Peptides

Hormones and signaling peptides

  1. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol.
  2. Amylin / Pramlintide: slows gastric emptying and suppresses glucagon after meals (pramlintide is used in diabetes).
  3. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) / Vasopressin: makes the kidneys retain water and raises blood pressure.
  4. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP): lowers blood pressure by promoting sodium and water excretion.
  5. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP): relieves cardiac load and serves as a diagnostic marker for heart failure.
  6. Calcitonin: lowers blood calcium by inhibiting bone resorption.
  7. Cholecystokinin (CCK): triggers gallbladder contraction and pancreatic enzyme release during digestion.
  8. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH): starts the stress response by prompting ACTH release.
  9. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): drives egg maturation in women and sperm production in men.
  10. Gastrin: stimulates stomach acid secretion.
  11. Ghrelin: signals hunger and stimulates growth hormone release.
  12. Glucagon: raises blood glucose and is used to treat severe hypoglycemia.
  13. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1): boosts glucose-dependent insulin release and reduces appetite.
  14. Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2): promotes intestinal growth and nutrient absorption.
  15. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP): enhances insulin secretion after eating.
  16. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH): controls the release of LH and FSH.
  17. Growth hormone (GH): drives growth and regulates body composition and metabolism.
  18. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH): stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone.
  19. Insulin: lowers blood glucose by driving cellular glucose uptake.
  20. Kisspeptin: triggers GnRH release and is a key regulator of puberty and fertility.
  21. Leptin: signals body fat stores to the brain to suppress appetite.
  22. Luteinizing hormone (LH): triggers ovulation and testosterone production.
  23. Oxyntomodulin: reduces appetite and increases energy expenditure.
  24. Oxytocin: induces uterine contractions and milk letdown and promotes social bonding.
  25. Parathyroid hormone (PTH): raises blood calcium by acting on bone, kidney and gut.
  26. Peptide YY (PYY): signals fullness after meals.
  27. Prolactin: stimulates milk production.
  28. Relaxin: relaxes pelvic ligaments and widens blood vessels in pregnancy.
  29. Secretin: stimulates the pancreas to release bicarbonate that neutralizes stomach acid.
  30. Somatostatin: inhibits the release of growth hormone, insulin and many other hormones.
  31. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH): stimulates the pituitary to release TSH.

Therapeutic peptide drugs (synthetic analogs)

  1. Abaloparatide: builds bone mass in osteoporosis.
  2. Bivalirudin: prevents blood clotting during angioplasty.
  3. Bremelanotide (PT-141): treats hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women.
  4. Cagrilintide: long-acting amylin analog under development for weight loss.
  5. Degarelix: lowers testosterone in advanced prostate cancer by blocking GnRH receptors.
  6. Desmopressin: treats diabetes insipidus and bedwetting by reducing urine output.
  7. Eptifibatide: prevents platelet clumping in acute coronary syndrome.
  8. Exenatide: improves blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes.
  9. Goserelin: suppresses sex hormones in prostate and breast cancer and endometriosis.
  10. Lanreotide: treats acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors.
  11. Leuprolide: suppresses sex hormones in prostate cancer, endometriosis and precocious puberty.
  12. Linaclotide: treats irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic constipation.
  13. Liraglutide: treats type 2 diabetes and obesity.
  14. Octreotide: treats acromegaly, carcinoid tumors and certain diarrheas.
  15. Retatrutide: triple GIP/GLP-1/glucagon agonist in clinical trials for obesity and diabetes.
  16. Semaglutide: treats type 2 diabetes and obesity.
  17. Setmelanotide: treats obesity caused by certain rare genetic disorders.
  18. Teduglutide: treats short bowel syndrome.
  19. Teriparatide: builds bone in severe osteoporosis.
  20. Tirzepatide: treats type 2 diabetes and obesity via GIP and GLP-1 receptor activation.
  21. Ziconotide: treats severe chronic pain when delivered into the spinal fluid.
  1. AOD-9604: growth hormone fragment studied for fat loss.
  2. CJC-1295: long-acting GHRH analog studied for raising growth hormone and IGF-1 levels.
  3. GHRP-2: stimulates growth hormone release and is used diagnostically and in research.
  4. GHRP-6: stimulates growth hormone release and increases appetite.
  5. Hexarelin: potent growth hormone secretagogue studied for growth hormone release and cardiac effects.
  6. IGF-1 / IGF-1 LR3: mediates growth hormone's effects on tissue growth (mecasermin treats IGF-1 deficiency).
  7. Ipamorelin: selective growth hormone secretagogue studied for growth hormone release.
  8. Mechano growth factor (MGF / PEG-MGF): IGF-1 splice variant studied for muscle repair.
  9. Sermorelin: GHRH analog used to stimulate growth hormone in growth hormone deficiency.
  10. Tesamorelin: reduces excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

Antimicrobial peptides

  1. Bacitracin: topical antibiotic against Gram-positive bacteria.
  2. Cathelicidins: innate immune peptides that kill bacteria and modulate inflammation.
  3. Daptomycin: lipopeptide antibiotic for serious Gram-positive infections including MRSA.
  4. Defensins: innate immune peptides that disrupt microbial membranes.
  5. Gramicidin: topical antibiotic that forms pores in bacterial membranes.
  6. Histatins: salivary peptides that fight oral fungi and bacteria.
  7. Lactoferricin: antimicrobial peptide released from lactoferrin.
  8. LL-37: the human cathelicidin, which kills microbes and aids wound defense.
  9. Magainins: frog-derived peptides that kill bacteria and fungi.
  10. Nisin: food preservative that inhibits Gram-positive bacteria.
  11. Pexiganan: magainin analog studied for infected diabetic foot ulcers.
  12. Polymyxins: last-resort antibiotics against resistant Gram-negative bacteria.
  13. Vancomycin (glycopeptide): treats serious Gram-positive infections such as MRSA.

Antihypertensive peptides

  1. ACE-inhibitory peptides (e.g., Val-Pro-Pro, Ile-Pro-Pro): food-derived peptides that modestly lower blood pressure by inhibiting ACE.
  2. Angiotensin II (vasoactive): constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure (used therapeutically in septic shock).
  3. Bradykinin: dilates blood vessels and mediates inflammation and pain.
  4. Caseinostatin: milk-derived peptide studied for blood pressure lowering.
  5. Lactokinins: milk-derived peptides that inhibit ACE.
  6. Lunasin: soy peptide studied for blood pressure, cholesterol and cancer-preventive effects.

Antioxidant peptides

  1. Anserine: dipeptide that buffers pH and neutralizes free radicals in muscle and brain.
  2. Carnosine: dipeptide that buffers muscle acid and protects against oxidative and glycation damage.
  3. Glutathione: the body's main intracellular antioxidant, supporting detoxification.

Bone health peptides

  1. Calcitonin: slows bone resorption in osteoporosis and Paget's disease.
  2. Casein phosphopeptide (CPP): keeps calcium soluble to improve absorption and remineralize teeth.
  3. Collagen peptides: studied for supporting bone density and joint health.
  4. Milk protein hydrolysates: studied for supporting bone mineral retention.
  5. Teriparatide / Abaloparatide: build new bone in severe osteoporosis.

Immune-modulating peptides

  1. Cyclosporine (cyclic peptide): suppresses T-cell activity to prevent transplant rejection.
  2. KPV (alpha-MSH fragment): studied for anti-inflammatory effects, particularly in the gut and skin.
  3. Larazotide: studied for tightening the intestinal barrier in celiac disease.
  4. Thymalin: thymus-derived peptide studied for immune restoration.
  5. Thymosin alpha-1: boosts T-cell function and is used for hepatitis and as an immune adjuvant in some countries.
  6. Thymosin beta-4 / TB-500: studied for tissue repair and reducing inflammation.

Neuroactive peptides

  1. Beta-endorphins: the body's natural opioid for pain relief and euphoria.
  2. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP): dilates blood vessels and drives migraine pain (a target of migraine drugs).
  3. Dihexa: angiotensin IV derivative studied for cognitive enhancement.
  4. Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP): studied for promoting sleep.
  5. Dermorphin: frog-derived opioid peptide with potent pain-relieving activity.
  6. Dynorphins: endogenous opioids involved in pain, stress and mood.
  7. Endomorphins: highly selective mu-opioid peptides involved in pain relief.
  8. Enkephalins: natural opioid peptides that modulate pain.
  9. Galanin: regulates feeding, mood, pain and seizure threshold.
  10. Ghrelin: signals hunger and influences reward and memory in the brain.
  11. Neuropeptide Y (NPY): stimulates appetite and buffers stress and anxiety.
  12. Neurotensin: modulates dopamine, pain and gut function.
  13. Nociceptin: modulates pain, stress and reward.
  14. Orexins (hypocretins): maintain wakefulness (deficiency causes narcolepsy).
  15. Oxytocin: promotes social bonding, trust and maternal behavior.
  16. PACAP: neuroprotective peptide involved in stress responses and migraine.
  17. Selank: anxiolytic peptide used clinically in Russia and studied for anxiety.
  18. Semax: peptide used clinically in Russia for stroke recovery and cognition.
  19. Substance P: transmits pain signals and drives neurogenic inflammation.
  20. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP): relaxes smooth muscle and regulates immune and circadian function.

Peptides for wound healing and tissue repair

  1. BPC-157: gastric-derived peptide studied in animals for healing of tendon, gut and other tissues.
  2. Epidermal growth factor (EGF): stimulates skin cell growth and is used in wound healing.
  3. GHK-Cu (copper peptide): promotes collagen synthesis and wound repair.
  4. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF): stimulates tissue repair (becaplermin treats diabetic foot ulcers).
  5. Thymosin beta-4 / TB-500: studied for promoting cell migration and tissue repair.

Peptides for skin health (cosmetic)

  1. Acetyl hexapeptide-8 (Argireline): reduces the look of expression lines by dampening muscle-contraction signaling.
  2. Collagen peptides: taken orally or used topically to support skin hydration and elasticity.
  3. Elastin peptides: studied for improving skin elasticity.
  4. GHK-Cu: used in skincare to boost collagen and reduce the look of aging.
  5. Matrixyl 3000 (palmitoyl tripeptide-1 + palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7): reduces the look of wrinkles by signaling collagen production.
  6. Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (Matrixyl): original anti-wrinkle peptide that stimulates collagen synthesis.
  7. Palmitoyl tripeptide-5: boosts collagen production to firm skin.
  8. Snap-8: reduces the look of expression lines, working like a milder Argireline.
  9. Tripeptide-1 / Dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate (Syn-Ake): "topical Botox-like" ingredient that reduces the look of wrinkles.

Pigmentation and metabolic melanocortin peptides

  1. Alpha-MSH: natural hormone that stimulates skin pigmentation and regulates appetite and inflammation.
  2. Melanotan I (afamelanotide): increases melanin and is approved for erythropoietic protoporphyria.
  3. Melanotan II: unapproved tanning peptide that also affects libido and appetite.

Mitochondrial peptides

  1. Humanin: mitochondrial-derived peptide with anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective effects.
  2. MOTS-c: mitochondrial-derived peptide studied for metabolism and mitochondrial function.
  3. SS-31 (elamipretide): synthetic mitochondria-targeted peptide that stabilizes cardiolipin and improves mitochondrial function.

Other / longevity research peptides

  1. Epitalon (Epithalon): synthetic pineal peptide studied for telomerase activation and aging.
  2. Pinealon: short peptide studied for neuroprotection.
  3. Cerebrolysin (peptide mixture): brain-derived peptide preparation used in some countries for stroke and dementia.
  

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