All longevity research peptides
Ten compounds with the deepest published research base in longevity biology. Filter by mechanistic category or search by name and alias.
This index covers the ten peptides on which there is enough published preclinical and clinical evidence to support a structured editorial overview: mechanism of action, research history, summarised studies, safety profile and UK regulatory framing. Compounds with thinner evidence bases — or those whose research is dominated by a single unreplicated paper — are not included.
The mechanistic categories are useful for navigating the field. Telomere & pineal peptides (Epitalon, Pinealon) sit in the Khavinson short-peptide tradition and target gene-regulatory and circadian axes. Mitochondrial peptides (Humanin, MOTS-c, SS-31) operate on cristae structure, AMPK signalling and mitokine biology. The GH axis entries (Sermorelin, CJC-1295/Ipamorelin) target somatopause through pituitary-stimulating analogues with feedback regulation intact. Cellular repair (GHK-Cu), thymic/immune (Thymosin Alpha-1) and the NAD⁺ adjunct category round out the mechanistic landscape covered on this site.
For comparative reading, see the comparison index. For deeper topical coverage on individual research threads, see the research summaries.
Epitalon
Telomere & PinealA synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) derived from the pineal polypeptide epithalamin, studied for its effects on telomerase activity, circadian regulation, and lifespan extension in animal models.
GHK-Cu
Cellular RepairA naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys) that declines with age and is studied for tissue remodelling, anti-inflammatory gene-expression effects and skin/connective-tissue repair.
Humanin
MitochondrialA 24-amino-acid mitochondrially-derived peptide encoded within the 16S rRNA gene, studied for cytoprotective, metabolic and neuroprotective signalling that declines with age.
MOTS-c
MitochondrialA 16-amino-acid mitochondrially-derived peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene; functions as an exercise-mimetic regulator of insulin sensitivity, AMPK signalling and metabolic homeostasis.
Pinealon
Telomere & PinealA short synthetic tripeptide (Glu-Asp-Arg, EDR) from the Khavinson cytomedine family, studied for neuroprotective effects, oxidative-stress resistance and cognitive-function preservation in aged animals.
SS-31
MitochondrialA mitochondrially-targeted aromatic-cationic tetrapeptide that binds inner-mitochondrial-membrane cardiolipin and stabilises mitochondrial cristae structure, studied in cardiac, renal and skeletal-muscle ageing.
NAD⁺-related Peptides
NAD⁺ / SirtuinsPeptides and peptide-conjugate strategies investigated for their effects on cellular NAD⁺ levels, sirtuin activity and mitochondrial energy metabolism — including direct sirtuin-activating peptides and NMN/NR delivery analogues.
Thymosin Alpha-1
Thymic / ImmuneA 28-amino-acid synthetic equivalent of an N-acetylated peptide fragment originally isolated from thymic tissue, studied for immune-modulatory activity and increasingly examined in the context of immunosenescence and longevity.
Sermorelin
GH AxisA 29-amino-acid analogue of the active N-terminal fragment of growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH), studied as a pulsatile, physiological stimulator of pituitary GH secretion in the context of age-related GH decline.
CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin
GH AxisA widely-studied research combination pairing a long-acting GHRH analogue (CJC-1295) with a selective ghrelin/GHS-R agonist (Ipamorelin) to produce synergistic, feedback-preserved pulsatile GH release.