Reference

Peptide Class Lookup

April 30, 2026
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Quick lookup for the nine peptide classes the catalogue uses to taxonomise compounds. For deeper writeups, follow the application links at the right of each row.

Class What it is Representatives Where it shows up
Synthetic Pentadecapeptide Short synthetic peptides derived from larger proteins. BPC-157 Injury Recovery, Skin and Hair
GHK Peptide Tripeptides bound to copper or free. GHK-Cu Skin and Hair, Injury Recovery
Growth Hormone Secretagogue (GHS) Stimulate endogenous GH release. Includes GHRH analogues and ghrelin-mimetic GHRPs. Ipamorelin, Mod GRF 1-29, CJC-1295 (DAC), Tesamorelin, sermorelin Visceral Fat, Lean Mass and Hypertrophy, Fat Loss, GH Axis Playbook
Thymic Peptide Derived from or mimicking thymus-gland secretions. Immune-modulator and repair-signalling roles. TB-500 / Thymosin Beta-4, Thymosin Alpha-1 Injury Recovery
Incretin Mimetic Mimic metabolic hormones (GLP-1, GIP, glucagon) to regulate glucose and appetite. Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Retatrutide, liraglutide Fat Loss, GLP-1 Comparison, GLP-1 and Muscle Preservation
IGF-1 Isoform / Analog Splice variants or pegylated analogues of native IGF-1. PEG-MGF Lean Mass and Hypertrophy
Growth Factor Analogue Modified versions of endogenous growth factors with altered binding-protein affinity or half-life. IGF-1 LR3, IGF-1 DES Lean Mass and Hypertrophy, Cancer Risk and Growth Factors
Melanocortin Agonist Bind melanocortin receptors (MC1R, MC4R primarily) to influence pigmentation, sexual function, appetite. Melanotan II, Melanotan I, PT-141 Melanocortin Map, Skin and Hair
Mitochondrial Derived Peptide (MDP) Encoded by the mitochondrial genome; act as metabolic regulators. Speculative tier in human use. MOTS-c, Humanin Anti-aging contexts (no dedicated application page yet)

Compounds that don’t fit a single class

A few peptides sit outside or across these buckets:

  • Somatropin - not a secretagogue. It is recombinant human GH. Sits in S2 alongside the secretagogues for WADA purposes.
  • AOD-9604, Fragment 176-191 - HGH C-terminal fragments; technically growth-factor-derived but used as standalone lipolytic compounds.
  • Selank, Semax - nootropic peptides without a clean fit; mechanism is BDNF / dopaminergic modulation rather than a hormonal family.
  • Dihexa - angiotensin-IV analogue, hepatocyte growth factor potentiator. Single-purpose nootropic.
  • KPV, LL-37 - alpha-MSH-derived (KPV) and cathelicidin (LL-37); inflammation / antimicrobial roles.
  • DSIP, Epitalon - sleep / circadian peptides without a class anchor in the catalogue’s taxonomy.
  • Follistatin-344 - myostatin inhibitor, structurally a glycoprotein rather than a peptide-hormone analogue.

Cross-references