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A cosmetic ingredient, not regulated or approved as a drug. This page is educational information only, not medical advice.
IndexedBuilt automatically from public databases on 2026-09-30. Not yet hand-reviewed by PLOBT.How this works →

Nonapeptide-1

Cosmetic ingredient

Cosmetic melanocortin-modulating peptide

Also known as: Melanostatine 5, White 05, Met-pro-phe-arg-trp-phe-lys-pro-val, Nonapeptide 1, Nonapeptide-1 (Powder), Nonapeptide-1 (Liquid)

Evidence score
23/ 100
Thin evidence

Very thin human evidence

  • Regulatory standing. Cosmetic ingredient, not regulated as a drug
  • Animal / preclinical only. Evidence is largely animal or in-vitro
  • No registered human trials. Nothing registered on ClinicalTrials.gov
  • 1 cited source. Includes primary / regulatory sources

Computed with the same four public criteria as every profile. The human-evidence grade on an indexed profile is set automatically and may change when it is hand-reviewed. It is not a safety score, not a purity rating, and not medical advice, and not a claim that this compound treats, cures, or prevents any condition.

What it is

Nonapeptide-1, sold under the trade name Melanostatine 5, is a synthetic nine-amino-acid peptide used as an ingredient in skin care products marketed for uneven skin tone. It is designed to resemble part of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and is thought to block the MC1 receptor on pigment cells, which may reduce signaling that leads to melanin production.

What the evidence shows

Automatic summaryAnimal / preclinical

Evidence comes mainly from lab studies and manufacturer or small cosmetic tests, and there are no registered human clinical trials. Whether it meaningfully lightens skin or reduces dark spots in people has not been established, and it is not FDA-approved for any use.

Key facts

Molecular formula
C61H87N15O9S
Molecular weight
1206.5 g/mol

Registered human trials

Live from ClinicalTrials.gov, refreshed daily.

0registered studies
Nonemost advanced phase
0completed (sample)
0recruiting (sample)

Published literature

Live from Europe PMC. This is how much has been published, not how much is proven in humans.

16papers referencing Nonapeptide-1

Encephalitogenic T cells in the B10.PL model of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) are of the Th-1 lymphokine subtype.

Cell Immunol1989

Mechanism for the noncovalent chiral domino effect: new paradigm for the chiral role of the N-terminal segment in a 3(10)-helix.

J Am Chem Soc2003

Control of peptide helix sense by temperature tuning of noncovalent chiral domino effect.

J Org Chem2007

Lung to blood passage of different-sized molecules during lung inflammation in the rat.

J Appl Physiol (1985)1991

Sources

Risks, side effects and study doses are only published on hand-reviewed profiles. Want this one reviewed, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.