Acetyl tetrapeptide-5
is used in cosmetic eye formulations to decrease puffiness, eye bags, and dark circles by reducing edema and protecting proteins such as SOD from glycation
Alanine
Ala / A · hydrophobic residue · neutral charge
AOD-9604
is studied as an anti-obesity peptide that can reduce weight gain and increase fat oxidation in obese animal models with generally neutral effects on IGF-1 and glucose metabolism in early human trials
Arginine
Arg / R · basic residue · positive charge
Argireline
is a topical cosmetic peptide reported to decrease dynamic wrinkles by partially mimicking the mechanism of botulinum toxin in a non-invasive manner
Asparagine
Asn / N · polar residue · neutral charge
Aspartic acid
Asp / D · acidic residue · negative charge
BPC-157
is investigated for accelerating healing of gastrointestinal mucosa, tendons, ligaments, bone, and nervous tissue in preclinical models, with anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects
Comparison
While CJC-1295 is used in research to chronically elevate endogenous growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, enabling studies of body composition, metabolic, and anti-aging effects of prolonged GH exposure10, Melanotan I is approved in some regions for prevention of phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria and is studied as a skin-darkening, photoprotective peptide3444.
While CJC-1295 works as a tetrasubstituted 29-amino-acid analog of GHRH(1–29) that acts as a potent agonist at the GHRH receptor and, in its DAC form, covalently binds serum albumin to extend half-life from minutes to days, resulting in sustained pulsatile GH and IGF-1 increase1082, Melanotan I is a linear 13-amino-acid analog of α-MSH (afamelanotide) that selectively activates MC1R on melanocytes, increasing eumelanin synthesis and providing photoprotection3444.
CJC-1295
GHRH
Melanotan I
POMC
Both peptides fall into a similar broad context as Hormone peptides, although the details of how they are used and discussed still diverge. Their typical research and application settings separate fairly clearly: CJC-1295 is more often discussed in the realm of Metabolic and endocrine and Aging and longevity, whereas Melanotan I is more often associated with the realm of Dermatology and aesthetics. Both appear to work through Receptor agonist, but the functional emphasis still separates, with CJC-1295 leaning toward Anabolic growth, Lipolysis and fat loss, and Metabolic regulation and Melanotan I leaning toward Melanogenesis modulation. Both are synthetic in origin with CJC-1295 in Preclinical development and Melanotan I approved for Research use only. CJC-1295 takes the form of a peptide conjugate, whereas Melanotan I is closer to a linear peptide, while their sequence patterns also diverge, with CJC-1295 showing alpha-helical domain features and Melanotan I showing protein-mimetic sequence features.