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, Semax is used clinically in Russia for ischemic stroke and cognitive disorders; in models it improves learning, protects dopaminergic neurons, and modulates stress responses without significant endocrine ACTH-like effects166174.
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, Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide, Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro (MEHFPGP), that is an analog of ACTH(4–10) with a Pro-Gly-Pro extension and exerts neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions partly via upregulation of BDNF and modulation of dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems40162165174.
CJC-1295
GHRH
Semax
POMC
CJC-1295 and Semax are noticeably different, with limited direct overlap in their usual biological context. 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 Semax is more often associated with the realm of Neurology and brain health and Ophthalmology. They also influence different molecular systems, with CJC-1295 tracking more closely to Growth hormone axis while Semax centers more on GPCR receptor. Both are synthetic in origin with CJC-1295 in Preclinical development and Semax approved for Research use only. CJC-1295 takes the form of a peptide conjugate, whereas Semax is closer to a linear peptide, while CJC-1295 incorporates d-amino acid substitution features that are not part of Semax.