Why Choose CellPeptides’ Melanotan 2?
A deep, natural-looking tan built from the inside out. Marked libido and sexual function effects. An end to cravings that previously seemed endless, and interesting fat-burning potential. The observed effects of Melanotan 2 are powerful — and have immediate quality-of-life implications for many people. It’s no wonder that interest in this peptide is rising. That has, unfortunately, led to a “demand, meet supply” situation.
The problem? Serious research calls for quality peptides manufactured responsibly, and your study depends on a source you can trust. CellPeptides is that source. We’re a scientific and research company based in Switzerland, and our Melanotan 2 is:
- Research-grade — ≥99% purity.
- Third-party lab tested, with certificates of analysis you can review before you begin your study.
- Shipped safely, quickly, and globally — with insurance and tracking.
We have a super-fast customer service team ready to help you out with questions about your research design or your order, too. (There’s no need to ask about payment methods, though. We take credit cards and bank transfers, but we also accept cryptocurrency.)
How Does Melanotan 2 Work?
The team that developed Melanotan 2 started by trying to replicate the action of Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone — the natural peptide for skin pigmentation and tanning. Natural α-MSH disappears so quickly that it’s not practical in research contexts, so a version with a longer half life was needed. That’s Melanotan II.
Melanotan 2 binds to the MC1R receptors, which then boost eumelanin. That part of the action is what makes it a tanning peptide. MC1R isn’t the only melanocortin receptor around, however — and MT-2 also acts on two other ones, MC3R and MC4R. These do different things. They’re in the brain, gut, and all over the central nervous system.
So, besides a deep, sunless tan, Melanotan 2 also boosts desire. It simulates fat loss and turns off wild appetites. Its predecessor, MT-I, didn’t do that. It stuck to the MC1R tanning receptor. This wider action makes Melanotan interesting to researchers in fields far beyond dermatology — although it is also, of course, still studied as a tanning agent.
Melanotan 2 in Research: Observed Effects and Potential Applications for Suntans and Beyond
Peptide research never fails to be fascinating. It often takes scientists in unexpected directions. Melanotan II is no exception. Its research applications have gone far beyond its original purpose of shielding people with exceptionally fair skin from skin cancer through a protective tan.
Melanotan 2 has a broad, system-wide effect that’s dose dependent. At lower doses, the compound mostly appears to suppress appetite — with research applications in bodybuilding and weight loss. Higher doses are studied for tanning and libido.
Sunless Tanning — The OG Melanotan 2 Application
Melanotan II was built for sunless tanning, and that’s exactly what it does. Research — from the earliest studies to later ones — shows that it binds to the MC1R to massively boost the production of eumelanin very effectively. That’s the dark pigment needed for a deep tan, and Melanotan 2 takes the need for sunshine out of the equation. [1, 2]
The first studies into the effects of Melanotan 2 zoomed in on its potential to give people protective tans, whether because they have exceptionally light skin, suffer from a photosensitivity disorder, or live somewhere with too much sun (yes, Australia). Dermatology research has also, however, looked at the cosmetic potential.
Melanotan 2 Suppresses Appetite and Tames Out-of-Control Food Cravings
The fact that Melanotan 2 doesn’t only bind to MC1R receptors but also the MC4R receptors in the hypothalamus, means it has much wider research applications than Melanotan 1. MC4R receptors are interesting because they’re part of the system that regulates appetite — they help create a balance between hunger and fullness. [3]
So, are there practical implications? Animal studies have investigated Melanotan 2 for its potential to reduce obesity. Mice, as it turns out, respond to an overabundance of food in much the same way as people. They keep eating, even when they shouldn’t. Melanotan 2 made inroads into fixing that, so the mice stopped eating when they had had enough. [4]
The Fat-Burning Potential of Melanotan 2
Appetite control is, of course, one viable path to weight loss. It’s not the only one — and not the only one Melanotan 2 helps with, either. Research has demonstrated that the peptide boosts energy expenditure (that is, it makes fat stores burn themselves), too. Studies into its weight loss potential are still in their early stages, but you’ll find lots of interesting data with regard to rodent models. [5] The fat-burning that Melanotan 2 induces doesn’t work in isolation, of course. The appetite suppressing benefits come along for the ride, too, for two-front action.
Melanotan 2 as a Libido Booster
The scientists who first discovered this effect were just as surprised, but it’s true — because Melanotan II activates the MC4 receptors in the hypothalamus, which are very deeply linked to sexual desire, it’s a serious libido booster. Early studies weren’t looking for that effect, but it was so profound that it became impossible to ignore. [6]
Melanotan 2 still has research applications in this context. Mood-related sexual dysfunction and erectile problems are both study targets. However, this discovery also directly led to the development of PT-141, another melanocortin peptide that selectively binds to MC4 and has already extensively been researched for sexual health.
Who Might Research Melanotan 2?
It has a powerful impact on pigmentation, metabolism, and libido — so it’s no surprise that research interest is deep and diverse. Does your lab focus on:
- Dermatology — tanning without UV exposure or the treatment of pigmentation disorders such as vitiligo?
- Metabolic optimization — perhaps in a bodybuilding and contest prep context?
- Sexual function, from desire to ED?
- Impulse control in the face of appetite challenges?
Melanotan II has research applications in these areas, and understanding its action is also important to investigators who hope to design new peptides. Have a study design ready? CellPeptides provides the pharma-grade MT-II you need to make new discoveries.
Common Dosing Protocols for Melanotan 2 In In-Vitro Setting for Research
The Melanotan 2 research done to date has taken investigators in numerous different scientific directions, and dosing protocols heavily depend on the objectives as well as the model. Lower doses allow researchers to observe effects on appetite. Designs that look at tanning and libido use higher doses. The most cited doses in the literature range from 0.1 to 2.0 mg per day.
Because Melanotan is shipped in dry form, which keeps it stable, researchers have to prepare it for study by reconstituting it with bacteriostatic water. Wipe both vials down with alcohol wipes. Then, use a sterile syringe to slowly inject BAC water into the vial (angled at the wall to preserve the peptide). Swirl it until the solution becomes clear. This takes a while, but stay patient — agitated peptides are compromised peptides. Reconstituted Melanotan 2 stays stable in the fridge between 2 and 8 °C, something that makes it suitable for multi-dose research.
For accurate model dosing research — feel free to use our comprehensive peptide dosage calculator.
FAQs
What is the half-life of Melamotan 2?
The existing literature points to a half life of between two and three hours in research — shorter than many peptides, but still long enough to impact melanogenesis and other processes. The effects themselves last longer, namely 24 to 48 hours.
Is PT-141 the same as Melanotan 2?
No. Researchers started working on PT-141 as soon as they discovered that Melanotan boosts desire. PT-141 is a more targeted signal that doesn’t cause a tan.
Does Melanotan 2 cause freckles?
Yes. That’s one of the things researchers have observed in studies. Melanotan 2 darkens all pigment, and freckles are part of that.
How much bacteriostatic water to mix with 10 mg of Melanotan 2?
That depends on the concentration you’re after. Reconstituting 10 mg of Melanotan 2 with 2 mL of BAC water gives a less concentrated solution that suits many research purposes, but 1 mL yields a more concentrated mix that is also used in some applications.
Scientific References
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/0-306-47384-4_25
- https://www.preprints.org/frontend/manuscript/448a48a260e806e91ad6446658646f60/download_pub
- https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/15/12152
- https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/51/5/1337/34546/Effects-of-Acute-and-Chronic-Administration-of-the
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1008983615045
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0090429500006804
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