Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Areas of active research — not promised effects

Each tag links to other compounds with research into that goal. Research use only: these are areas of study, not human-use claims.

Related by research scope · open each to compare

Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 is regulated in the United States as a cosmetic ingredient, not as a drug. It is not subject to FDA prescription requirements, is not on the FDA Section 503A/503B bulk drug substance lists, and the fda19 flag is confirmed false in the compound record. Finished cosmetic products containing it are subject to FDA oversight under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA, 2022), which requires facility and product registration (effective July 2024), adequate safety substantiation, and compliant labelling using the INCI name. No 2026 Category-2 motion affects this ingredient.

Transparent blend · bci-1.0 · never paid-placement

Primary name

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Origin

Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 (INCI: Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1; CAS 147732-56-7) is a synthetic conjugate in which palmitic acid (a C16 saturated fatty acid) is covalently attached to the N-terminus of the tripeptide Gly-His-Lys (GHK). GHK is an endogenous copper-binding tripeptide with established roles in skin extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis; its sequence corresponds to the N-terminal fragment of the collagen α1(I) chain released during collagenolysis. The palmitoyl moiety was introduced to increase lipophilicity and improve transdermal delivery through the stratum corneum. The ingredient is commercialised under the trade name Biopeptide CL™ (Sederma) and appears in numerous anti-ageing cosmetic formulations, often in combination with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (the combination marketed as Matrixyl 3000®).

Registry IDs

PubChem CID

10231864

CAS

147732-56-7

InChIKey

BYUQATUKPXLFLZ-UIOOFZCWSA-N

DrugBank

DB11297

Molecular formula

C30H54N6O5

Molar mass

578.8 g/mol

Monoisotopic

578.41556884 Da

InChIKey

BYUQATUKPXLFLZ-UIOOFZCWSA-N

Appearance

White to off-white lyophilised powder (vendor-typical)

Solubility

Amphiphilic; the GHK tripeptide core is hydrophilic but the C16 palmitoyl chain …

Sequence not available in current seed.

Stability: Stable as lyophilised powder under cool, dry conditions. The fatty acyl linkage is susceptible to hydrolysis under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions; formu

Vial sizes

null mg

Purity grades

cosmetic grade / research grade

Salt forms

Free base (primary)

• GHS hazard class on file
• PPE & spill response
• Disposal guidance
• Not-for-human-consumption posture

How much research exists, and of what maturity — never a verdict on whether it works.

Mechanism of action

• Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 functions as a matrikine-mimetic signalling peptide
• The GHK sequence is recognised by fibroblast surface receptors and is proposed to activate intracellular signalling cascades—including pathways involving transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)—that upregulate transcription of type I and type III procollagens, fibronectin, and glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronic acid
• In vitro studies in human dermal fibroblasts have demonstrated increased collagen synthesis at sub-micromolar concentrations (approximately 0.5 µM), consistent with a receptor-mediated rather than a mass-action effect
• The palmitoyl tail substantially increases partitioning of the otherwise hydrophilic GHK sequence into the lipid-rich stratum corneum, enabling delivery to viable epidermal and dermal layers where fibroblasts reside

Pharmacokinetics (ADME)

PK–PD note: No formal systemic pharmacokinetic data have been identified for palmitoyl tripeptide-1. Use concentrations in finished cosmetic products are typically in the range of 0.0000001%–0.001% (below 10 ppm)…

Reading the evidence

• Evidence quality and gaps vary by application — see the cited grades above.
• Indexed-article counts span all evidence tiers, not only completed human trials.
• No first-party human-dosing, efficacy, or benefit claims are made here.

Key reviews & evidence-gap sources

• Johnson W et al. Safety Assessment of Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-12, Their Metal Salts and Fatty Acyl Derivatives, and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. 2018. — CIR Expert Panel safety assessment; references a blind, vehicle-controlled test of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 anti-wrinkle effect in 15 female subjects (44–59 yrs). Regulatory/authority source.
• Yang F et al. Comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of a new multi-component anti-aging topical eye cream. Skin Res Technol. 2024;30(7):e13790. PMID 38932444. — PubMed-tagged RCT (pubtype includes 'Randomized Controlled Trial'); 12-week clinical trial of eye cream containing palmitoyl tripeptide-1 + palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 + other actives. Combination product — not Pal-Tripeptide-1 alone.
• Li F et al. Clinical evidence of the efficacy and safety of a new multi-peptide anti-aging topical eye serum. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023;22(12):3340–3346. — Multi-peptide combination serum clinical study; palmitoyl tripeptide-1 is one of multiple peptide ingredients. Clinical Trial ID referenced as NCT0454597 (possibly truncated — full NCT not independently verified).
• Peptidings — Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1: What the Research Actually Shows — Editorial aggregator assessment: Human 1 study / 3 groups, Animal 2, In Vitro 3; Tier 3 (Pilot/Limited Human Data). Notes no published study has tested Pal-GHK alone in humans — all clinical data from Matrixyl 3000 combination.
• Ferreira MS et al. Usage of Synthetic Peptides in Cosmetics for Sensitive Skin. Cosmetics. 2021;8(3):51. PMID 34451799. — Review of peptide usage in 88 facial cosmetics for sensitive skin; discusses palmitoyl oligopeptide (incl. palmitoyl tripeptide-1) classification and evidence base.

No registered human trials found for this compound.

Status

No registered trials found

Summary (literature)

The CIR Expert Panel (2018; DOI 10.1177/1091581818807863) concluded that palmitoyl tripeptide-1 is safe as used in cosmetics at the concentrations reported (typically below 10 ppm in finished products). Key safety data include: acute oral LD50 >2,000 mg/kg (rat, trade mixture at …

WADA status

Not specifically listed on the 2026 WADA Prohibited List. Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 is a topically applied cosmetic signalling peptide with no identified mechanism…

Dominant research route: TOP

Vehicle-controlled clinical study in 15 female subjects (44–59 yrs) applying a cream containing palmitoyl tripeptide-1 twice daily for 4 weeks; statistically significant reductions in wrinkle length, depth, and skin roughness reported

Bioavailability: Palmitic acid tail (16-carbon fatty acid) confers lipophilicity enabling penetration through the lipid-rich stratum corneum to epidermal/dermal layers; in vitro skin penetration studies indicate diffusion into epidermis and dermis

Small vehicle-controlled human trials; palmitoyl tripeptide-1 is formulated exclusively as a topical cosmetic active (e.g., Biopeptide CL, Matrixyl 3000). No injectable, oral, or other systemic routes have been studied.

12-week open-label clinical trial in human subjects applying a multi-component eye cream containing palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7; assessed hydration, elasticity, collagen density via Corneometer, Cutometer, VISIA, ultrasound

Bioavailability: Topical application; periorbital skin region. Collagen density increase of 54.99% reported at 12 weeks by ultrasound (multi-ingredient formulation, not isolated peptide)

Open-label, multi-ingredient formulation; palmitoyl tripeptide-1 was one of several actives so isolated contribution cannot be determined. Published in Skin Research and Technology (2024).

In vitro skin penetration studies using human breast skin in flow-through diffusion cells; palmitoyl tripeptide-1 (lipophilic) diffused into epidermis and dermis, whereas unmodified hydrophilic peptides did not penetrate beyond stratum corneum

Bioavailability: Lipophilic palmitoyl modification enables diffusion into epidermis and dermis in vitro; unmodified GHK tripeptide has very low skin affinity and does not penetrate beyond stratum corneum. No systemic absorption detected in vitro.

CIR Expert Panel reviewed in vitro percutaneous absorption data; noted that data on absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of palmitoyl oligopeptides were otherwise absent from published literature.

In vitro human dermal fibroblast cultures; palmitoyl tripeptide-1 at 0.1–1.0 μM stimulated collagen I, III, and IV synthesis, fibronectin, and glycosaminoglycans including hyaluronic acid; dose-dependent response

Bioavailability: Molecular mechanism: GHK sequence acts as matrikine mimicking collagen breakdown fragments, binding fibroblast surface receptors (integrins) and activating TGF-β signaling cascades to upregulate collagen gene expression

Mechanistic basis for topical efficacy; collagen synthesis monitored by tritiated proline incorporation in human fibroblasts in vitro. Palmitoyl group improves oil solubility and skin penetration while maintaining the tripeptide's collagen-stimulating properties.

Animal & human figures are kept visibly separate so studied animal doses are never misread as human guidance.

Sorted A–Z by vendor — never by price

Weekly median $/mg from the live vendor crawl.

Researched storefront prices, bucketed

p25 $0.290 · median $0.950 · p75 $2.40 · 7 researched vendors

Legit, COA-backed band: $0.080–$3.10/mg.

Value rule: don't just buy the cheapest — a price under $3/mg is a red flag. Pair price with COA and independent-test grade.

Estimated cost of research (10 mg)

Vial (best researched price)

$1

Bacteriostatic water (generic estimate)

$6

Syringes / supplies (generic estimate)

$12

What each test proves — general guidance, plus this compound's researched purity data

Purity on the current market (researched)

Vendor COAs commonly report ≥98–99% purity by HPLC; these are manufacturer claims, not independently verified by third-party labs in retrieved sources.

Independent labs cited for this compound

No FDA recalls, market withdrawals, or safety alerts specific to Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 were found. As a cosmetic ingredient it is not subject to FDA premarket approval or drug-recall mechanisms.

Buyer red-flag checklist

• No compound-specific FDA import alert exists for Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1.
• Purity figures (≥99%) circulating online originate from vendor COAs (e.g., Arizona Mall, AbMole), not independent accredited labs.
• EWG Skin Deep flags 'Data: Limited' and lists low-level contamination concerns (palmitic acid, acetate) and low irritation/biochemical-change concerns per CIR.
• Former INCI name 'Palmitoyl Oligopeptide' was retired by the CIR Expert Panel as vague/indeterminate; products still labeled with the retired name may obscure the actual peptide sequence.

GMP vs research-grade: the chemistry (SPPS + HPLC + MS) is identical — the difference is the quality system.

Underdosing / mislabeling: No independent third-party lab tests (Janoshik, MZ Biolabs, Finnrick aggregates) for Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 were found. This compound is a cosmetic ingredient, not a gray-market research peptide, so the typical underdosing surveillance pipeline does not apply.

• An RUO label is not an import exemption — CBP judges actual intended use.
• Lyophilized powder is ambient-stable in transit; temperature control needed for > 7-day transit.
• US-warehouse vendors dodge import scrutiny — they cost more but ship more reliably.

Every item dated & sourced

Not prohibited. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a cosmetic peptide active, not classified as a pharmacological agent under WADA's framework; not listed on the WADA Prohibited List.

No granted patents identified in current seed. Composition-of-matter coverage is limited given the peptide's synthetic origin.

• IACUC / IRB research context
• RUO buyer responsibilities & documentation
• Veterinary / alternative-use where lawful
• Jurisdiction-aware "who may lawfully obtain"

What people discuss

Reported concerns — discussion, not established effects

Reading caveats

• Discussion dominated by Matrixyl 3000 blend rather than isolated Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
• Manufacturer-funded clinical data frequently cited without independent confirmation
• Affiliate/blog review content prevalent in search results

Manually researched from reddit, youtube— theme weights are research estimates, not live counts; aggregated & de-identified. No individual posts, quotes, or usernames are ever shown.

Relative research / market volume — populated once the activity stream is wired

Inline tooltips for lyophilized, RUO, EU/mg, SPPS, 503A and more.

Toggle plain-language ↔ scientific in the header.

• How to read a COA
• Free base vs acetate
• Understanding evidence grades

Palmitoylated GHK signalling tripeptide that stimulates fibroblast collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis; widely used cosmetic anti-ageing ingredient. Approximately 1 articles are indexed (literature last scanned 2026-05-29). US regulatory status: Cosmetic ingredient (OTC). Research use only.

Emitted as JSON-LD: ChemicalSubstance · BreadcrumbList · FAQPage.

• Price-drop & back-in-stock alerts
• Regulatory-change email digest
• Print / share this datasheet