Pair page
GHK-Cu with Pal-GHK
Mechanism-tag overlap and published literature for GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK, 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.
connective-tissuecopper-tripeptide-skin
cosmetic-peptidepalmitoylated-copper-peptide-analog
Co-administration notes from the literature
Verbatim summary text pulled from each compound's profile data. Researchers studying GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK have published these mechanism-level observations. Not a co-administration recommendation.
The parent copper-peptide of the GHK family. GHK-Cu is used both topically (in formulations that specifically tolerate the copper-bound form) and systemically (SubQ injection). Pal-GHK and GHK-Cu are often positioned as complementary — Pal-GHK for lipid-bilayer delivery and signaling precursor activity, GHK-Cu for direct copper-peptide signaling with established copper coordination.
Quick facts
GHK-Cu
Pal-GHK
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | GHK-Cu | Buffoni F, Pino R, Dal Pozzo A. Effect of tripeptide-copper complexes on the process of healing of cutaneous wounds in mice. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1995;330(3):345-360. PMID: 9060874. PMID 9060874 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 1993 | GHK-Cu | Maquart FX, Bellon G, Chaqour B, Wegrowski J, Patt LM, Trachy RE, et al. In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu²⁺ in rat experimental wounds. J Clin Invest. 1993;92(5):2368-2376. PMID: 8227353. PMID 8227353 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 2011 | GHK-Cu | Hostynek JJ, Dreher F, Maibach HI. Human skin penetration of a copper tripeptide in vitro as a function of skin layer. Inflamm Res. 2011;60(1):79-86. PMID: 20835751. PMID 20835751 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2007 | GHK-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. PMID: 17702486. PMID 17702486 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 1988 | GHK-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. PMID: 3169264. PMID 3169264 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2017 | GHK-Cu | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. The Effect of the Human Peptide GHK on Gene Expression Relevant to Nervous System Function and Cognitive Decline. Brain Sci. 2017;7(2):20. PMID: 28212278. PMID 28212278 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2012 | GHK-Cu | Campbell JD, McDonough JE, Zeskind JE, Hackett TL, Pechkovsky DV, Brandsma CA, et al. A gene expression signature of emphysema-related lung destruction and its reversal by the tripeptide GHK. Genome Med. 2012;4(8):67. PMID: 22937864. PMID 22937864 | mechanism / discovery |
| 1973 | GHK-Cu | Pickart L, Thaler MM. Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells and stimulates growth in neoplastic liver. Nat New Biol. 1973;243(124):85-87. PMID: 4351857. (Original discovery publication.) PMID 4351857 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2026 | GHK-Cu | WADA Prohibited List 2026. World Anti-Doping Agency. wada-ama.org. | regulatory / registry |
| 2025 | GHK-Cu | FDA. Bulk Drug Substances That Raise Significant Safety Risks (Category 2) Under Section 503A / 503B. FDA.gov. Updated 2025-2026. | regulatory / registry |
| 2018 | GHK-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. PMID: 29986520. doi:10.3390/ijms19071987. (Comprehensive modern review.) PMID 29986520 | research article |
| 2015 | GHK-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. PMID: 26236730. PMID 26236730 | research article |
| 2005 | Pal-GHK | Robinson LR, Fitzgerald NC, Doughty DG, Dawes NC, Berge CA, Bissett DL. Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2005;27(3):155-160. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2494.2005.00261.x. PMID: 18492182. (Found… PMID 18492182 | human trial |
| 1998 | Pal-GHK | Abdulghani AA, Sherr A, Shirin S, Solodkina G, Tapia EM, Wolf B, Gottlieb AB. Effects of topical creams containing vitamin C, a copper-binding peptide cream, and melatonin compared with tretinoin on the ultrastructure of normal skin: a pilot clinical, histologic, and ultrastruct… | human pilot |
| 1988 | Pal-GHK | 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 Letters. 1988;238(2):343-346. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(88)80509-x. PMID: 3138181. (Th… PMID 3138181 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2017 | Pal-GHK | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. The Effect of the Human Peptide GHK on Gene Expression Relevant to Nervous System Function and Cognitive Decline. Brain Sciences. 2017;7(2):20. doi:10.3390/brainsci7020020. PMID: 28241430. (Extension of GHK transcriptomic effects; rele… PMID 28241430 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2018 | Pal-GHK | Pickart L, Margolina A. Skin Regenerative and Anti-Cancer Actions of Copper Peptides. Cosmetics. 2018;5(2):29. doi:10.3390/cosmetics5020029. (Contemporary MDPI Cosmetics review of copper-peptide skin biology applicable to the Pal-GHK-in-situ-GHK-Cu formation hypothesis.) | review |
| 2008 | Pal-GHK | Pickart L. The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition. 2008;19(8):969-988. doi:10.1163/156856208784909435. PMID: 18644225. (Foundational review of the parent tripeptide GHK, its tissue-remodeling biology, and the copper-coor… PMID 18644225 | review |
| 2005 | Pal-GHK | Finkley MB, Appa Y, Bhandarkar S. Copper peptide and skin. Cosmeceuticals and Active Cosmetics: Drugs vs. Cosmetics. Marcel Dekker, New York; 2005:549–563. (Classical cosmetic-dermatology chapter summarizing GHK-Cu-containing facial cream clinical data — the cream data most ofte… | review |
| 2003 | Pal-GHK | Sederma (Croda International). Matrixyl 3000 technical dossier and product information sheets. Sederma, Le Perray-en-Yvelines, France. 2003–2024. (Manufacturer's technical documentation for the Pal-GHK + Pal-GQPR combination active — the primary source for recommended use levels… | industry documentation |
| 2002 | Pal-GHK | Mas-Chamberlin C, Lintner K, Basset L, Adhoute H, Revuz J. Relevance of antiwrinkle treatment of a peptide: 4 months clinical double blind study vs excipient. Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie. 2002;129(1S):456. Proceedings, 20th World Congress of Dermatology, Paris. (E… | industry documentation |
| 2000 | Pal-GHK | Lintner K, Peschard O. Biologically active peptides: from a laboratory bench curiosity to a functional skin care product. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2000;22(3):207-218. doi:10.1046/j.1467-2494.2000.00010.x. (Sederma researcher review of the palmitoyl-peptide lipi… | industry documentation |
| 2014 | Pal-GHK | Ricard-Blum S, Salza R. Matricryptins and matrikines: biologically active fragments of the extracellular matrix. Experimental Dermatology. 2014;23(7):457-463. doi:10.1111/exd.12435. PMID: 24815015. (Modern framework paper defining the matrikine / matricryptin class to which GHK… PMID 24815015 | research article |
| 2012 | Pal-GHK | 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. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2012;2012:324832. PMID: 22666519. (Mechanistic foundation… PMID 22666519 | research article |
Related pair pages
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Frequently asked
Have GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK been studied together?
Researchers have published mechanistic-level co-administration discussion of GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK. 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 GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK share?
GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK 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 GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK?
GHK-Cu: Cosmetic ingredient; Category 2 for injection. Pal-GHK: 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 GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK?
Full citation lists, dosing tables from the literature, reconstitution data, and the FDA / WADA status are on the individual compound profiles: the GHK-Cu profile and the Pal-GHK profile. The Kalios Stack Research Tool hub lists every compound covered.
Last updated: April 2026