Overview
The smallest active piece of alpha-MSH, retaining the anti-inflammatory activity while dropping the pigmentation effects. The preclinical inflammatory bowel data is genuinely interesting. Human data does not exist.
Not approved for human use anywhereNo approval anywhere for human use. Sold under research-use labelling. Not approved for human use.
| Regulatory status | Not approved. Preclinical anti-inflammatory research compound; increasingly marketed for gut and skin inflammation. |
|---|---|
| Drug class | C-terminal tripeptide fragment of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone |
| Route | Oral, topical, or subcutaneous (research) |
| Half-life | Short; not well characterised |
| Evidence rating |
1/5 Minimal
Evidence rating 1 out of 5: Minimal
Animal or laboratory data only. No human efficacy evidence. |
| Studied in | Rodent colitis models, in-vitro immune cell work, and topical dermatology models. No completed human trials. |
How it works
Enters cells and inhibits NF-κB nuclear translocation and downstream pro-inflammatory cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), apparently without requiring melanocortin receptor binding. Also shows direct antimicrobial activity against some organisms in vitro.
Evidence base
Rated 1 of 5 — Minimal. Animal or laboratory data only. No human efficacy evidence.
- Promising preclinical anti-inflammatory data; the human translation step has not been attempted.
Benefits & potential uses
Bars indicate how well each claim is supported: three = strong human evidence, two = moderate, one = preliminary or preclinical.
-
Anti-inflammatory without pigmentation Preliminary
Retains alpha-MSH anti-inflammatory activity while lacking the melanocortin pigmentation effect — a clean pharmacological separation.
-
Colitis improvement in rodents Preliminary
Oral and rectal delivery reduce colonic inflammation in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease.
-
Antimicrobial activity in vitro Preliminary
Activity against Candida and some bacteria in laboratory models.
-
Favourable preclinical safety Preliminary
Small tripeptides with endogenous origins generally show low toxicity in animal work.
Risks, cons & cautions
Bars indicate seriousness: three = serious or common, two = moderate, one = minor.
-
No human trials Serious
All efficacy claims are preclinical extrapolation.
-
Immune modulation is not inherently benign Moderate evidence
Suppressing NF-κB signalling long-term has implications for infection surveillance and tumour immunity that have not been studied.
-
Unapproved and unregulated Serious
Research-chemical supply chain.
-
Delivery and stability poorly characterised Moderate evidence
How much survives oral administration in humans is unknown.
Who should avoid it
- Immunosuppressed patients
- Pregnancy
- Active infection
If used under medical supervision, monitor
- No validated monitoring exists
Regulatory & legal status
Not approved for human use.
Infographic
Where to read further
We link to live literature searches rather than a frozen citation list, so you always see current results — including anything published after our last review.
- PubMed — all published literature on KPV
- PubMed — randomized controlled trials only
- ClinicalTrials.gov — registered human trials
Related peptides in Immune & Anti-inflammatory
Terms used on this page
- Preclinical Study and Animal Model
- Preclinical studies are the laboratory, cell and animal experiments done before any human exposure, establishing mechanism, target engagement and the toxicology package that permits a first trial.
- Melanocortin System
- The melanocortin system is the POMC-derived signalling network in which alpha-MSH and ACTH act on five receptors to control pigmentation, adrenal steroid output, appetite and energy balance.
- Cytokine
- Cytokines are small secreted signalling proteins acting at picomolar concentrations over short distances to coordinate immune cells, characterised by pleiotropy and extensive functional redundancy.
- Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-kB)
- Nuclear factor kappa B is a family of transcription factors held inactive in the cytoplasm until an inflammatory signal frees them to switch on genes for cytokines, adhesion molecules and survival.
- Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-alpha)
- Tumour necrosis factor alpha is a pro-inflammatory cytokine central to acute inflammation and to several autoimmune diseases, and the target of the most widely used class of biologic drugs.
- Oral Peptide Delivery
- Oral peptide delivery is the formulation of a peptide into a swallowed dosage form, a route that fights gastric acid, gut proteases and an epithelium built to exclude large molecules.
This page is educational information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your medical history, medications, or risk factors. Do not start, stop or change any treatment based on it. Speak to a qualified healthcare professional who knows your case.