PeptideCompareGHK-Cu — the copper peptide.
GHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-1) is a naturally occurring tripeptide with high affinity for copper ions. Plasma levels decline sharply with age, making it a major anti-aging research target.
- Copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) found naturally in human plasma; levels fall with age.
- Strong evidence, including human topical studies, for collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycan synthesis — widely used in cosmetics.
- Moderate animal and some human data for accelerated wound healing.
- Cosmetic (topical) and research (injectable) grades are different product categories with very different safety data.
- Research compound for injectable use; copper content and purity should both be specified.
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is a copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) found naturally in human plasma, saliva and urine. Levels fall from ~200 ng/ml at age 20 to ~80 ng/ml by age 60. It carries copper into cells and modulates expression of a large number of genes related to tissue repair and regeneration. It is unusual in being well-studied for both topical (cosmetic) and injectable (research) use.
What does the research show?
What to look for when buying in Europe
Distinguish cosmetic grade (for topical formulation) from research grade (lyophilized for reconstitution). Copper content and purity should both be specified. Require a batch-matched COA with HPLC purity ≥98%.
Molecular information
Pharmacokinetics
Potency retained over time
Each line is one storage condition: it starts at 100% and falls as potency is lost. Above the dashed 80% line the material is considered reliable — hover for exact values.
⚠ A structural estimate, derived from each compound's sequence length, cyclisation and oxidation-, deamidation- and light-sensitive residues. Indicative only — not lab-measured per batch.
Compare GHK-Cu across EU suppliers
14 EU vendors · COA-verified · from €23.89 · Updated monthly
Frequently asked questions
What is GHK-Cu? ▾
GHK-Cu is a copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) found naturally in human plasma, saliva and urine. It carries copper into cells and influences many genes involved in tissue repair.
Does GHK-Cu work for skin? ▾
There is robust evidence, including human topical studies, that GHK-Cu increases collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycan synthesis. It is widely used in cosmetic skincare.
What is the difference between cosmetic and research-grade GHK-Cu? ▾
Cosmetic-grade is formulated for topical use and is well-tolerated and widely available. Research-grade is lyophilised for reconstitution and has far less safety data for injectable use. Do not confuse the two categories.
What does the wound-healing research show? ▾
Animal and some human data show accelerated wound closure and improved healing quality, graded as moderate evidence.
Are the anti-aging claims for injectable GHK-Cu proven? ▾
Gene-expression studies support anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, but systemic injectable anti-aging claims are largely extrapolated from topical and lab data. Hair-growth signals are preliminary.
How do I verify GHK-Cu quality? ▾
A meaningful COA specifies both copper content and HPLC purity (ideally ≥98%) on a batch-matched basis from a named lab.
Is GHK-Cu approved as a medicine? ▾
No. It is used cosmetically as a skincare ingredient and sold as a research compound for injectable use; it is not an approved medication.
Why does copper content matter? ▾
GHK-Cu is defined by its copper complex. A certificate that omits copper content tells you only part of what you need to assess the product.
References
- Review of GHK-Cu in the light of gene-expression data. Note that most of the foundational literature on this peptide comes from the group that discovered it in 1973, which is worth weighing when reading the effect sizes. Pickart L, Margolina A. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. DOIPubMed 29986520
- Review of the proposed cellular pathways through which GHK is said to act in skin regeneration — collagen and elastin synthesis, fibroblast activation and matrix remodelling. Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. PMC4508379
- Discussion of the Connectivity Map gene-expression analysis behind the frequently repeated claim that GHK shifts expression of a large share of human genes. The analysis is computational, on cell lines, not a clinical outcome. Pickart L, Margolina A. Cosmetics. 2018;5(2):29. DOI