GHK-Cu is the copper complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. It makes up the largest share of the GLOW blend, typically 50 mg of a 70 mg vial, and it has the longest research history of the three components.
Compound snapshot
| Full name | Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper(II) complex; INCI name Copper Tripeptide-1 |
| Sequence | Gly-His-Lys, chelated to one Cu²⁺ ion |
| Molecular formula | C₁₄H₂₂CuN₆O₄ (complex); C₁₄H₂₄N₆O₄ (GHK) |
| Molecular weight | ≈401.9 g/mol (complex); 340.4 g/mol (GHK peptide alone) |
| CAS number | 89030-95-5 (GHK-Cu); 49557-75-7 (GHK) |
| Appearance | Blue to violet powder; blue in solution because of the bound copper |
| Regulatory status | Used as a cosmetic ingredient; not approved as a drug for any indication |
Where GHK-Cu comes from
Loren Pickart first isolated GHK from human plasma albumin in 1973. The peptide has a strong affinity for copper(II) ions and readily forms the GHK-Cu complex. Published measurements report plasma levels of roughly 200 ng/mL at age 20, falling to about 80 ng/mL by age 60. That decline is one reason the compound attracted interest in aging and tissue-repair research.
What the research covers
Wound and tissue models
Most of the evidence comes from cell cultures and animal wound models. In one frequently cited rat study, wounds treated with GHK shrank by about 64.5% over 13 days, compared with 28.2% in untreated controls. Researchers have linked these effects to increased collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis by fibroblasts and to effects on blood-vessel formation.
Skin and cosmetic research
GHK-Cu is widely used in topical cosmetics as Copper Tripeptide-1. Small controlled studies of topical products have reported improvements in skin density and fine lines. These studies generally have limited sample sizes, and cosmetic results don’t carry over to other forms of the compound.
Gene-expression studies
Computational analyses of gene-expression datasets suggest GHK can shift the expression of a large number of human genes, including genes involved in tissue remodeling and antioxidant response. These are associations found in data sets, not demonstrated clinical effects.
Why it is paired with BPC-157 and TB-500
The GLOW blend groups GHK-Cu with BPC-157 and TB-500 because all three appear in tissue-repair literature, each through a different proposed mechanism. No published study has tested the three-compound blend as a combination, so claims about synergy are hypotheses, not findings. See What is the GLOW stack? for the full picture.
Handling notes for lab work
- GHK-Cu solutions are blue. A green or colorless solution can point to degradation or an incorrect product.
- Copper complexes can be sensitive to light and to strong reducing agents, so keep them in amber vials or wrapped in foil.
- Confirm identity by mass spectrometry on the certificate of analysis. See how to read a peptide COA.
Key references
- 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. PubMed
- Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK peptide as a natural modulator of multiple cellular pathways in skin regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015. PubMed
- PubChem compound record: Copper tripeptide (GHK-Cu). PubChem
This page is educational and summarizes published research. It is not medical advice. GHK-Cu sold as a research chemical is for laboratory research use only and is not for human or veterinary use.