
Hypoxen combined with energy-metabolism substrates was associated with higher lactate during maximal exercise, faster subsequent utilization and a lower recovery lactate/pyruvate ratio. The authors also describe an in-vitro NADH-oxidation pathway involving cytochrome c.
- Population / setting
- Exercise experiment plus mitochondrial assays; in-vivo sample not specified in accessible abstract
- What was checked
- Indexed or publisher abstract reviewed; full methods and risk of bias not appraised.
Limitations & review scope
- Combination exposure cannot isolate Hypoxen’s contribution.
- The abstract does not establish the in-vivo species, sample, allocation or safety. This is not presented as a verified human recovery trial.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
The drug Hypoxen: a new inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration and dehydrogenases
Format: Journal article · Reviewed: Abstract reviewed
E. A. Kosenko, M. B. Abramova, N. I. Venediktova, I. I. Popova, Yu. G. Kaminskii · Izv Akad Nauk Ser Biol. (4):411–416; English translation Biology Bulletin 37:346–350
Hypoxen reduced phosphorylating and uncoupled respiration, with substrate-dependent concentration thresholds. Malate, glutamate and succinate dehydrogenase activities decreased. This qualifies the claim that it uniformly increases mitochondrial respiration.
- Population / setting
- Isolated rat liver mitochondria
- What was checked
- Indexed or publisher abstract reviewed; full methods and risk of bias not appraised.
Limitations & review scope
- Isolated organelles and experimental concentrations do not establish effects of oral use in humans.
- The translation and Russian paper are the same experiment.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Effect of Hypoxen on bioenergetic processes in mitochondria and ATP-sensitive potassium-channel activity
Format: Journal article · Reviewed: Abstract reviewed
S. V. Murzaeva, M. B. Abramova, I. I. Popova, E. N. Gritsenko, G. D. Mironova, E. I. Lezhnev · Biofizika. 55(5):814–821; English translation Biophysics 55:727–732
At low experimental concentrations, the authors report increased respiration, coupling, hydrogen-peroxide formation and potassium-associated mitochondrial swelling. ATP-related responses led them to propose involvement of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels.
- Population / setting
- Isolated rat heart and liver mitochondria
- What was checked
- Indexed or publisher abstract reviewed; full methods and risk of bias not appraised.
Limitations & review scope
- Concentration, substrate and tissue differ from the respiration-inhibition experiments.
- Increased peroxide formation complicates a simple antioxidant narrative; these assays do not establish clinical benefit.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Impact of Hypoxen therapy on postoperative course in gynecologic patients
Format: Journal article · Reviewed: Abstract reviewed
M. Z. Dugieva, K. V. Kotenko, K. V. Morozova · Antibiotiki i Khimioterapiya. 57(5–6):28–31
The abstract reports changes in lipid-peroxidation and antioxidant measures and fewer patients with prolonged postoperative pain in the adjunct group (reported p<0.05).
- Population / setting
- 52 adjunct-Hypoxen patients and 339 routine-care controls after abdominal gynecologic surgery
- What was checked
- Indexed or publisher abstract reviewed; full methods and risk of bias not appraised.
Limitations & review scope
- Very unequal group sizes; randomization, blinding and baseline comparability are not established.
- No absolute pain-event counts in the abstract. Surgical findings do not establish sports, occupational or long-term safety benefits.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Antimutagenic Hypoxen activity in vivo
Format: Journal article · Reviewed: Abstract reviewed
O. A. Karpova, L. V. Mikhina, A. A. Denisov, M. K. Kuzmich · Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology. 65(3):54–56
Simultaneous injected Hypoxen reduced dioxidine-associated genotoxicity by a reported 35% over 24 hours. Five-day oral pretreatment did not reduce damage.
- Population / setting
- C57BL/6 mouse bone-marrow chromosome-aberration assay
- What was checked
- Indexed or publisher abstract reviewed; full methods and risk of bias not appraised.
Limitations & review scope
- Route- and timing-dependent results; the oral negative finding must be retained.
- A mouse mutagen assay does not establish protection against industrial gases, benzene or cancer.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Influence of Metaprot and Hypoxen on inflammatory-reaction development in an experiment
Format: Journal article · Reviewed: Abstract reviewed
V. E. Novikov, S. A. Ilyukhin, E. V. Pozhilova · Reviews on Clinical Pharmacology and Drug Therapy. 10(4):63–66
Hypoxen and Metaprot showed weak anti-inflammatory activity alone but enhanced aspirin-associated effects. The publisher abstract identifies Hypoxen plus aspirin as the most effective combination tested.
- Population / setting
- Carrageenan-induced rat paw inflammation
- What was checked
- Indexed or publisher abstract reviewed; full methods and risk of bias not appraised.
Limitations & review scope
- Animal inflammation endpoints are not human analgesic or performance outcomes.
- The abstract wording does not establish a Hypoxen-plus-Bemitil performance regimen. Full arm definitions and safety require review.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Physiological mechanisms of chronic exposure to sulfur-containing gas in an experiment
Format: Dissertation abstract reproduction · Reviewed: Relevant conclusions and catalogue checked
I. A. Bednov · Candidate biological-sciences dissertation, Astrakhan, 143 pages; author-abstract reproduction
The author’s conclusions report lower lipid-peroxidation, hypoxia and endogenous-intoxication markers and a shorter recovery period with Olifen. The industrial-gas context concerns the Astrakhan program, but the intervention evidence here is animal work.
- Population / setting
- Rats exposed chronically to sulfur-containing gas standardized to 3 mg/m³ hydrogen sulfide
- What was checked
- Online author-abstract reproduction reviewed; original experimental tables remain to be recovered.
Limitations & review scope
- Author-abstract transcription, not the full 143-page dissertation.
- Mixed industrial gas is not equivalent to pure H₂S or benzene; no protective effect in exposed workers is established.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Method of pharmacological correction of human work capacity in extreme situations
Format: Patent · Reviewed: Patent text reviewed
E. G. Zhilyaev, P. M. Shalimov, D. V. Glukhov, A. G. Zhilyaev, S. E. Makarov, G. G. Neznamov · EA005383B1. Filed 28 December 2001; published 24 February 2005. Center for Extreme Medicine
The patent organizes pharmacological support before exposure, during work and after work. It names Hypoxen, Sydnocarb, Mebix, Deltoran and ascorbate in the first phases, with symptom-dependent changes.
- Population / setting
- Proposed phased occupational-pharmacology protocol; no comparative cohort reported
- What was checked
- Claims, description, filing dates and prior-art citation reviewed.
Limitations & review scope
- A patent documents a proposal, not a validated regimen, implemented service-wide doctrine or controlled trial.
- Its cited 1999 Novikov–Shustov Academy document remains an original-source acquisition target.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Urinary metabolites indicative of Hypoxen administration monitored by LC–HRMS/MS
Format: Journal article · Reviewed: Publisher methods and results reviewed
C. Görgens, T. Möller, S. Guddat, and colleagues · Drug Testing and Analysis. 17(2):225–230; first published online 23 April 2024
The analytical study identified eight plausible Hypoxen-related urinary analytes. It provides markers for detecting administration, not evidence of improved endurance or clinical effectiveness.
- Population / setting
- Exploratory post-administration urine analysis
- What was checked
- Publisher analytical report reviewed; chemical assignments are reported at the authors’ stated certainty.
Limitations & review scope
- Tentative metabolite assignments and exploratory sampling limit interpretation.
- Detection of use is distinct from proof of efficacy, safety or a doping-rule violation.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Possibilities of the pharmacological correction of adaptive reactions of human organism in short-term moving from middle to high altitude]
Kundashev UK, Zurdinov AZ, Barchukov VG · Eksperimental'naia i klinicheskaia farmakologiia 77(9):32-37. PMID 25365868
A Metaprot–Ladasten combination was compared with hypoxen and placebo. The abstract reports earlier changes in exercise tolerance and metabolic and blood measures.
- Population / setting
- Volunteers moving from 1,670 m to 3,750 m after 15 days at middle altitude
- What was checked
- Indexed citation and abstract checked through Europe PMC / PubMed. Original methods and risk of bias not fully appraised.
Limitations & review scope
- No single-component arms are described, so the study cannot isolate contributions or establish synergy.
- Enrollment and allocation details require full-text review.
- Not a validated altitude-illness prevention strategy.
Source checked 2026-09-29. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Meteoadaptogenic properties of antihypoxants
V. P. Ganapolsky, P. D. Shabanov · Eksp Klin Farmakol. 72(6):36–41
The healthy-volunteer chamber comparison reports environment-dependent effects. Hypoxen was associated with psychological and psychomotor responses during heat exposure; benefits were not uniform across the four agents and three environments.
- Population / setting
- Healthy men aged 20–24; Tabai chamber heat, cold and hypobaric hypoxia
- What was checked
- Russian primary-publisher abstract and DOI checked; full text not reviewed.
Limitations & review scope
- Noopept was not one of the tested drugs.
- Comparator allocation, effect sizes and adverse-event reporting require full-text review.
Source checked 2026-10-04. This is a source-linked record, not a completed evidence review.
Explore related historical combinations ↗
Browse bibliography & PDFs ↗