Pair page
AHK-Cu with Pal-AHK
Mechanism-tag overlap and published literature for AHK-Cu and Pal-AHK, pulled verbatim from each Kalios compound profile. Kalios is a literature reference, not a recommendation.
Mechanism overlap
Mechanism tags are verbatim labels on each compound's profile. Generic tags ("peptide", "small-molecule", "research-chemical") are excluded from this overlap view. Tags are descriptive — not an inference about combined effect.
copper-tripeptidecosmetic-peptidehair
cosmetic-hair-skin-tripeptidelipidated
Co-administration notes from the literature
Verbatim summary text pulled from each compound's profile data. Researchers studying AHK-Cu and Pal-AHK have published these mechanism-level observations. Not a co-administration recommendation.
The copper-bound parent compound. Some formulators include both AHK-Cu (for the documented copper-peptide bioactivity) and Pal-AHK (for the proposed sustained release as the palmitoyl ester is hydrolyzed in viable epidermis) in the same scalp serum. The Pyo 2007 hair-follicle data is for AHK-Cu, and from an evidence-base standpoint the copper-bound form is the better-supported of the two.
Quick facts
AHK-Cu
Pal-AHK
Literature table
Classified references from each compound profile. Click a column header to sort. Click a PMID to open PubMed. Findings are quoted verbatim from each profile's literature_summary; nothing here is added or interpreted.
| Year | Compound | Source | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | AHK-Cu | Dhurat R, Sukesh M, Avhad G, Dandale A, Pal A, Pund P. A Randomized Evaluator Blinded Study of Effect of Microneedling in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot Study. Int J Trichology. 2013;5(1):6-11. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.114700. PMID: 23960389. (Microneedling + minoxidil RCT — the pr… PMID 23960389 | human trial |
| 1998 | AHK-Cu | Lachgar S, Charveron M, Gall Y, Bonafe JL. Minoxidil upregulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human hair dermal papilla cells. Br J Dermatol. 1998;138(3):407-411. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.1998.02115.x. PMID: 9580790. (Clinically validated positive-contr… PMID 9580790 | human study |
| 2001 | AHK-Cu | Yano K, Brown LF, Detmar M. Control of hair growth and follicle size by VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. J Clin Invest. 2001;107(4):409-417. doi:10.1172/JCI11317. PMID: 11181640. (Transgenic VEGF overexpression increases perifollicular vascularization, accelerates hair regrowth, and… PMID 11181640 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 2007 | AHK-Cu | Pyo HK, Yoo HG, Won CH, Lee SH, Kang YJ, Eun HC, Cho KH, Kim KH. The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro. Arch Pharm Res. 2007;30(7):834-839. doi:10.1007/BF02978833. PMID: 17703734. (The foundational AHK-Cu in-vitro / ex-vivo paper — dermal papilla… PMID 17703734 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 1988 | AHK-Cu | Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Lett. 1988;238(2):343-346. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(88)80509-x. PMID: 3169264. (Found… PMID 3169264 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2018 | AHK-Cu | Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. doi:10.3390/ijms19071987. PMID: 29986520. (Comprehensive review of copper-peptide gene-expression effects — scaffold for AHK-Cu me… PMID 29986520 | review |
| 2008 | AHK-Cu | Pickart L. The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed. 2008;19(8):969-988. doi:10.1163/156856208784909435. PMID: 18644225. (Authoritative Pickart review of the copper-peptide tissue-remodeling framework.) PMID 18644225 | review |
| 2015 | AHK-Cu | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. doi:10.1155/2015/648108. PMID: 26236730. (Multi-pathway copper-peptide mechanism review — foundational context for… PMID 26236730 | research article |
| 2012 | AHK-Cu | Li W, Man XY, Li CM, Chen JQ, Zhou J, Cai SQ, Lu ZF, Zheng M. VEGF induces proliferation of human hair follicle dermal papilla cells through VEGFR-2-mediated activation of ERK. Exp Cell Res. 2012;318(14):1633-1640. doi:10.1016/j.yexcr.2012.05.003. PMID: 22659165. (Downstream VEG… PMID 22659165 | research article |
| 2012 | AHK-Cu | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. The human tripeptide GHK-Cu in prevention of oxidative stress and degenerative conditions of aging: implications for cognitive health. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2012;2012:324832. doi:10.1155/2012/324832. PMID: 22666519. (Copper-peptide agi… PMID 22666519 | research article |
| 2000 | AHK-Cu | Siméon A, Wegrowski Y, Bontemps Y, Maquart FX. Expression of glycosaminoglycans and small proteoglycans in wounds: modulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+). J Invest Dermatol. 2000;115(6):962-968. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1747.2000.00166.x. PMID: 1… PMID 11121126 | research article |
| 1999 | AHK-Cu | Simeon A, Monier F, Emonard H, Gillery P, Birembaut P, Hornebeck W, Maquart FX. Expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinases in wounds: modulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+). J Invest Dermatol. 1999;112(6):957-964. doi:10.1046/j.… PMID 10383745 | research article |
| 2005 | Pal-AHK | Robinson LR, Fitzgerald NC, Doughty DG, Dawes NC, Berge CA, Bissett DL. Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2005;27(3):155-160. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2494.2005.00261.x. PMID: 18492182. (12-week double-blind placebo-c… PMID 18492182 | human trial |
| 2014 | Pal-AHK | Choi YL, Park EJ, Kim E, Na DH, Shin YH. Dermal Stability and In Vitro Skin Permeation of Collagen Pentapeptides (KTTKS and palmitoyl-KTTKS). Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2014;22(4):321-327. doi:10.4062/biomolther.2014.053. PMID: 25143811. (Confirms that palmitoylation increases skin pe… PMID 25143811 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2020 | Pal-AHK | Errante F, Ledwoń P, Latajka R, Rovero P, Papini AM. Cosmeceutical Peptides in the Framework of Sustainable Wellness Economy. Front Chem. 2020;8:572923. doi:10.3389/fchem.2020.572923. (Modern review of cosmeceutical peptides including the GHK / AHK family in the context of cosme… | review |
| 2020 | Pal-AHK | Ferreira MS, Magalhães MC, Sousa-Lobo JM, Almeida IF. Trending Anti-Aging Peptides. Cosmetics. 2020;7(4):91. doi:10.3390/cosmetics7040091. (Open-access review of the cosmetic peptide field; catalogues the palmitoyl tripeptide family on INCI lists of marketed products.) | review |
| 2018 | Pal-AHK | Lima TN, Moraes CAP. Bioactive Peptides: Applications and Relevance for Cosmeceuticals. Cosmetics. 2018;5(1):21. doi:10.3390/cosmetics5010021. (Open-access review of bioactive peptides in cosmeceutical applications; covers signal-peptide, carrier-peptide, and neurotransmitter-af… | review |
| 2016 | Pal-AHK | Aldag C, Nogueira Teixeira D, Leventhal PS. Skin rejuvenation using cosmetic products containing growth factors, cytokines, and matrikines: a review of the literature. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016;9:411-419. doi:10.2147/CCID.S116158. PMID: 27877059. (Cosmetic-dermatology… PMID 27877059 | review |
| 2009 | Pal-AHK | Gorouhi F, Maibach HI. Role of topical peptides in preventing or treating aged skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2009;31(5):327-345. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2494.2009.00490.x. PMID: 19570099. (Foundational review of topical peptides in aging-skin applications; covers GHK-Cu, pal-KTTKS, palmito… PMID 19570099 | review |
| 2008 | Pal-AHK | Pickart L. The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed. 2008;19(8):969-988. doi:10.1163/156856208784909435. PMID: 18047928. (Comprehensive review of the GHK / GHK-Cu literature including wound healing, hair-transplant survival, and gene-expression ef… PMID 18047928 | review |
| 2021 | Pal-AHK | Resende DISP, Ferreira MS, Sousa-Lobo JM, Sousa E, Almeida IF. Usage of Synthetic Peptides in Cosmetics for Sensitive Skin. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021;14(8):702. doi:10.3390/ph14080702. PMID: 34451799. (Analysis of 88 facial cosmetics for sensitive skin, showing that palmitoy… PMID 34451799 | research article |
| 2007 | Pal-AHK | Lupo MP, Cole AL. Cosmeceutical peptides. Dermatol Ther. 2007;20(5):343-349. doi:10.1111/j.1529-8019.2007.00148.x. PMID: 18045359. (Categorizes cosmetic peptides into signal, neurotransmitter-affecting, and carrier classes. Frames the rationale for palmitoylation as a delivery s… PMID 18045359 | research article |
| 1973 | Pal-AHK | Pickart L, Thaler MM. A synthetic tripeptide which increases survival of normal liver cells, and stimulates growth in hepatoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1973;54(2):562-566. doi:10.1016/0006-291x(73)91459-9. PMID: 4356974. (The original Pickart hepatocyte tripeptide pape… PMID 4356974 | research article |
Related pair pages
More research context
Frequently asked
Have AHK-Cu and Pal-AHK been studied together?
Researchers have published mechanistic-level co-administration discussion of AHK-Cu and Pal-AHK. No human co-administration trials are catalogued in the Kalios profiles. The pair page lists each compound's classified literature; full citations sit on each individual profile.
What mechanisms do AHK-Cu and Pal-AHK share?
AHK-Cu and Pal-AHK do not share a specific mechanism tag on their Kalios profiles. They appear on the same pair page because at least one profile lists the other in its co-administration data.
What is the FDA status of AHK-Cu and Pal-AHK?
AHK-Cu: Cosmetic ingredient. Pal-AHK: Cosmetic ingredient. FDA-status text is pulled verbatim from each compound profile. See /fda-pcac-2026.html for the broader FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee context.
Where can I find the full research on AHK-Cu and Pal-AHK?
Full citation lists, dosing tables from the literature, reconstitution data, and the FDA / WADA status are on the individual compound profiles: the AHK-Cu profile and the Pal-AHK profile. The Kalios Stack Research Tool hub lists every compound covered.
Last updated: April 2026