DATABASE · 2,000+ PEER-REVIEWED CITATIONS INDEXEDCOMPOUND LIBRARY · 100+ EVIDENCE-GRADED RECORDSGRADE A EVIDENCE · 45 COMPOUNDS WITH MULTIPLE HUMAN RCTSHUMAN EVIDENCE · 97 COMPOUNDS WITH HUMAN STUDY DATAVENDOR DIRECTORY · 11 RESEARCH VENDORS TRACKEDCLINIC DIRECTORY · 10 TELEHEALTH PROVIDERS VETTEDCOA RECORDS · 7 BATCH CERTIFICATES ON FILELIVE DATABASE · UPDATED 2D AGODATABASE · 2,000+ PEER-REVIEWED CITATIONS INDEXEDCOMPOUND LIBRARY · 100+ EVIDENCE-GRADED RECORDSGRADE A EVIDENCE · 45 COMPOUNDS WITH MULTIPLE HUMAN RCTSHUMAN EVIDENCE · 97 COMPOUNDS WITH HUMAN STUDY DATAVENDOR DIRECTORY · 11 RESEARCH VENDORS TRACKEDCLINIC DIRECTORY · 10 TELEHEALTH PROVIDERS VETTEDCOA RECORDS · 7 BATCH CERTIFICATES ON FILELIVE DATABASE · UPDATED 2D AGO
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Humanin

Also known as: MOTS-c family · Mitochondrial-derived peptide

24-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide studied for cytoprotective and metabolic effects.

C
Grade C
Animal studies only
Human studies30
PubMed citations30
Routesubcutaneous
Regulatory (US)Research only
Last verified2 days ago

Mechanism of action

Encoded in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. Binds FPRL-1, FPRL-2, and CNTFR/WSX-1/gp130 complex to protect against apoptosis and modulate inflammation.

Evidence summary

30
Human studies
30
PubMed citations
2
Clinical trials
C
Evidence grade

Evidence summary in progress. See the citations section below for the underlying research papers.

Dosing protocols

Educational information only. Consult a licensed provider before using any peptide.
Administration routes
subcutaneous

Side effects & safety

No FDA label or editorial side-effect profile is on file for this compound yet. See the clinical trials and citations sections for study-reported safety data.

Interactions

No documented drug interactions on file.

Regulatory status

United States
Not FDA approved

Not FDA approved. Research peptide.

Compounding
Not permitted

Not available via 503A/503B compounding pharmacies.

Regulatory data last verified 4/19/2026

Citations

PMID 40090538Alqahtani SM, Al-Kuraishy HM et al. · The neuroprotective role of Humanin in Alzheimer's disease: The molecular effects.European journal of pharmacology (2025)HumanPMID 40403491Li X, Zhan F et al. · MOTS-c attenuates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury via MYH9-Dependent nuclear translocation and transcriptional activation of antioxidant genes.Redox biology (2025)HumanPMID 40715951Thakur R, Chauhan A et al. · Mitochondrial-Derived Peptides: Implication in the Therapy of Neurodegenerative Diseases.Molecular neurobiology (2025)HumanPMID 40005438Zicarelli M, Greco M et al. · MOTS-c Levels and Sarcopenia Risk in Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Pilot Study.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) (2025)HumanPMID 38008175Li Y, Li Z et al. · Mitochondrial-derived peptides in cardiovascular disease: Novel insights and therapeutic opportunities.Journal of advanced research (2024)HumanPMID 38160808Kal S, Mahata S et al. · Mitochondrial-derived peptides: Antidiabetic functions and evolutionary perspectives.Peptides (2024)HumanPMID 34896254Gong Z, Goetzman E et al. · Cardio-protective role of Humanin in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion.Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects (2024)HumanPMID 39321430Yin Y, Li Y et al. · Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Progression by Attenuating USP7-Mediated LARS1 Deubiquitination.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) (2024)HumanPMID 39053460Cheng J, Li M et al. · Myeloid cells coordinately induce glioma cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic pathways for chemoresistance via GP130 signaling.Cell reports. Medicine (2024)HumanPMID 34534645Lue Y, Swerdloff R et al. · The emerging role of mitochondrial derived peptide humanin in the testis.Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects (2024)HumanPMID 34520826Woodhead JST, Merry TL · Mitochondrial-derived peptides and exercise.Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects (2024)HumanPMID 38790718Zhang Y, Huang J et al. · The Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c Alleviates Radiation Pneumonitis via an Nrf2-Dependent Mechanism.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (2024)HumanPMID 37200834Yi X, Hu G et al. · Role of MOTS-c in the regulation of bone metabolism.Frontiers in physiology (2023)HumanPMID 37437978Dabravolski SA · Mitochondria-derived peptides in healthy ageing and therapy of age-related diseases.Advances in protein chemistry and structural biology (2023)HumanPMID 37468558Kim SK, Tran LT et al. · Mitochondria-derived peptide SHLP2 regulates energy homeostasis through the activation of hypothalamic neurons.Nature communications (2023)HumanPMID 37307934Zhang Z, Chen D et al. · MOTS-c: A potential anti-pulmonary fibrosis factor derived by mitochondria.Mitochondrion (2023)HumanPMID 35104624Thiankhaw K, Chattipakorn K et al. · Roles of humanin and derivatives on the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases and cognition.Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects (2022)HumanPMID 34798268Yin Y, Pan Y et al. · The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c relieves hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus.Pharmacological research (2022)HumanPMID 35432758Boutari C, Pappas PD et al. · Humanin and diabetes mellitus: A review of in vitro and in vivo studies.World journal of diabetes (2022)HumanPMID 34471251Goetzl EJ, Wolkowitz OM et al. · Abnormal levels of mitochondrial proteins in plasma neuronal extracellular vesicles in major depressive disorder.Molecular psychiatry (2022)Human

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