Peptides by Category: A Research Reference
A plain-language map of the research peptide landscape, grouped by what each class is actually studied for. Every entry gives you the mechanism, the reported research protocol, how strong the evidence really is, and the safety picture. This is a reference, not a protocol to follow.
Nexotype Team · June 22, 2026
Research use only. The compounds below are sold by suppliers as research chemicals for laboratory and in-vitro study. They are not medicines, are not approved for human or animal use, and nothing on this page is medical advice. The reported protocols summarize what the research literature describes; they are not instructions or a recommendation. The verdict tag reflects the strength of the evidence, nothing more.
Why a biotech team is the one writing this
Every pick here ties back to a mechanism: cortisol, SHBG, AMPK, mitochondria, glutathione. That is the exact territory we map at Nexotype, a biomedical intelligence platform that connects compounds to the genes, proteins, and pathways they act on. This guide is the consumer edge of the same knowledge graph.
Explore the platformLongevity & Cellular Aging
The peptides studied for slowing the clock at the cell level
This is the class people reach for first. Each one works on a different lever of aging: telomeres, gene expression, mitochondria, or senescent cells. The evidence ranges from clinically solid to early and animal-only, so the verdict tag on each card matters here more than anywhere else.
Epitalon
A short peptide studied for activating telomerase, the enzyme that maintains the protective caps on your chromosomes. It also seems to restart natural melatonin production from the pineal gland, which is why the research ties it to better sleep and circadian rhythm.
GHK-Cu
A copper-binding peptide that occurs naturally in the body and falls off sharply with age. Research shows it resets the expression of thousands of genes toward a younger pattern and drives collagen and tissue repair.
NAD+
The central coenzyme of cellular energy. Levels drop as you age, and with them the function of the enzymes that run mitochondrial metabolism and DNA repair. Studied as a way to top that pool back up.
SS-31 (Elamipretide)
Targets cardiolipin, a lipid in the inner mitochondrial membrane, to help failing mitochondria work properly again. The effect reads more as maintenance than reversal, which makes it more interesting for older cells than young ones.
FOXO4-DRI
A senolytic, meaning it is studied for clearing senescent "zombie" cells that accumulate with age and leak inflammation. The animal data is striking; the human data is almost nonexistent.
Recovery & Tissue Repair
The healing peptides, for tendons, joints, and gut
The most practical and best-tolerated group. These are studied for repairing soft tissue, accelerating injury recovery, and calming inflammation. The evidence is mostly animal plus strong anecdotal in humans, but the safety record is reassuring across the board.
BPC-157
A peptide derived from a protein in gastric juice. Research points to angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth) and broad tissue repair, with particular interest in tendons, ligaments, and the gut lining.
TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4)
Drives cell migration and tissue remodeling, which is why it is studied for healing and reduced inflammation in joints and soft tissue. Usually paired with BPC-157 for injuries.
BPC-157 + TB-500 Blend
The two repair peptides in one vial. The pairing is the most common recovery stack in the research community, the idea being that they cover complementary parts of the healing process.
KPV
A three-amino-acid fragment of alpha-MSH studied for calming inflammation, with a specific interest in the gut. A niche tool, but a clean one.
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
An EPO-receptor signal studied for repairing nerves and easing neuropathic pain, notably without raising red blood cell count the way EPO itself does. Underexplored relative to its promise.
Immune & Bioregulators
Rebuilding immune function that fades with age
A small but heavily validated group. The standout here, Thymosin Alpha-1, is the most clinically proven peptide on the entire page, with real medical use behind it. These matter most for older people, whose immune systems have lost the edge these compounds aim to restore.
Thymosin Alpha-1
Rebuilds T-cell function and dials down chronic inflammation. It is used medically for infection and immune support in more than thirty countries, which makes it the most clinically validated peptide in this whole reference.
Thymalin
A thymus bioregulator studied for restoring the immune balance that erodes with age. Long used in Russian clinical practice, with limited Western data to match.
Brain & Nervous System
Cognition, mood, neuroprotection, and sleep
A mixed bag of nootropic and neuro-repair peptides. A couple have genuine clinical use (Cerebrolysin), several are approved in Russia with thin Western evidence (Semax, Selank), and a few are early and poorly characterized. Read the evidence line carefully before treating any of these as established.
Cerebrolysin
A peptide blend with real clinical use for stroke and dementia. The mechanism is neurogenesis and neural repair, and unlike most of this group it has a substantial medical track record.
Semax
An ACTH-derived nootropic studied for focus, neuroprotection, and raising BDNF, the brain growth factor. Approved in Russia; the Western evidence is thinner.
Selank
A tuftsin analog studied as a calming, anti-anxiety nootropic without sedation or dependence. Also Russian-approved with limited Western research.
P-21 (P21)
A CNTF-mimetic studied for neurogenesis and BDNF, very potent on paper. The catch is that human evidence is thin and the long-term safety picture is not filled in.
PE-22-28
An experimental peptide acting on the TREK-1 channel, studied for cognition and antidepressant effects. Genuinely early-stage.
VIP
Vasoactive intestinal peptide, studied for neuroprotection and as an anti-inflammatory, including in niche protocols for chronic inflammatory conditions.
DSIP
The delta-sleep-inducing peptide, studied since the 1970s as a sleep aid. The results across that long history have been inconsistent and underwhelming.
Skin & Aesthetics
Collagen, firmness, and expression lines
The cosmetic corner. GHK-Cu earns its spot here as well as in longevity, since the skin evidence is its strongest suit. The topical peptides in this group are about as low-risk as it gets, with modest but real effects.
GHK-Cu
The copper peptide again, here for what it does best: boosting collagen and elastin. Clinical studies show measurable wrinkle reduction and improved wound healing.
SNAP-8 (Argireline)
A topical "botox-like" peptide that relaxes the muscle signals behind expression lines. Cosmetic studies show a modest smoothing effect.
Matrixyl 3000
A topical collagen-stimulating peptide complex aimed at fine lines and firmness. A staple ingredient in serious anti-aging skincare.
Growth Hormone Axis
Peptides that nudge your own growth hormone
These raise your natural growth hormone and, downstream, IGF-1. That is useful for recovery, sleep, and body composition, but worth a clear-eyed note: chronically elevated IGF-1 runs against the longevity grain. They build very little raw muscle on their own. The secretagogues (Ipamorelin, CJC, Sermorelin) are the gentle, well-studied end; the rest get thinner fast.
Ipamorelin
The cleanest, most selective growth-hormone-releasing peptide. It produces a gentle, natural pulse of GH with none of the hunger spike that the older GHRPs cause.
CJC-1295 (No DAC)
A GHRH analog that pairs with Ipamorelin to produce a stronger but still pulsatile GH release. The two together are the standard GH-axis stack.
Ipamorelin + CJC-1295 (No DAC)
The standard GH-axis stack, and the usual entry point. Ipamorelin fires a clean pulse of growth hormone while CJC-1295 raises the baseline it pulses from, so together they do what each does alone, only stronger. Bought as two separate vials.
CJC-1295 (with DAC)
The long-acting version. The DAC keeps GH elevated steadily rather than in natural pulses, which is also its downside: sustained IGF-1 elevation is the tradeoff.
Sermorelin
A GHRH analog with established clinical use for restoring natural GH output, often in age-management settings. The most conservative option in this group.
Tesamorelin
An FDA-approved GHRH analog, best known and best documented for cutting visceral (belly) fat. The most validated compound in this category.
GHRP-2
A potent GH secretagogue with relatively little appetite stimulation. An older but well-mapped option.
GHRP-6
Similar GH release to GHRP-2 but with a strong hunger spike, which some use deliberately and most find a nuisance.
Hexarelin
The most potent of the GHRPs, but the body desensitizes to it quickly, which limits sustained use.
MGF
Mechano growth factor, a local muscle-repair signal with a very short half-life that makes practical use difficult. Mostly theoretical.
PEG-MGF
A pegylated version of MGF built to last longer in the body, studied for activating muscle satellite cells. Evidence remains thin.
Metabolic & Fat Loss
Mitochondria, AMPK, and the fat-loss fragments
Peptides studied for metabolism and fat loss. The honest take: a couple are interesting metabolic signals (MOTS-c, 5-Amino-1MQ), and a couple are fat-loss fragments whose evidence has consistently disappointed. The real metabolic heavyweights, the GLP-1 drugs, are a different class entirely.
MOTS-c
A peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA that activates AMPK, the same metabolic switch your body flips after exercise. Interesting on paper, though regular training does much of the same job for free.
5-Amino-1MQ
An NNMT inhibitor studied for raising NAD+ and improving metabolic flexibility, with early interest in fat cells specifically.
Cagrilintide
An amylin analog studied alongside GLP-1 drugs for appetite control and weight. Part of the active next wave of metabolic research.
AOD9604
A fragment of growth hormone marketed specifically for fat loss. Despite the marketing, the actual evidence has been underwhelming.
HGH Frag 176-191
The fat-loss fragment of growth hormone, meant to drive lipolysis without the growth effects. The evidence is thin and the real-world results modest.
Sexual & Reproductive
Libido and reproductive signaling
A short category with one genuinely proven entry and one that is more research curiosity than practical tool.
PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
FDA-approved for low sexual desire. It works on the brain melanocortin system rather than on hormones or blood flow, which makes it mechanistically distinct from the usual options.
Kisspeptin-10
An upstream signal that drives the release of LH and FSH, the reproductive hormones. Interesting biology, but a very short half-life makes injection impractical for the effect people want.
Potent but Contested
Real effects, real risks, included for completeness
These work, which is exactly why they are here with a warning rather than a recommendation. Each carries a meaningful risk that the research community takes seriously, from cancer-promotion concerns to discontinued trials. They are listed so the reference is honest and complete, not because they are a good idea.
IGF-1 LR3
It genuinely builds new muscle by creating new fibers, but it is a potent mitogen. That brings real cancer-promotion and hypoglycemia concerns, and the IGF-1 pathway it drives is the wrong direction for longevity. Effect is real, risk is real.
Follistatin-344
Blocks myostatin to raise the ceiling on muscle growth. The problems: myostatin has protective roles in aging, human data is close to zero, and the market is full of fakes.
ACE-031
A myostatin-receptor decoy that produced impressive muscle effects but was discontinued in clinical trials over safety issues, including effects on blood vessels.
FTPP (Adipotide)
Causes fat loss by destroying the blood supply to fat tissue. Animal studies showed kidney toxicity, which puts it firmly in the high-risk, do-not-treat-as-a-fat-burner category.
Why a biotech team is the one writing this
Every pick here ties back to a mechanism: cortisol, SHBG, AMPK, mitochondria, glutathione. That is the exact territory we map at Nexotype, a biomedical intelligence platform that connects compounds to the genes, proteins, and pathways they act on. This guide is the consumer edge of the same knowledge graph.
Explore the platformResearch use only. Not for human or animal consumption. Nothing here is medical advice, and none of these compounds are approved medicines. Protocols, evidence, and safety notes are summaries of the public research, which is incomplete for most peptides.
The OP Labs links on this page are affiliate links (code NEXOTYPE). If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what makes the list or how each compound is described.