GHK

ID: ghk

Aliases: glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, GHK peptide, non-copper GHK

Type: compound

Route/form: topical/cosmetic or research context; injection claims are not well anchored

Status: cosmetic_or_research

Evidence level: mechanistic

Best data tier: mechanistic/chemistry

Support scope: non-human/mechanistic, review/regulatory

Source types: in_vitro, preclinical, review

Linked sources: 5

Broad outcomes: Longevity / mitochondrial / redox, Muscle growth / performance / recovery, Skin / wound repair

Reading note: These are curation notes anchored to linked sources, not a clinical recommendation or protocol.

Targets / mechanism

• extracellular matrix remodeling hypotheses
• wound healing gene-expression signatures
• copper-binding precursor to GHK-Cu

Optimization domains

• skin
• wound healing
• cosmetic
• anti aging

Research basis

• GHK is best treated as the parent copper-binding tripeptide biology behind many GHK-Cu claims: extracellular-matrix remodeling, wound repair, and gene-expression effects are the main rationale.
• The strongest practical evidence overlaps with GHK-Cu and topical/local delivery rather than systemic anti-aging claims.

Limits, risks, and missing evidence

• Plain GHK, GHK-Cu, topical cosmetic products, and injectable peptide claims should not be collapsed into one evidence claim.
• Human systemic rejuvenation evidence remains weak relative to mechanistic and topical/cosmetic enthusiasm.

Risk flags

• mechanistic heavy
• formulation dependent
• route specific claims
• injectable claims weak

Linked papers, labels, and reviews

1. GHK peptide as a natural modulator of multiple cellular pathways in skin regeneration
   review / pubmed_ghkcu_2015
   GHK-Cu skin regeneration review.
2. Gene expression data suggest that the copper peptide GHK may have regenerative and protective actions
   review / pubmed_ghkcu_gene_data_2018
   Mechanistic/gene-expression review for GHK-Cu regenerative claims; useful context for skin/wound plausibility but not a direct cosmetic efficacy trial.
3. Tripeptide-copper complex GHK-Cu (II) transiently improved healing outcome in a rat model of ACL reconstruction
   preclinical / pubmed_ghkcu_acl_rat_2015
   Randomized rat ACL reconstruction model; intra-articular GHK-Cu transiently improved laxity and graft-bone healing endpoints, useful for orthopedic repair plausibility but not human ACL evidence.
4. GHK-Cu-liposomes accelerate scald wound healing in mice by promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis
   preclinical / pubmed_ghkcu_wound_liposomes_mouse_2017
   Mouse scald-wound and HUVEC study; GHK-Cu liposomes promoted endothelial-cell proliferation, VEGF/FGF-2/cell-cycle proteins, angiogenesis markers, and faster wound closure.
5. Liposomes as Carriers of GHK-Cu Tripeptide for Cosmetic Application
   in_vitro / pubmed_ghkcu_cosmetic_liposomes_2024
   Formulation/in vitro cosmetic-delivery paper for GHK-Cu liposomes; useful for route/formulation specificity and topical claims.