Melanotan II
Also referred to as: MT-II, MT-2
A lab-made peptide that acts on the body's melanocortin system, studied for skin pigment (tanning) and related effects.
In plain terms: Melanotan II is a lab-made peptide that switches on the body's pigment system, which is why it is studied around tanning. It also touches appetite and other systems. It is not approved, and it has a notable side-effect profile worth understanding.
- Name
- Melanotan II
- Aliases
- MT-II, MT-2
- Classification
- Melanocortin receptor agonist (peptide)
- Areas studied
- Skin pigment, Melanocortin system, Appetite (studied)
What it is
Melanotan II is a lab-made peptide that mimics α-MSH, a natural hormone that controls skin pigment. It is studied mainly for darkening skin pigment, and because the melanocortin system it acts on is broad, it also touches appetite and other functions.
It is not an approved drug. It is widely discussed but carries real safety questions.
Mechanism
Melanotan II plugs into several melanocortin docking points (receptors) at once. Acting on one type (MC1R) increases the skin pigment melanin; acting on others (like MC4R) is linked to appetite and sexual function. Because it hits several at once, its effects are broad.
These effects are characterized in animals and some human research.
Areas studied & investigated
The categories below summarize where Melanotan II appears in the research literature. They describe what the compound is studied for and investigated in — not approved uses, and not guidance for any kind of use.
Skin pigment
Studied for increasing melanin, the pigment that darkens skin.
Melanocortin system
Acts broadly across several melanocortin docking points.
Appetite (studied)
Linked to appetite effects through the MC4R pathway in research.
Related compounds
The parent of PT-141, which was developed from melanotan research.
Research history
Melanotan II was developed in research at the University of Arizona into melanocortin peptides and skin pigment. It later became widely discussed outside research settings, raising safety concerns.
State of the literature
Melanotan II has a research record but is not an approved drug, and health authorities have warned about unregulated use. Safety is not established.
What to keep in mind
Melanotan II is one to be especially careful with: it is unapproved, health authorities have issued warnings about it, and because it acts on many systems at once its effects are hard to predict. Reports include changes to moles and other concerns. The fact that it is widely sold does not make it well-understood or safe. Read the research and the warnings together.
Research tools
Evaluating a Melanotan II batch for laboratory research? These free, research-use-only calculators help you work the numbers and read the paperwork: the reconstitution calculator solves vial concentration and draw volume, and the COA reader walks a certificate line by line. For how much and how often Melanotan II is commonly used, see the dosing guides.
Batch-tested with published COAs
See what a published COA looks like
Midwest Compounds does not currently list Melanotan II. Every compound it does sell is tested by an independent lab, with a batch-linked certificate of analysis you can check before you buy.
Citations
The summary above is drawn from published, peer-reviewed sources. Links open the abstract on PubMed, or the free full text on PubMed Central (PMC) where marked.
- Dorr RT, et al. Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study. Life Sciences, 1996. Abstract
- Hjuler KF, Lorentzen HF. Melanoma associated with the use of melanotan-II. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2014. Abstract