Description
Certificate of Analysis
High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Mass Spectrometry
Melanotan 2 Peptide
Melanotan 2 peptide is a synthetic compound, which is an analogue of the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (2). The peptide is a cyclic heptapeptide that is appears to be similar to the hormone, which is considered by scientists to stimulate the process of melanogenesis i.e., formation of melanin.
During the research in early 1960s (3), melanotropic ligands, i.e., α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (analogous to Melanotan II), were given to rats to understand the peptide’s potential mechanism of action. During these studies, researchers expanded their hypotheses to include the peptide’s potential to induce arousal and melanogenesis.
Overview
Melanotan 2 likely serves as a non-selective agonist with the potential to bind with five different melanocortin receptor subtypes (MC-R). Depending on the localization, the receptor-Melanotan 2 bond may induce different actions. MC1-R and MC2-R, located on the skin and adrenal cortex, are considered melanocytic in nature. If Melanotan 2 binds with these receptors, it may stimulate them and induce melanocytes in the skin. This event may lead to increased production of eumelanin, which causes skin tanning (5).
MC3-R appears to be located in the brain and digestive tract, and MC5-R in the endocrine and exocrine glands (5). MC4-R, finally, is considered to be located in the central nervous system. If Melanotan 2 binds with this receptor, it may induce supraspinal centers in the brain, which may lead to increased libido. These signals may then be carried to the sympathetic and parasympathetic centers in the spinal cord and thoracolumbar region. (4)
Research and Clinical Studies
Melanotan 2 Peptide and Skin Cancer
In this study (7), rats were presented Melanotan 2 peptide to study the peptide’s potential mechanism of action. After the peptide was present, potentiometric titration and UV spectrophotometry were conducted to determine the dissociation constants of the compound. The pharmacokinetic results were 6.54 (with histidine) and 11.72 (with arginine) respectively. Whereas the bioavailability was determined to be 4.6% in rats.
Melanotan 2 Peptide and Nerve Regeneration
In this study (8), a rodent model was used which had an induced peripheral nerve injury. This model was chosen in order to investigate the neurotrophic potential of the peptide. 48 hours after half of the rats were presented with the peptide, it was noted that the Melanotan 2 rodents appeared to demonstrate recovery in their sensory function. Furthermore, when the rodents were presented with a chemotherapeutic compound, Melanotan 2 appeared to exhibit neuroprotective properties which protected the nerves from the compound’s induced neurotoxicity, to a certain extent.
Melanotan 2 Peptide and Stimulation
In this clinical study (9), 20 test subjects with erectile dysfunction were presented Melanotan 2 via a double blinded placebo-controlled study. After the peptide, the subjects’ rigidity was monitored for a period of 6 hours. After the study, it was noted that 17 out of 20 subjects experienced stimulation. Moreover, 13 out of 20 subjects reported elevated arousal, whereas only 4 subjects reported arousal when given a placebo.
Melanotan 2 peptide is available for research and laboratory purposes only. Please review and adhere to our Terms and Conditions before ordering.
References:
1. Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation, American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/radiation-exposure/uv-radiation.html
2. Ryakhovsky, Vladimir V et al. “The first preparative solution phase synthesis of melanotan II.” Beilstein journal of organic chemistry vol. 4 (2008): 39. doi:10.3762/bjoc.4.39. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19043625/
3. Mac E. Hadley, Discovery that a melanocortin regulates sexual functions in male and female humans, Peptides, Volume 26, Issue 10, 2005, Pages 1687-1689, ISSN 0196-9781, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2005.01.023
4. King, Stephen H et al. “Melanocortin receptors, melanotropic peptides and penile erection.” Current topics in medicinal chemistry vol. 7,11 (2007): 1098-1106. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2694735/
5. Peters, Björn et al. “Melanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction: review of the literature and case report.” CEN case reports vol. 9,2 (2020): 159-161. doi:10.1007/s13730-020-00447-z. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7148395/
6. Melanotan, Vitamin and Supplements. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-884/melanotan
7. Lan, E L et al. “Preformulation studies with melanotan-II: a potential skin cancer chemopreventive peptide.” Journal of pharmaceutical sciences vol. 83,8 (1994): 1081-4. doi:10.1002/jps.2600830805. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7983590/
8. Ter Laak, Mariël P et al. “The potent melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan-II promotes peripheral nerve regeneration and has neuroprotective properties in the rat.” European journal of pharmacology vol. 462,1-3 (2003): 179-83. doi:10.1016/s0014-2999(02)02945-x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12591111/
9. Wessells, H et al. “Melanocortin receptor agonists, penile erection, and sexual motivation: human studies with Melanotan II.” International journal of impotence research vol. 12 Suppl 4 (2000): S74-9. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3900582. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11035391/
10. Hjuler, Kasper Fjellhaugen, and Henrik Frank Lorentzen. “Melanoma associated with the use of melanotan-II.” Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 228,1 (2014): 34-6. doi:10.1159/000356389. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24355990/
11. Peters B, Hadimeri H, Wahlberg R, Afghahi H. Melanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction: review of the literature and case report. CEN Case Rep. 2020 May;9(2):159-161. doi: 10.1007/s13730-020-00447-z. Epub 2020 Jan 18. PMID: 31953620; PMCID: PMC7148395. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31953620/
12. John Devlin, Adam Pomerleau, Jenelle Foote. (2013) Melanotan II overdose associated with priapism. Clinical Toxicology 51:4, pages 383-383. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/15563650.2012.740637
13. Nelson, Michael E et al. “Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis.” Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) vol. 50,10 (2012): 1169-73. doi:10.3109/15563650.2012.740637. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23121206/
14. Drug Profile: Melanotan II https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800010143
15. FDA warns against using Melanotan II https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2007/09/05/FDA-warns-against-using-Melanotan-II/44981189007945/
16. Breindahl, Torben et al. “Identification and characterization by LC-UV-MS/MS of Melanotan II skin-tanning products sold illegally on the Internet.” Drug testing and analysis vol. 7,2 (2015): 164-72. doi:10.1002/dta.1655. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24771717/
Synonyms/Aliases: Melanotan 2, melanotan II, melanotan ii, MT2, MT-2
NOTE: These products are intended for laboratory research use only. buy melanotan ii is not intended for personal use. Please review and adhere to our Terms and Conditions before ordering.
Dr. Marinov (MD, Ph.D.) is a researcher and chief assistant professor in Preventative Medicine & Public Health. Prior to his professorship, Dr. Marinov practiced preventative, evidence-based medicine with an emphasis on Nutrition and Dietetics. He is widely published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and specializes in peptide therapy research.
