GHRP-2
What it is GHRP-2 is a synthetic hexapeptide GHS that activates GHSR-1a, with slightly higher potency than GHRP-6 in some assays and pronounced orexigenic effects. Evidence snapshot Category: Growth Hormone. Status: Preclinical. See the references section below for the underlying primary sources. Mechanism Activates GHSR-1a for GH release. Appetite stimulation is significant, limiting clinical utility. […]
GHK-Cu
What it is GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide first isolated from human plasma. Its plasma concentration declines with age, which prompted interest in supplementation. Evidence snapshot Category: Tissue Repair. Status: Mixed. See the references section below for the underlying primary sources. Mechanism Modulates expression of over 100 human genes (in published microarray studies), […]
Follistatin 344
What it is Follistatin 344 (FS344) is the 344-amino-acid circulating isoform of the secreted glycoprotein follistatin, alongside the shorter FS288. Both bind and inhibit TGF-β superfamily ligands. Evidence snapshot Category: Muscle Biology. Status: Preclinical. See the references section below for the underlying primary sources. Mechanism FS344 binds myostatin and activin with high affinity, preventing their […]
Epithalon and Telomere Biology
What it is Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, AEDG) is a synthetic tetrapeptide developed in the late 1990s by Vladimir Khavinson’s group at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. Evidence snapshot Category: Longevity. Status: Preclinical. See the references section below for the underlying primary sources. Mechanism Proposed mechanism is binding to a putative DNA site upstream […]
Dihexa
What it is Dihexa is a synthetic hexapeptide developed at Washington State University. Derived from angiotensin IV but engineered for c-Met binding rather than AT4/IRAP. Evidence snapshot Category: Cognition. Status: Preclinical. See the references section below for the underlying primary sources. Mechanism Potently activates the c-Met receptor (the HGF receptor), triggering downstream signalling that promotes […]
CJC-1295: Modified GHRH Analogue
What is CJC-1295? CJC-1295 is a synthetic 30-amino-acid analogue of GHRH(1-29), modified to resist enzymatic degradation. Two principal variants exist: CJC-1295 without DAC — sometimes called “Modified GRF (1-29)” — produces pulsatile GH stimulation more closely resembling physiological GH release. CJC-1295 with DAC — the addition of a maleimidopropionic acid linker that binds covalently to […]
Cerebrolysin
What it is Cerebrolysin is a mixture of porcine-brain-derived peptides (approximately 15% peptides, 85% free amino acids) produced by standardised enzymatic digestion. Approved in several Eastern European and Asian jurisdictions. Evidence snapshot Category: Cognition. Status: Mixed. See the references section below for the underlying primary sources. Mechanism Proposed mechanisms include neurotrophic factor mimicry (BDNF, GDNF, […]
5-Amino-1MQ
What it is 5-Amino-1MQ is a synthetic small molecule that inhibits NNMT (nicotinamide N-methyltransferase), an enzyme involved in nicotinamide metabolism. Evidence snapshot Category: Metabolic. Status: Preclinical. See the references section below for the underlying primary sources. Mechanism Inhibits NNMT in adipose tissue, which alters the methylated-nicotinamide/NAD+ balance and supports adipose tissue browning, increased energy expenditure, […]
BPC-157: Mechanism
What it is BPC-157 is a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a sequence found in human gastric juice. Studied extensively in rodent in vivo and cell-culture models across vascular, tendon, gastrointestinal, and cytoprotective endpoints. Evidence snapshot Category: Tissue Repair. Status: Preclinical. See the references section below for the underlying primary sources. Mechanism Most consistently reported mechanisms […]
HRV Monitoring: What It Measures and Why Researchers Track It
What HRV actually measures Heart rate variability (HRV) is the variation in time between successive heartbeats (R-R intervals). Counter-intuitively, higher HRV is generally a marker of better health and adaptability — a heart that varies its beat-to-beat timing is one that is responding flexibly to physiological demands, not a sign of arrhythmia. HRV reflects the […]