Hexapeptide-2/Growth hormone releasing peptide-6

1、 Product basic file

Chinese name: Hexapeptide-2

English name: Hexapeptide-2

Alias: Growth hormone releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6)

INCI Name: HEXAPEPTIDE-2

CAS number: 87616-84-0

Molecular formula: C ₄₆ H ₅₆ N ₁₂ O ₆

Molecular weight: 873.02 g/mol

Amino acid sequence: H-His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH ₂

Amino acid composition: It consists of six amino acids: histidine (His), D-tryptophan (D-Trp), alanine (Ala), L-tryptophan (Trp), D-phenylalanine (D-Phe), and lysine (Lys). The C-terminus is modified with amide to enhance stability

Appearance specifications: White to off white solid powder, purity usually ≥ 95%~99% (HPLC)

Solubility: Slightly soluble in water, slightly soluble in methanol

Density: 1.333 ± 0.06 g/cm ³ (calculated value)

Storage conditions: sealed and protected from light, freeze-dried at -20 ℃ for storage; Freeze dried powder can be stable for 3 weeks at room temperature, and after reconstitution, it should be stored at 4 ℃ for 2-7 days. Long term storage should be below -18 ℃ and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles

⚠️  Important note: Hexapeptide-2 and GHRP-6 are the same substance (sharing CAS number 87616-84-0), but have different application positions in different fields. In the field of cosmetics, it is named "Hexapeptide-2" as an INCI and is mainly used as a whitening/skin conditioning agent; In the field of medical research, it is named "GHRP-6" and used as a growth hormone releasing peptide for endocrine research. This article focuses on its application in the cosmetics field.

2、 Core efficacy and mechanism of action

Hexapeptide-2 is a synthetic hexapeptide that is structurally similar to endogenous alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha MSH) and can serve as a competitive antagonist of alpha MSH, achieving whitening effects by blocking the melanin synthesis pathway. Its core efficacy and mechanism of action are mainly reflected in the following dimensions:

Competitive inhibition of alpha MSH receptors and inhibition of melanin synthesis (core efficacy): Hexapeptide-2 shares structural similarities with alpha MSH and can partially bind to the alpha MSH receptor (MC1-R) on the surface of melanocytes. When the receptor is occupied by hexapeptide-2, endogenous alpha MSH cannot bind to the receptor, and melanocyte activity is inhibited, thereby reducing melanin synthesis from the source.

Reduce the transfer of melanin to keratinocytes: Hexapeptide-2 not only inhibits melanin synthesis, but also reduces the transfer and distribution of synthesized melanin from melanocytes to keratinocytes, achieving a dual effect of whitening.

Brightening skin tone and improving pigmentation: Through the dual mechanisms mentioned above, hexapeptide-2 can effectively brighten skin tone, combat dark spots, pigmentation, and even skin tone. It is suitable for post sun repair and daily whitening care.

Skin conditioning and anti-aging assistance: Hexapeptide-2 is functionally labeled as "Skin Conditioning" and "Whitening" in the CosIng database, and has the effect of improving the overall condition of the skin. Some studies have shown that it can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, playing an auxiliary anti-aging role.

3、 Recommended addition ratio and application scenarios

Hexapeptide-2 can be added to essence, face cream, lotion, facial mask and other skin care formulations.

Recommended addition ratio:

Pure peptide powder: usually added in ppm levels, with specific concentrations calculated based on the concentration of the product solution

Suggested addition amount: Refer to Dermostatyl ™  The recommended dosage for IS (Ashland commercial solution) is generally 1% to 5% (based on the commercial solution)

Whitening and spot lightening essence/face cream: as the core whitening active ingredient, it uses its competitive mechanism of inhibiting α - MSH receptor to create efficient whitening products for the problems of spots, dullness and uneven skin color.

Post sun repair products: Utilizing their ability to block UV induced excessive synthesis of melanin, applied to post sun repair products to prevent and reduce post sun pigmentation.

Anti aging and whitening products: utilizing their dual effects of whitening and skin conditioning, applied to mature skin whitening products, while improving pigmentation and fine lines.

Evenly skin color daily care: it is used in daily skin care lotion and face cream to continuously even skin color and prevent pigmentation.

4、 Formula recommendations and safety compliance

Gold synergy combination:

Combined with vitamin C: Hexapeptide-2 blocks alpha MSH signaling at the receptor level, while vitamin C exerts its effects at the antioxidant and reducing levels of melanin, achieving a more comprehensive whitening effect in synergy.

Compound with Niacinamide: Niacinamide exerts whitening effects by inhibiting the transfer of melanocytes from melanocytes to keratinocytes, and forms upstream downstream synergy with the receptor antagonism mechanism of Hexapeptide-2.

Combined with oligopeptide-34: Oligopeptide-34 downregulates the expression of TRP-1, TRP-2, MITF, and tyrosinase at the gene level, while hexapeptide-2 blocks the α - MSH signal at the receptor level. The two synergistically inhibit the melanin synthesis pathway from different targets.

Combined with nonapeptide-1: nonapeptide-1 acts as an MSH receptor antagonist, complementing the alpha MSH competitive antagonism mechanism of hexapeptide-2 to enhance the whitening effect.

Compound with hyaluronic acid: Hexapeptide-2 is responsible for whitening and skin conditioning, while hyaluronic acid provides instant moisturizing and filling, both internally and externally.

Compatibility and process suggestions: Hexapeptide-2 is slightly soluble in water, and it is recommended to choose a suitable solvent system according to the formula requirements. It is recommended to add it at the post formulation stage and under low temperature conditions to preserve its biological activity to the greatest extent possible. It is recommended to refer to the supplier's technical documentation for the pH range.

Safety compliance: Hexapeptide-2 is a pure synthetic hexapeptide, not of animal origin, with high safety and minimal side effects. It has been included in China's "Catalogue of Used Cosmetic Ingredients" (IECIC), meets domestic cosmetic regulatory requirements, and can be legally added.

5、 Application Fields and Market Supply

Hexapeptide-2, as a classic alpha MSH competitive antagonist whitening peptide, has a wide range of applications in the whitening and skincare market.

Research and development background: Hexapeptide-2 was initially developed as a growth hormone releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6), a synthetic met enkephalin analogue containing non natural D-amino acids that stimulates pituitary release of growth hormone by binding to the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). Later research found that due to its structural similarity with alpha MSH, hexapeptide-2 can act as a competitive antagonist of alpha MSH, blocking alpha MSH receptors on melanocytes and inhibiting melanin synthesis. This discovery has given it important applications in the field of cosmetic whitening, as demonstrated by Ashland (formerly ISP) under the name Dermostatyl ™ Promote the brand to the market.

Product positioning: Hexapeptide-2 is an alpha MSH competitive antagonistic whitening peptide that simulates the alpha MSH structure to occupy melanocyte receptor sites, blocking the melanin synthesis pathway at the signaling level and achieving safe and effective whitening effects.

Research on GHRP-6 in the field of medicine: It is worth noting that GHRP-6 also has independent application value in the field of medical research. Research has shown that GHRP-6 has the potential to prevent hypertrophic scars in the skin, and its anti fibrotic effects involve multiple pathways such as lipid metabolism, cytoskeleton rearrangement, epidermal cell differentiation, and extracellular matrix dynamics. In addition, GHRP-6 also has cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects, but these belong to the field of pharmaceutical research and are not related to cosmetic applications.

Market prospects: The global whitening and skincare market continues to grow, and consumers have a strong demand for safe and efficient whitening ingredients. As a classic α - MSH competitive antagonist, hexapeptide-2, with its unique mechanism of blocking the melanin synthesis pathway at the receptor level, has a stable application position in the market segments such as whitening essence, spot lightening products, and even skin products. Its synergistic solution with whitening ingredients such as nicotinamide, vitamin C, and oligopeptide-34 has become one of the mainstream whitening solutions in the industry.