Humanin
Also known as: HN, MT-RNR2-derived peptide
Humanin (also called HN or MT-RNR2-derived peptide) is a mitochondrial-derived peptide in the Mitochondrial Peptide class. Humanin is a 24-amino-acid peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene, one of the first described mitochondrial-derived peptides. It acts through two routes.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 330276-69-8
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 2687.3 g/mol
- Half-life
- ~2-4 hours
- FDA status
- Not Approved
- Evidence level
- Insufficient Evidence
- Human dose established
- No
- Administration Route
- Not established in humans
- Frequency
- Not established in humans
- Last updated
- Sep 6, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
- Targets
- FPRL1IGFBP-3Bax (indirect)
Vendor price snapshot
Each vendor counts once, at the median price per mg of its own listings; the typical range is the middle half of vendors. From public vendor listings collected in Dec 2025, so confirm the live price on the vendor site. Peptide Library does not sell peptides.
- Vendors listing this peptide
- 4
- Listed offers
- 4
- Median price per mg
- $13.35/mg
- Typical $10.25–$26.15/mg
Research summary
A 24-amino-acid peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene and one of the first mitochondrial-derived peptides described. It has been studied for cytoprotective signalling, particularly resistance to apoptosis and to oxidative and amyloid stress, and for effects on insulin sensitivity. Circulating concentrations decline with age, which drives much of the interest in it. Research use only, with no human interventional trials and no FDA-approved use.
Peptide Library's Humanin profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
Humanin dosage: no established human dose
Humanin has no established human dosage. No interventional trial has administered humanin to people, and none is registered. Humanin appears in human studies only as something measured — a circulating marker that rises with exercise and varies with age and disease — not as something given. The in vivo dosing that does exist is in rodents, and almost all of it uses a potency-enhanced analogue such as HNG or S14G-humanin rather than the native 24-amino-acid peptide.
No established human dosage.
Human clinical evidence: None identified.
Preclinical research: Humanin is encoded within the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and was among the first mitochondrial-derived peptides described. Its literature runs to roughly 400 indexed papers, but it divides into two halves that are easy to conflate. One half is human observational work in which endogenous humanin is measured — it rises after acute endurance exercise and after resistance training, falls with age, and tracks cardiovascular risk in dialysis patients. The other half is preclinical work in which a humanin analogue is administered to animals or cells. Neither half establishes a dose: the first never gives the peptide, and the second almost never gives the native peptide. Animal dosing is not converted into a human equivalent anywhere on this page.
Animal dosing is not converted into a human dose anywhere on this page. Where research figures appear below, they are reported as studied, not recommended.
| Human dosing established | No |
|---|---|
| Route | Not established in humans |
| Evidence level | Insufficient Evidence |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-05 |
Preclinical and analog research
Not human dosing evidence. Listed for completeness and never extrapolated to a human dose.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preclinical — HNG in a D-galactose model of primary ovarian insufficiencyPreclinical · Preclinical rodent model of a humanin analogue, not of native humaninStudied an analog, not Humanin itself | Mice | 10 mg/kg of [Gly14]-humanin (HNG) was the effective dose among the concentrations tested | Intraperitoneal | Per protocol alongside 6 weeks of D-galactose exposure | 6 weeks | Improved ovarian morphology and oestrous cycle, more follicles and litters, higher oestrogen and AMH, reduced oxidative stress and granulosa cell apoptosis | [Gly14]-humanin exerts a protective effect against D-galactose-induced primary ovarian insufficiency in mice. Reprod Biomed Online. 2024. |
| Preclinical — HNG in cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian insufficiencyPreclinical · Preclinical rodent model of a humanin analogue, not of native humaninStudied an analog, not Humanin itself | Female rats, plus the human COV434 granulosa cell line in vitro | Not stated in the report; given as an intraperitoneal injection of the analogue [Gly14]-humanin | Intraperitoneal | — | — | Restored oestrous cycle and sex hormone concentrations, reduced follicular depletion and apoptosis | Ameliorative effects of Gly[14]-humanin on cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian insufficiency and underlying mechanisms. Reprod Biomed Online. 2025. |
| Preclinical — S14G-humanin and diazepam-induced memory deficitPreclinical · Preclinical behavioural study of a humanin analogue, not of native humaninStudied an analog, not Humanin itself | Mice | Not stated in the report; given as an intraperitoneal injection of the analogue S14G-humanin | Intraperitoneal | — | — | Reversed the diazepam-induced deficit in object recognition, with no change in anxiety markers or locomotor activity | Humanin ameliorates diazepam-induced memory deficit in mice. Neuropeptides. 2017. |
Where sources disagree
- Humanin is sold with subcutaneous protocols, commonly in the range of a few milligrams weekly. No human study has administered humanin by any route, and no primary source for those figures could be identified.
- Nearly all the in vivo evidence attributed to humanin was generated with HNG ([Gly14]-humanin) or S14G-humanin, engineered analogues selected for far greater potency than the native peptide. Results obtained with those compounds are not evidence for a dose of native humanin, which is what is sold.
- The human studies that appear in a literature search for humanin measure it as a biomarker of exercise, ageing or disease. That endogenous humanin rises after training is not evidence that injecting humanin reproduces the effects of training, and the exercise studies are frequently cited as though it were.
Reconstitution
Common research vial sizes: 5 mg, 10 mg.
| Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration | Per 0.01 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 25 mcg per 0.01 mL |
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 50 mcg per 0.01 mL |
These figures are arithmetic only — they convert a vial and a volume into a concentration. They are not a recommendation to take any dose.
Calculate reconstitution & dose →Handling & administration
- Reconstitution Guide
- 3 mL BAC for 5 mg vial
- Injection Sites
- AbdomenThigh
- Concentration Example
- 5 mg / 3 mL = ~1.67 mg/mL
- Timing Notes
- AM or pre-bed
- Expected Onset
- 1-2 weeks
How to reconstitute Humanin
- Check the vial size and diluent volume. The profile example for Humanin is: 3 mL BAC for 5 mg vial.
- Swab both vial stoppers and draw the bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
- Add the water slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial so it does not jet onto the powder, then swirl gently until the solution is clear. Do not shake.
- Record the resulting concentration: 5 mg / 3 mL = ~1.67 mg/mL.
- Label the vial with the date and concentration, refrigerate it (see Storage & stability below), and use the calculator preset to convert a dose in mcg into syringe units.
Sequence & molecular data
| Amino acid sequence | Met-Ala-Pro-Arg-Gly-Phe-Ser-Cys-Leu-Leu-Leu-Leu-Thr-Ser-Glu-Ile-Asp-Leu-Pro-Val-Lys-Arg-Arg-Ala |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C119H204N34O32S2 |
| Molecular weight | 2687.3 g/mol |
| CAS number | 330276-69-8 |
| Half-life | ~2-4 hours |
| Appearance | White lyophilized powder |
| Formulation | Lyophilized Powder |
| PubChem CID | 16131438 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL4447799 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Humanin is a 24-amino-acid peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene, one of the first described mitochondrial-derived peptides. It acts through two routes. Intracellularly it binds Bax and prevents its translocation to the mitochondrial membrane, blocking a key step in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, and it interacts with IGFBP-3. Extracellularly it is secreted and binds a receptor complex comprising CNTFR, WSX-1 and gp130, and also the formyl peptide receptor FPRL1, activating STAT3 signalling. Reported effects in models include cytoprotection against oxidative and amyloid stress and improved insulin sensitivity. Circulating concentrations decline with age. Human interventional data does not exist.
Origin
Mitochondrial-derived peptide.
Targets
Studies
- Humanin and Its Pathophysiological Roles in Aging: A Systematic Review
- Neuroprotective Action of Humanin and Humanin Analogues: Research Findings and Perspectives
- Humanin and Alzheimer's disease: The beginning of a new field
- Cardio-protective role of Humanin in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion
- The role of humanin in the regulation of reproduction
Regulatory & research status
Humanin is not an FDA-approved product. It is sold for laboratory research and has no approved medical use.
| FDA status | Not Approved |
|---|---|
| Availability | Research-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Unknown / Not Listed |
| Library classification | Research-Only |
Benefits
Humanin side effects
Humanin has no controlled human safety data. The effects below are reported, not established, and absence from the list is not evidence of safety.
Side Effects
- Unknown human therapeutic window
Contraindications
- Cancer history
Stacking
Common stacking partners
Combinations that include Humanin, with the proposed rationale, an evidence grade and what is not established, are catalogued in the peptide stacks directory.
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
Humanin: frequently asked questions
What is Humanin?
A 24-amino-acid peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene and one of the first mitochondrial-derived peptides described. It has been studied for cytoprotective signalling, particularly resistance to apoptosis and to oxidative and amyloid stress, and for effects on insulin sensitivity. Circulating concentrations decline with age, which drives much of the interest in it. Research use only, with no human interventional trials and no FDA-approved use.
How does Humanin work?
Humanin is a 24-amino-acid peptide encoded within the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene, one of the first described mitochondrial-derived peptides. It acts through two routes.
Is Humanin FDA approved?
No. Humanin is not approved by the FDA for any indication and is categorised as research-only. It has not been reviewed for safety or efficacy as a medicine, and published research should be read as investigation rather than established use.
What is the half-life of Humanin?
Reported half-life for Humanin is ~2-4 hours. Half-life describes how long the compound persists in circulation, not how long any effect lasts, and published figures vary with route of administration, formulation and the population studied.
What is the amino acid sequence of Humanin?
Humanin has the sequence Met-Ala-Pro-Arg-Gly-Phe-Ser-Cys-Leu-Leu-Leu-Leu-Thr-Ser-Glu-Ile-Asp-Leu-Pro-Val-Lys-Arg-Arg-Ala, giving a chain of 24 amino acids. Its molecular formula is C119H204N34O32S2.
What peptides are similar to Humanin?
Compounds most often compared with Humanin include MOTS-C, Humanin-G (HNG), SS-20 and Elamipretide (SS-31). They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- Humanin and Its Pathophysiological Roles in Aging: A Systematic Review — Biology (Basel), 2023External reference
- Neuroprotective Action of Humanin and Humanin Analogues: Research Findings and Perspectives — Biology (Basel), 2023External reference
- Humanin and Alzheimer's disease: The beginning of a new field — Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj, 2022External reference
- Cardio-protective role of Humanin in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion — Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj, 2022External reference
- The role of humanin in the regulation of reproduction — Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj, 2022External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Sep 6, 2026 · Version 2
This Humanin profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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