The short version of alpha-MSH fits in a sentence. The long version — which is the one that helps — is below.
This page was last updated on 2026-03-06 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
Identity and purity are assessed with chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography separates the target peptide from related impurities and degradation products, and the resulting retention time is compared against a reference standard. Mass spectrometry, often coupled to liquid chromatography, confirms molecular mass. Amino acid analysis or peptide mapping can provide additional sequence-level confirmation when required. Results are only as reliable as the reference materials used alongside them.
Regulatory treatment varies by country. In the United States, melanotan-2 is not approved for any indication, and products marketed for human use fall outside the approved drug framework. Some other jurisdictions have placed it under prescription controls or listed it as a prohibited or restricted substance. Online listings frequently describe the material as a research chemical, a category that does not carry the same manufacturing and labelling requirements as approved medicines.
Solid peptide material is generally stable when kept cold and dry. Common practice is storage at -20 degrees Celsius or lower, with desiccant and protection from light. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles and exposure to moisture are associated with degradation, aggregation, or loss of material. Once dissolved, stability depends on solvent, concentration, and temperature, and solutions are usually treated as short-lived unless stability data support longer periods. Handling notes typically emphasise minimising time at ambient temperature.
Early published reports described melanotan-2 as a tanning agent without sun protection, which means darkening is not the same as protection against ultraviolet radiation. Later studies explored the peptide in erectile dysfunction, hemorrhagic shock, and some skin conditions. No regulator in the United States or Europe has approved it for clinical use. Many products labelled melanotan-2 are sold without approval and their identity and purity are unverified. Its long-term safety in humans remains an open question.
Melanotan-2, also written Melanotan II, is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide designed as an analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Its sequence is Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2, and the lactam bridge between the aspartate and lysine side chains constrains the peptide into a ring. This structural change increases receptor affinity and metabolic stability relative to the native hormone. The compound was created in the 1980s as a research tool for studying pigmentation biology.
Melanocytes are the pigment-producing cells of the skin, and they carry melanocortin-1 receptors on their surface. When the receptor is activated, cyclic adenosine monophosphate rises inside the cell and raises the activity of enzymes such as tyrosinase, which increases melanin output. Melanotan-2 binds melanocortin-1 receptors in vitro and in animal models, and this binding is generally described as the basis for the tanning effect. Other receptors account for different effects: melanocortin-4 receptors contribute to appetite and erectile signalling, while melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-5 receptors contribute to energy balance and exocrine function.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solid-state storage | -20 degrees Celsius or lower | Desiccated and protected from light |
| Solution stability | Short and method-dependent | Confirm by stability testing |
| Purity assessment | Reversed-phase HPLC | Reported as area percent |
| Identity confirmation | LC-MS or comparable method | Mass match against expected value |
| Common synonyms | MT-II; melanotan II | Informal and catalogue names |
Reported observations after unregulated use include shifts in skin pigmentation and, in some accounts, unintended changes to moles and other lesions. Whether these outcomes are causally linked to the compound, and how often they occur, remain open questions because controlled data are scarce. The absence of standardised dosing and verified product purity complicates interpretation. Researchers have called for better surveillance and analytical characterisation of samples obtained outside regulated channels. Conclusions drawn from anecdotal evidence should be treated as provisional.
Melanotan-2 has not received marketing authorisation from major regulatory agencies for any therapeutic indication. Several jurisdictions classify it as a prescription-only medicine or a controlled substance when supplied for human use. Because approved products do not exist, material sold online usually sits outside pharmaceutical supply chains and formal quality oversight. Regulators have issued public notices describing the compound as unapproved. Enforcement varies, and the legal position differs between countries, which complicates any single general statement about its status.
Melanotan II binds several melanocortin receptor subtypes rather than a single target. MC1R on melanocytes drives melanin synthesis, while MC3R and MC4R participate in energy balance, appetite, and sexual response pathways. This lack of selectivity explains why reported effects extend beyond skin darkening. Substitutions at positions four and seven, including norleucine and D-phenylalanine, increase potency and resistance to peptidases. Understanding which receptor mediates which effect remains an active area of investigation.
Published human data come mostly from small, short studies rather than large controlled trials. Reported outcomes include increased skin pigmentation and, in some reports, effects on appetite and libido, but sample sizes are small and follow-up is limited. Whether long-term use produces durable pigment changes or adverse effects is not established. Because products sold outside pharmacies are not standardized, the actual content of any given vial is often unknown. Independent testing of such material is uncommon.
Melanotan II is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analog derived from the core sequence of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Researchers at the University of Arizona synthesized it during the 1980s while studying pigmentation and appetite signaling. The compound is not an approved medicine in any major jurisdiction and appears mainly in laboratory and research-chemical settings. Its structure incorporates a lactam bridge between side chains, which constrains the ring and slows enzymatic breakdown relative to the natural hormone.
Independent verification is central to quality control because the compound is not produced under pharmaceutical manufacturing standards. Third-party laboratories can measure purity, identity, residual solvents, and microbial contamination, though the scope of testing varies between services. Reported analyses of vendor samples have shown batch-to-batch variation in peptide content and the presence of truncated or oxidized species. How much of this variation reflects synthesis conditions versus storage and shipping is not well characterized. No harmonized reference standard exists for the material as sold.
Handling guidance for melanotan II follows general practice for small synthetic peptides rather than a product-specific monograph. Lyophilized powder is typically kept at minus twenty degrees Celsius or colder, protected from light and moisture, because warmth and humidity accelerate degradation. Once reconstituted, solutions are usually refrigerated and used within a short window, as hydrolysis and microbial growth both become concerns. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are generally avoided. These conventions come from laboratory peptide chemistry and not from formal stability studies on this specific compound.
=== Fungi === Melatonin has been observed to reduce stress tolerance in Phytophthora infestans in plant-pathogen systems. Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk have used genetically modified yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to produce melatonin.
=== Some roles in development === Since G protein–coupled receptors are known to activate Signal transduction in cells, it should not be surprising to find MC1R involved in development. As one example at the cellular level, preventing signalling by MC1R stopped erythropoiesis from proceeding from the polychromatic cell stage (poly-E in the figure) to the orthochromatic cell stage (ortho-E in the diagram). The same report showed that neutralizing antibodies to MC1R prevented phosphorylation of STAT5 by erythropoietin, and that MC2R and MC5R were also involved, as shown in their model.
As booster vaccines for COVID-19 were rolled out in New Zealand early in 2022 with the wait time between the second and third doses shortened to three months, Turner responded to several suggestions about this. She refuted that the booster needed to be in the non-dominant arm, noting while it was good to keep fluid levels up during heat, drinking water, [won't] "make any difference to the vaccine response" and while stress on the immune system was understandable, there was little cause for concern. When the New Zealand government announced in May 2022 that there would be a second COVID-19 booster available to some members of the community, Turner expressed concern about the low rate of uptake for the first booster..."particularly the lower rate of boosters for older people and those with medical conditions...[adding]..."but still, there are quite a few people who feel like two doses aren't enough, and don't realise the importance of a booster". In November 2022, when parents of a four-month-old baby in New Zealand who needed heart surgery requiring a blood transfusion refused to accept blood from a donor who had received the COVID-19 vaccine, Turner said there was no scientific evidence suggesting there would be any risk to the baby. She noted [that] "blood donations are carefully screened for safety to ensure it was a match for the recipient", and people with concerns about this should talk to a professional.
==== Liquid phase exfoliation ==== Liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) is a relatively simple method that involves dispersing graphite in a liquid medium to produce graphene by sonication or high shear mixing, followed by centrifugation. Restacking is an issue with this technique unless solvents with appropriate surface energy are used (e.g. NMP). Adding a surfactant to a solvent prior to sonication prevents restacking by adsorbing to the graphene's surface. This produces a higher graphene concentration, but removing the surfactant requires chemical treatments. LPE results in nanosheets with a broad size distribution and thicknesses roughly in the range of 1-10 monolayers. However, liquid cascade centrifugation can be used to size-select the suspensions and achieve monolayer enrichment. Sonicating graphite at the interface of two immiscible liquids, most notably heptane and water, produced macro-scale graphene films. The graphene sheets are adsorbed to the high-energy interface between the materials and are kept from restacking. The sheets are up to about 95% transparent and conductive. With definite cleavage parameters, the box-shaped graphene (BSG) nanostructure can be prepared on graphite crystal. A major advantage of LPE is that it can be used to exfoliate many inorganic 2D materials beyond graphene, e.g. BN, MoS2, WS2.
Myoepithelioma of the head and neck – A (usually) benign tumor of the head/neck consisting of solely myoepithelial cells. Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (of the salivary glands) – A low-grade malignant tumor composed of both neoplastic epithelial and neoplastic myoepithelial cells (a biphasic tumor). Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the lung – A malignant tumor composed of both epithelial and myoepithelial tissues whose pathology resemble salivary cells. Adenomyoepithelioma of the breast – A (usually) benign tumor of the breast composed of Myoepithelial and Adeno (glandular) cells. Myoepithelioma of the breast – A usually benign or exceedingly rare malignant tumor which mimics IDC but with cells resembling adenoid cysts. If malignant, this is also known as a Myoepithelial carcinoma.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
(The capital Greek letter "Δ" (delta) corresponds to Roman "D", for Double bond). Thus, for example, the 20-carbon arachidonic acid is Δ5,8,11,14, meaning that it has double bonds between carbons 5 and 6, 8 and 9, 11 and 12, and 14 and 15. In the context of human diet and fat metabolism, unsaturated fatty acids are often classified by the position of the double bond closest between to the ω carbon (only), even in the case of multiple double bonds such as the essential fatty acids. Thus linoleic acid (18 carbons, Δ9,12), γ-linolenic acid (18-carbon, Δ6,9,12), and arachidonic acid (20-carbon, Δ5,8,11,14) are all classified as "ω−6" fatty acids; meaning that their formula ends with –CH=CH–CH2–CH2–CH2–CH2–CH3. Fatty acids with an odd number of carbon atoms are called odd-chain fatty acids, whereas the rest are even-chain fatty acids. The difference is relevant to gluconeogenesis.
== Ownership == In 2013, Bain Capital acquired an 80% controlling interest in BPL, previously wholly owned by the UK Government. Three years later, the shareholders decided to sell BPL Holdings to Creat, an investment company based in Beijing that owns part of a plasma fractionator in China. In 2022, Permira and Marcucci entered into an agreement to acquire and merge BPL and Kedrion operations into one venture. As a result, the new company would inherit the shareholders of the companies involved, requiring the support of its co-investors. In this case, FSI, CDP Equity and the other Kedrion shareholders had their shares transferred to the new company. In turn, to complete the agreement, the family group received the support of its co-investors, Ampersand Capital Partners and a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). In 2023, the BPL site became known as Kedrion Elstree although its product portfolio continued to be marketed as 'BPL'.
Type 2 diabetes is due to insulin resistance. As the disease progresses, there is often an increase of insulin production by beta cells, leading to a higher level of insulin in the blood (hyperinsulinemia), but the increased level of insulin is eventually insufficient to control the glucose concentration. Insulin resistance refers to the inability of cells to respond adequately to normal levels of insulin, at the molecular level of pathological mechanism, this is typically due to impairment of the insulin signal transduction pathway—specifically, aberrant inhibition of one or more proximal components in the signaling cascade downstream of the insulin receptor, such as the insulin receptor itself, insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins, or AKT. Insulin resistance occurs within the muscles, liver, and fat tissue. In the liver, insulin normally suppresses glucose release. However, in the setting of insulin resistance, the liver inappropriately releases glucose into the blood. The proportion of insulin resistance versus beta cell dysfunction differs among individuals, with some having primarily insulin resistance and only a minor defect in insulin secretion and others with slight insulin resistance and primarily a lack of insulin secretion. Importantly, insulin resistance also occurs within pancreatic islet β-cells themselves. Because normal β-cell function depends on intact insulin signaling within the β-cell, disruption of this pathway can impair insulin production and secretion, contributing to β-cell dysfunction of type 2 diabetes.
On average, in adult males, levels of testosterone are about seven to eight times as great as in adult females. As the metabolism of testosterone in males is more pronounced, the daily production is about 20 times greater in men. Females are also more sensitive to the hormone. In addition to its role as a natural hormone, testosterone is used as a medication to treat hypogonadism and breast cancer. Since testosterone levels decrease as men age, testosterone is sometimes used in older men to counteract this deficiency. It is also used illicitly to enhance physique and performance, for instance in athletes. The World Anti-Doping Agency lists it as S1 Anabolic agent substance "prohibited at all times".
==== Canada ==== In Canada, Pfizer's patent 2,324,324 for Revatio (sildenafil used to treat pulmonary hypertension) was found invalid by the Federal Court in June 2010, on an application by Ratiopharm Inc. On 8 November 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Pfizer's patent 2,163,446 on Viagra was invalid from the beginning because the company did not provide full disclosure in its application. The decision, Teva Canada Ltd. v. Pfizer Canada Inc., pointed to section 27(3)(b) of The Patent Act which requires that disclosure must include sufficient information "to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it pertains" to produce it. It added further: "As a matter of policy and sound statutory interpretation, patentees cannot be allowed to 'game' the system in this way. This, in my view, is the key issue in this appeal." Teva Canada launched Novo-Sildenafil, a generic version of Viagra, on the day the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision. To remain competitive, Pfizer then reduced the price of Viagra in Canada. However, on 9 November 2012, Pfizer filed a motion for a re-hearing of the appeal in the Supreme Court of Canada, on the grounds that the court accidentally exceeded its jurisdiction by voiding the patent. Finally, on 22 April 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada invalidated Pfizer's patent altogether.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== History of DHIS development == The original District Health Information Software (DHIS) was developed for three health districts in Cape Town as part of the Health Information Systems Programme (HISP), a collaborative research project between the University of Oslo and the University of the Western Cape that began in 1994.
== Synthesis == PEDOT:PSS can be prepared by mixing an aqueous solution of PSS with EDOT monomer, and to the resulting mixture, a solution of sodium persulfate and ferric sulfate. The addition of these reagents initiates the oxidative chemical polymerization of EDOT in water to form PEDOT. The stabilizing PSS forms a shell around a core of PEDOT in a nano-sized structure. The negatively charged sulfonic acid ions help stabilize the positively charged PEDOT ions.
Insulin potentiation therapy (IPT) is an unproven alternative cancer treatment using insulin as an adjunct to low-dose chemotherapy. It was promoted by a paper in the controversial and non-peer reviewed journal Medical Hypotheses. It is not an evidence-based cancer treatment, and the costs of IPT are not covered by health insurance. According to Quackwatch, "Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT) is one of several unproven, dangerous treatments that is promoted by a small group of practitioners without trustworthy evidence that it works."
After Commodore Perry opened up trade with Japan in 1854, Japanese green tea became the bulk of America’s tea imports. The 19th century saw the rise of iced tea, especially in the South. One of the earliest recipes for American iced tea appeared in Housekeeping in Old Virginia, a cookbook from 1879. It stated: “After scalding the teapot, put into it one quart of boiling water and two teaspoonfuls of green tea. ... Fill the goblets with ice and sugar. A squeeze of lemon will make this delicious and healthful, as it will correct the astringent tendency.” Alcoholic iced tea punches with cream, sugar, and liquor also became popular in the 19th century, especially in southern towns like Charleston and Savannah. These iced tea drinks resemble the modern Sweet bourbon punch and Long Island iced tea. Fish house punch was often also diluted with tea. The 19th century also saw the growth of various tea companies, like The Great American Tea Company, later renamed The Great Atlantic & Pacific (A&P) and the Oriental & Occidental Tea Company. During the hot days of the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, iced tea became the most popular drink at the fair among its 20 million visitors. This was a major moment in the rise in popularity of American iced tea. Prohibition (1920–1933) saw the rise of non-alcoholic iced teas, as clubs, hotels and other venues sought to re-stock their drink menus with other strong flavorful drinks. The introduction of the home refrigerator (1920s and '30s) also made it much easier for iced tea to be made at home.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Laboratory confirmation typically combines retention time matching on a chromatographic system with mass measurement. A reference standard of known identity is needed for a meaningful comparison. Sequence-level techniques can add further confirmation.
There is no single harmonised standard governing these products, and manufacturing conditions differ. Impurities may include truncated sequences, oxidation products, residual solvents, and counter-ions. Independent testing is often the only way to characterise a given lot.
Reported studies have looked at pigmentation, photoprotection, and metabolic or appetite-related endpoints in small experimental settings. Much of the evidence base is early-stage and limited in size. Questions about long-term effects and clinical relevance remain open.
No. It is a laboratory-made peptide, while the natural hormone is alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, a longer peptide produced by the pituitary gland and by skin cells. Melanotan-2 mimics only a short active region of that hormone and contains non-natural residues such as D-phenylalanine.