Melanotan II

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Melanotan II is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It was developed at the University of Arizona in the 1980s as part of the Victor J. Hruby medicinal chemistry program exploring melanocortin pharmacology. The cyclic lactam-bridged structure, together with the D-phenylalanine substitution and norleucine replacement for methionine, confer dramatic resistance to enzymatic breakdown compared to linear alpha-MSH. Melanotan II is broadly active across MC1, MC3, MC4, and MC5 receptor subtypes, which makes it a widely used probe in melanocortin pharmacology, melanogenesis research, energy homeostasis studies, and central sexual response investigation. This listing supplies Melanotan II strictly for in-vitro laboratory research.

Mechanism of Action

Melanotan II acts as a non-selective agonist across the melanocortin receptor family, with documented affinity at MC1, MC3, MC4, and MC5 subtypes. MC1 activation on epidermal melanocytes stimulates adenylate cyclase, elevates intracellular cAMP, and upregulates tyrosinase and melanogenic enzyme expression, leading to the eumelanin production that gives Melanotan II its historical identification as a "tanning peptide" in published dermatology and photoprotection research.

MC3 and MC4 activation in hypothalamic and limbic circuits produces effects on energy balance, appetite suppression, and sexual motivation. Published preclinical literature documents reductions in food intake and increases in pro-sexual behaviors in rodent models administered Melanotan II, mechanisms that are pharmacologically distinct from peripheral hormonal or vascular pathways. The central MC4 component in particular has been the basis for research interest in Melanotan II as a probe of hypothalamic feeding circuitry and central sexual response.

MC5 activation in exocrine tissues contributes to the full-body activity signature observed with Melanotan II and differentiates it from more MC4-selective analogues such as PT-141. The anti-inflammatory signaling signature characteristic of the broader melanocortin family also appears with Melanotan II, which has led to its use in research models of inflammation and organ perfusion.

Together, the MC1 pigmentary effect, MC3/MC4 central metabolic and motivational effects, and MC5 exocrine effects give Melanotan II its characteristically broad pharmacological footprint. This breadth is why Melanotan II is used across such a wide range of research contexts, and why receptor-selective analogues such as PT-141 were developed to narrow the effect profile for specific research or clinical programs.

Chemical Profile

Melanotan II is a cyclic heptapeptide with the sequence Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2, molecular formula C50H69N15O9, and molecular weight approximately 1024.18 g/mol. CAS registry 121062-08-6. The cyclic structure is formed by a lactam bridge between the side chain carboxyl of aspartate and the side chain amine of lysine, while the C-terminal carboxamide and N-terminal acetyl group further stabilize the molecule against proteolysis. Melanotan II is supplied as a white lyophilized powder in a sealed vial and is soluble in bacteriostatic water and sterile saline. The combination of cyclization, D-phenylalanine substitution, and norleucine replacement makes Melanotan II one of the most enzymatically stable alpha-MSH analogues available for research.

Research Applications

Melanotan II has a broad preclinical research footprint. The largest documented domain is melanogenesis and photoprotection research, where Melanotan II is used as an MC1 probe in cultured melanocytes and rodent skin models. Published studies examine tyrosinase induction, melanin synthesis kinetics, and UV response modulation using Melanotan II as a pharmacological reference ligand.

A second major domain is energy homeostasis and appetite research. Because MC3 and MC4 are central to hypothalamic feeding circuitry, Melanotan II is used in rodent models investigating food intake, body weight regulation, and the interaction between melanocortin tone and metabolic hormones such as leptin and insulin. Genetic models of MC4 deficiency use Melanotan II as a pharmacological rescue probe.

A third domain is central sexual response research. The University of Arizona group that developed Melanotan II observed pro-sexual effects in rodent behavioral paradigms early in the program, a finding that led to the development of the more MC4-selective metabolite Bremelanotide (PT-141). Melanotan II continues to be used in research comparing MC4 versus broader melanocortin agonism in central motivational circuits.

A fourth domain is anti-inflammatory and organ-protection research, where melanocortin receptor agonism broadly modulates cytokine release and perfusion in rodent models of ischemia, shock, and inflammation. A fifth area is exocrine physiology research via MC5 agonism in sebaceous and lacrimal tissues.

All research applications described here refer to published preclinical research contexts. Melanotan II is not FDA approved for any indication and is not intended for human or veterinary use, diagnosis, or treatment. All references to pharmacology and dosing refer strictly to published research literature.

Reconstitution & Dosing Reference

For laboratory reconstitution, Melanotan II is typically dissolved in bacteriostatic water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol or sterile saline. A common research reconstitution is 1 mL of diluent added to a 10mg vial for a 10 mg/mL stock, or 2 mL for 5 mg/mL. Published preclinical literature documents both subcutaneous and, less commonly, intranasal administration in rodent research paradigms, with subcutaneous being the dominant route in reported MC1 and central-circuit studies. Intranasal delivery has been explored in selected published work but represents a minor fraction of the Melanotan II research literature, and pharmacokinetics differ meaningfully between routes. For in-vitro laboratory work, reconstitution concentration is an assay design choice. Swirl gently after adding diluent, allow the solution to clarify, and do not shake. These values are strictly research reference information for in-vitro and preclinical laboratory work. They are not a human-use protocol, and this listing supplies Melanotan II for laboratory research use only.

Storage & Handling

Store lyophilized Melanotan II at minus 20 degrees Celsius, protected from light and moisture, for long-term stability. Under these conditions, an unopened vial retains specification for 24 months or more. Short transit periods at ambient temperature do not meaningfully degrade the cyclic peptide, which is one of the pharmacological advantages of the lactam-bridged structure. Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water or sterile saline, Melanotan II solution should be refrigerated at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and used within 30 days. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles on reconstituted material, since cycling promotes aggregation and loss of assay bioactivity. Keep the vial upright, protect the rubber stopper from contamination, and wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol before each withdrawal. Protect reconstituted solution from ambient light during extended bench work.

Where to Buy Melanotan II

PeptideDeck connects research buyers with a vetted US supplier listing Melanotan II 10mg at a competitive 2026 price, backed by per-lot certificates of analysis and independent identity verification. When researchers ask us where to buy Melanotan II online without the uncertainty of unknown grey-market listings, this is the source we recommend. Because the supplier ships from a US warehouse, domestic research buyers avoid customs delays and the seizure risk associated with international melanocortin shipments. Click Add to Cart above to confirm live stock and complete secure checkout through our partner. If you are comparing Melanotan II prices across vendors, match listings on purity (99%+), dose (10mg per vial), and documentation (per-lot COA) before comparing numbers, because "Melanotan II for sale" listings without those quality signals are not equivalent products. Multi-vial Melanotan II orders commonly qualify for tiered volume discounts through partner checkout.

Quality Assurance & COA

Every vial of Melanotan II 10mg sold through this listing is backed by per-lot quality documentation. Purity is verified by reverse-phase HPLC at 99% or higher, with identity confirmed by mass spectrometry matching the expected molecular weight of the cyclic Ac-Nle-Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys-NH2 structure. The supplier publishes certificates of analysis per lot covering peptide content, residual solvent, and microbial testing, with independent third-party laboratory verification on representative lots to cross-check in-house HPLC data. Manufacturing occurs under cGMP-aligned practices in a controlled-environment facility, with end-to-end lot tracking from synthesis through vialing. Researchers who want to inspect the COA for a specific lot before buying Melanotan II can request it through the partner vendor. This documentation chain is what separates credible Melanotan II suppliers from generic powder listings and is why we recommend this source to buyers searching for Melanotan II with evidence they can cite in a laboratory record.