The invention relates to peptides comprising phycocyanobilin (PCB), as well as to the use of said peptides and PCB in medicine owing to the neuroprotective and/or neurogenerative effects thereof that have been identified. In addition, the invention relates to pharmaceutical combinations of said peptides and PCB with proteins or other peptides which, owing to the synergistic effect thereof, are suitable for use in the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system involving neurodegenerative and ischemic damage.