Research Comparison
GHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-1) vs Melanotan I (Afamelanotide)
A side-by-side research comparison of GHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-1) and Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) drawn from Cedar Peptides' peptide database records.
GHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-1)
GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine complexed with Cu²⁺) found in human plasma, saliva, and urine. Its endogenous levels decline significantly with age, correlating with reduced regenerative capacity and tissue repair. The peptide has been extensively studied for its role in skin regeneration, wound healing, and anti-aging. It influences a large proportion of human genes involved in repair, inflammation, and extracellular matrix remodeling, making it one of the most well-characterized regenerative peptides in dermatological and tissue repair research.
Melanotan I (Afamelanotide)
Melanotan I (afamelanotide) is a synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) that selectively activates melanocortin-1 receptors (MC1R) to stimulate melanin production. It is clinically available as an implant (SCENESSE®) for specific medical indications, while research-grade injectable forms are studied for pigmentation and photoprotective effects. Subcutaneous administration enables rapid systemic exposure, leading to increased melanin synthesis and enhanced tanning response. Unlike Melanotan II, it is more selective for MC1R, reducing off-target melanocortin effects.
Reading a comparison
A comparison places two records side by side; it does not merge them. Each description above is drawn from that compound's own record, and the two were not necessarily characterised by the same methods, at the same time, or to the same level of detail. Before comparing any attribute, it is worth establishing that both records describe the substance you think they describe — names are not identifiers, and two entries sharing a name can differ in salt form, stereochemistry or the convention used to state a mass. Where a figure carries no method beside it, the comparison is between two reported numbers rather than between two measurements.