Names | |
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Pronunciation | /mɛˈlænoʊtæn/ |
Systematic IUPAC name
L-Lysinamide, N-acetyl-L-norleucyl-L-alpha-aspartyl-L-histidyl-D-phenylalanyl-L-arginyl-L-tryptophyl-, cyclic (2-7)-peptide | |
Other names
List of other names
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Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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ChEMBL | |
ChemSpider | |
MeSH | melanotan-II |
PubChem CID
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UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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Properties | |
C50H69N15O9 | |
Molar mass | 1024.180 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Melanotan II is a synthetic analogue of the peptide hormone α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) that stimulates melanogenesis and increases sexual arousal.
It was under development as drug candidate for female sexual dysfunction and erectile dysfunction but clinical development ceased by 2003, and as of 2018, no product containing melanotan II was marketed and all commercial development had ceased.[1]
Unlicensed, untested, or fraudulent products sold as "melanotan II" are found on the Internet, and purported to be effective as "tanning drugs", though side effects such as uneven pigmentation (it makes already uneven pigmentation more noticeable), new nevi (moles), and darkening or enlargement of existing moles have been reported and have led to medical authorities discouraging its use. There has been no scientific study into the long term and permanent side effects the use of this peptide may cause.[2][3]