At a glance
What is it—and why does it matter?
The tanning response had a time course with a peak at 1 week post-administration and persistence for 3 weeks after completion of the ten-dose regimen. The fraction of dose excreted in urine was reported as 3.9% or less.
Sources for this introduction: [1] [2]
This published profile is a reference in progress. Findings retain their source context; missing topics are marked below.
What is it?
A molecule, not a product name.
Identity
Melanotan I is identified as NDP-MSH in this source.
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Evidence boundary: Applies only to the source-defined population, formulation, dose, and assessment period.
Exact passages, locators, and provenance
- supports · Source-backed record
“Synthetic derivatives of the endogenous agonist ligand α-MSH have evolved into a suite of powerful ligands such as NDP-MSH (melanotan I), melanotan II (MTII), and SHU9119.”
Recommended Tool Compounds for the Melanocortin Receptor (MCR) G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). · Abstract
pubmed:39296259:a540f6dc87e8:a540f6dc87e8
Identity
Melanotan-I (MT-I) is described as a synthetic melanotropic peptide with the sequence designation [Nle4-D-Phe7]-alpha-MSHi-13.
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Evidence boundary: Applies only to the source-defined population, formulation, dose, and assessment period.
Exact passages, locators, and provenance
- supports · Source-backed record
“A comparative pharmacokinetic trial was performed with a superpotent synthetic melanotropic peptide, [Nle4-D-Phe7]-alpha-MSHi-13 (melanotan-I or MT-I) given by three routes of administration.”
Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans. · Abstract
pubmed:9113347:5d58fcf0273d:5d58fcf0273d
Identity
Melanotan I is described as a linear peptidergic analog within the melanocortin hormone family, referred to as MTI.
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Evidence boundary: Applies only to the source-defined population, formulation, dose, and assessment period.
Exact passages, locators, and provenance
- supports · Source-backed record
“Two of these analogs, a linear peptide, melanotan I, and a cyclic truncated peptide, melanotan II (MTI and MTII, respectively)”
Melanocortin peptide therapeutics: historical milestones, clinical studies and commercialization. · Abstract
pubmed:16412534:68d795be6f84:68d795be6f84
How does it work?
Target, response, and disposition.
Pharmacokinetics
Following oral (PO) administration in this trial, systemic drug levels were not detectable.
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Evidence boundary: Applies only to the source-defined population, formulation, dose, and assessment period.
Exact passages, locators, and provenance
- supports · Source-backed record
“No detectable drug levels were observed following PO dosing.”
Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans. · Abstract
pubmed:9113347:5d58fcf0273d:5d58fcf0273d
Pharmacokinetics
The fraction of dose excreted in urine was reported as 3.9% or less.
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Evidence boundary: Applies only to the source-defined population, formulation, dose, and assessment period.
Exact passages, locators, and provenance
- supports · Source-backed record
“and 3.9% or less of the dose was recovered in the urine.”
Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans. · Abstract
pubmed:9113347:5d58fcf0273d:5d58fcf0273d
Pharmacokinetics
In this trial, systemic clearance values for melanotan-I were reported in the range 0.12 to 0.19 L kg-1 h-1.
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Evidence boundary: Applies only to the source-defined population, formulation, dose, and assessment period.
Exact passages, locators, and provenance
- supports · Source-backed record
“Clearance ranged from 0.12 to 0.19 L kg-1 h-1”
Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans. · Abstract
pubmed:9113347:5d58fcf0273d:5d58fcf0273d
Pharmacokinetics
SC administration produced a biexponential plasma profile with half-lives spanning 0.07 to 0.79 h during absorption and 0.8 to 1.7 h during the beta-phase.
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Evidence boundary: Applies only to the source-defined population, formulation, dose, and assessment period.
Exact passages, locators, and provenance
- supports · Source-backed record
“The plasma half-lives following SC dosing ranged from 0.07 to 0.79 h for the absorption phase and from 0.8 to 1.7 h for the beta-phase.”
Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans. · Abstract
pubmed:9113347:5d58fcf0273d:5d58fcf0273d
What has been studied?
What the evidence says.
Study findings
Following IV or SC administration, the study observed significant tanning in specific body sites (forehead, arms, neck).
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Evidence boundary: Applies only to the source-defined population, formulation, dose, and assessment period.
Exact passages, locators, and provenance
- supports · Source-backed record
“Significant tanning of the forehead, arms, and neck was noted following IV or SC dosing.”
Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans. · Abstract
pubmed:9113347:5d58fcf0273d:5d58fcf0273d
Study findings
The tanning response had a time course with a peak at 1 week post-administration and persistence for 3 weeks after completion of the ten-dose regimen.
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Evidence boundary: Applies only to the source-defined population, formulation, dose, and assessment period.
Exact passages, locators, and provenance
- supports · Source-backed record
“This effect peaked at 1 week following drug administration but was still present 3 weeks after completing the ten-dose regimen.”
Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans. · Abstract
pubmed:9113347:5d58fcf0273d:5d58fcf0273d
Risks and interactions
Risks, organized for scanning.
This profile does not yet contain a published summary for this topic. This is a coverage gap, not evidence that no research exists.
Products and regulatory status
Same ingredient. Different records.
This profile does not yet contain a published summary for this topic. This is a coverage gap, not evidence that no research exists.
Administration context
The practical clinical context.
This profile does not yet contain a published summary for this topic. This is a coverage gap, not evidence that no research exists.
Additional research & classification gaps
4 archived statements are kept separate from drug-effect findings. Media studies, economic models, methods, and records with unresolved scope are not used as medical-effect evidence.
Inspect contextual research (4)
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Use of melanotan I is reported as primarily intended to stimulate tanning (a pigmentation-related effect).
Research context only—not evidence of a treatment effect.
- Risks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues: a review.
These analogues are primarily used for their tan-stimulating effects.
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Melanotan I is categorized as an analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), i.e., a synthetic compound related to α-MSH.
Research context only—not evidence of a treatment effect.
- Risks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues: a review.
Recently, the unregulated use of untested synthetic alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) analogues, commonly known as melanotan I and II, appears to have increased.
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Melanotan-I is described as an analogue of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH).
Research context only—not evidence of a treatment effect.
- A glimpse into the underground market of melanotan.
Melanotan-I and melanotan-II are alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (a-MSH) analogues
1 cited source · Study independence not established
How to read this evidence
Sources and study IDs describe provenance, not clinical strength. Several articles can report the same study; one study can support several distinct findings. No clinical strength rating has been assigned here.
1 cited passage across 1 source record. 1 publication group(s) lack a resolved study identity.
Melanotan I is stated to promote melanogenesis and raise eumelanin content, resulting in sunless tanning.
Research context only—not evidence of a treatment effect.
- Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis.
Melanotan I increases melanogenesis and eumelanin content to produce sunless tanning.
Research status + gaps
What still needs better answers?
- No publishable claim yet for: administration, contraindication, interaction, regulatory, safety
- 26 compiled claim(s) withheld by automated assurance: assurance_score_below_0.58 (9), assurance_score_below_0.72 (11), current_regulatory_source_required (7), extraction_ambiguity (30), high_risk_requires_regulatory_or_two_independent_sources (16), no_direct_support (20)
These are the limits of this profile, not an exhaustive list of scientific uncertainties.
References + discovery
Open the records yourself.
- Melanocortin peptide therapeutics: historical milestones, clinical studies and commercialization. ↗
pubmed · published 2006-04-01 · retrieved 2026-09-09T22:22:31Z
- Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis. ↗
pubmed · published 2012-12-01 · retrieved 2026-09-08T21:51:05Z
- Risks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues: a review. ↗
pubmed · published 2017-10-01 · retrieved 2026-09-09T22:22:30Z
- A glimpse into the underground market of melanotan. ↗
pubmed · published 2018-05-15 · retrieved 2026-09-09T22:22:32Z
- Recommended Tool Compounds for the Melanocortin Receptor (MCR) G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). ↗
pubmed · published 2024-09-13 · retrieved 2026-09-09T22:22:30Z
- Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans. ↗
pubmed · published 1997-04-01 · retrieved 2026-09-08T21:51:06Z
Publication history and provenance
Version 2 · Automated assessment · 2026-09-09T22:22:32Z
d7a6e54d81c36e9e0275a5aeeba6a7792dc7ca275b42bff8e3229c422e0ddf61