Melanotan II
DermatologicalAlso known as MT-2
Evidence tier
Some human data
5 observational
- Researched since
- 1992
- Publications
- 242
- Mean purity
- 99.8%
- Vendors listing
- 19
NeuroLabs Research shows the highest mean assayed purity for Melanotan II at 99.9% across 2 lot records. Purity figures below come from the certificates named in each row.
Score breakdown
The score has two halves: the research base — how long the compound has been studied and how much has been published — and the quality of the evidence the market produces for it, aggregated across every vendor that carries it: assayed purity, lot-to-lot consistency, readable third-party certificates and those vendors’ review record. It measures the evidence base, not the merits or safety of the substance.
Studied since 1992 — 34 years of published research
How long the compound has been studied. Fifteen years or more of published literature earns full marks; a newer compound earns less.
242 publications indexed in PubMed
The volume of published literature located. Full marks at fifty or more publications.
Mean assayed purity 99.8% across 11 certificates
Average assayed purity on the certificates published by vendors that carry this compound. Full marks at 99.5%+, nothing at 95% or below.
±0.08 pts purity across lots, mean label deviation 7.6%
How tightly assayed purity and labeled-versus-actual mass hold across different lots. Rewards reproducible manufacturing.
19 of 19 listing vendors publish an accessible certificate policy
Whether the vendors carrying this compound publish per-lot certificates anyone can read without an account.
11 of 11 certificates from a recognised independent lab
Share of certificates issued by a recognised third-party testing lab rather than an unnamed or self-named one.
What is Melanotan II?
A synthetic analogue of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone. It has been the subject of regulatory warnings in several countries regarding unlicensed sale.
Studied in published research for skin tanning and sexual function.
Regulatory status
Not an approved medicine. Subject to regulatory warnings in several jurisdictions. Labeled by vendors for laboratory research use only.
What the research examines
The areas of published research this compound appears in. These describe what the literature has studied — never a claim of benefit, effect or suitability for any use.
Published research
Published work is limited and early-phase. Several national regulators have issued public warnings about products containing this compound sold outside a licensed medical context. PepIndex records the existence of those warnings as a matter of public record.
- Melanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction: review of the literature and case report — CEN case reports (2020)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in CEN case reports (2020).
- Melanotan-II reverses memory impairment induced by a short-term HF diet — Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (2023)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (2023).
- Melanotan II User Experience: A Qualitative Study of Online Discussion Forums — Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) (2021).
- CLIPSing Melanotan-II to Discover Multiple Functionally Selective hMCR Agonists — Journal of medicinal chemistry (2022)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Journal of medicinal chemistry (2022).
- Melanotan-II reverses autistic features in a maternal immune activation mouse model of autism — PloS one (2019)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in PloS one (2019).
- Discovery and development of novel melanogenic drugs. Melanotan-I and -II — Pharmaceutical biotechnology (1998)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Pharmaceutical biotechnology (1998).
- Melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan-II microinjected in the nucleus accumbens decreases appetitive and consumptive responding for food — Neuropeptides (2022)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Neuropeptides (2022).
- Melanotan II, a melanocortin agonist, partially rescues the impaired thermogenic capacity of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide deficient mice — Experimental physiology (2021)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Experimental physiology (2021).
Indexed studies5 human-evidence of 5
- Published reports concerning melanotan II obtained outside licensed supply — Case report
Placeholder seed record. The listed literature includes case reports concerning material obtained outside a licensed medical context. Case reports describe individual occurrences and cannot establish incidence, causation or population-level risk.
- Melanotan-induced priapism: a hard-earned tan — Case report, 2019
Melanocortin analogues, such as melanotan, are illegally used for artificial tanning. They have also been suggested as possible therapeutic agents in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This case study presents a patient attending the accident and emergency department, in a tertiary urology centre, with acute priapism after abdominal subcutaneous injection of melanotan. The priapism was diagnosed as 'low-flow' and managed with cavernosal aspiration, irrigation and subseque…
- Melanotan-associated melanoma — Case report, 2011
A case report published in The British journal of dermatology (2011). Reported outcomes are described in the linked publication; PepIndex does not summarise clinical significance.
- Melanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction: review of the literature and case report — Case report, 2020
Renal infarction is an uncommon condition resulting from an acute disruption of renal blood flow and it is potentially life-threatening disease. The cause and outcome of renal infarction is not well established and is frequently misdiagnosed or diagnosed late. Melanotan II is a non-selective melanocortin-receptor agonist and its effect on humans is an increasing of skin pigmentation, producing of spontaneous penile erection and sexual stimulation. Melanotan II inducing rhabdo…
- A glimpse into the underground market of melanotan — Human — observational, 2018
Melanotan-I and melanotan-II are alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH) analogues that can be purchased illicitly online with relative ease and are injected subcutaneously to stimulate a tan. Little is known about the use of these unregulated substances. An observational survey was posted to an online forum in which participants share their experiences using melanotan-I or melanotan-II. Users were asked to complete this voluntary, anonymous survey, which had questions f…
Evidence digest
What the research on Melanotan II actually shows
The indexed literature on Melanotan II includes human clinical or observational records (5 human-clinical or observational records). This digest describes the shape of that evidence and links the records behind it. It does not judge whether Melanotan II is safe or effective for any purpose, and nothing here is medical advice — the material sold by the vendors in this index is labeled for laboratory research use only.
3 things the literature does not establish →
PepIndex describes what literature exists. We do not interpret it, assess clinical significance, or publish quantities, protocols or instructions for use.
Vendor comparison
| Vendor | Score here | Price / mg | Certificates | Mean purity | Label deviation | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Next Gen PeptidesISO/IEC 17025 | 93.897% | $2.40 (54%) | 1 | 99.9% | 5.9% | |
| Amino ClubISO/IEC 17025 | 90.495% | — | 0 | — | — | |
| PeptidePlugs | 89.790% | — | 2 | 99.7% | 4.0% | |
| Protide Health | 85.994% | $4.00 (90%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Origin Labs | 81.885% | — | 1 | 99.7% | 4.1% | |
| NeuroLabs Research | 79.386% | — | 2 | 99.9% | 4.9% | |
| Good Science Bio | 76.575% | $3.50 (79%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Ascension Peptides | 75.686% | $5.00 (112%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Modern AminosISO/IEC 17025 | 75.5100% | $7.00 (157%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Peptime | 75.359% | — | 1 | 99.9% | 8.0% | |
| Simple Peptide | 7489% | — | 1 | 99.8% | 24.0% | |
| Northline LabsISO/IEC 17025 | 73.893% | $7.00 (157%) | 1 | 99.8% | 6.0% | |
| ZC Labs | 73.784% | $5.00 (112%) | 1 | 99.7% | 11.3% | |
| Koi Peptides | 72.894% | $6.00 (135%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Vertex Labs | 70.170% | — | 1 | 99.8% | 7.0% | |
| Extreme Peptides | 69.982% | $4.00 (90%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Improved Peptides | 6889% | $4.90 (110%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Eternal Peptides | 6865% | $4.00 (90%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Mile High Compounds | 66.194% | $4.00 (90%) | 0 | — | — |
Certificate records
| Vendor | Lot | Tested | Lab | Labeled | Assayed | Discrepancy | Purity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertex Labs | 2608190853 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 9.3 mg | 7.0% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| Origin Labs | Orig2607270912 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 10.41 mg | 4.1% | 99.7% | Vendor-published | |
| PeptidePlugs | 160-710L-DK | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 10.48 mg | 4.8% | 99.7% | Vendor-published | |
| Peptime | 76MT | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 10.8 mg | 8.0% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| NeuroLabs Research | NL01-MT210R | Analysis FreedomDiagnostics | 10 mg | 9.91 mg | 0.9% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| Northline Labs | NLL-3593336 | ILS Laboratories | 10 mg | 10.6 mg | 6.0% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| ZC Labs | ZCLa2606260479 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 11.13 mg | 11.3% | 99.7% | Vendor-published | |
| Next Gen Peptides | mt10-04 | ILS Laboratories | 10 mg | 10.59 mg | 5.9% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| Simple Peptide | MT2-052026-1 | Analysis FreedomDiagnostics | 10 mg | 12.4 mg | 24.0% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| NeuroLabs Research | NL02-MT2 | Analysis FreedomDiagnostics | 10 mg | 10.89 mg | 8.9% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| PeptidePlugs | 120-A-S | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 9.68 mg | 3.2% | 99.7% | Vendor-published |