AHK-Cu

Also known as: Ala-His-Lys copper complex, L-alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+, copper tripeptide AHK

Not FDA Approved

Not an approved drug; used as a cosmetic/hair-care ingredient

1 notable study · 2 references

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TLDR

AHK-Cu is a synthetic copper tripeptide (Ala-His-Lys:Cu2+) related to GHK-Cu and used in hair-care products; its evidence is limited to a single 2007 lab study showing longer hair-follicle growth and better dermal papilla cell survival in culture, with no human trials and no approved medical use.

At a Glance

Classification: Synthetic copper(II)-binding tripeptide complex (Ala-His-Lys:Cu2+); structural relative of GHK-Cu; cosmetic and hair-care research ingredient

AHK-Cu is a copper complex of the tripeptide alanine-histidine-lysine. It is a close structural cousin of GHK-Cu, with alanine in place of glycine at the first position. It is used as an ingredient in some hair-care and cosmetic products, and it is sold in the research-peptide market mainly with hair-growth claims. The published evidence is very thin. PubMed lists essentially one directly relevant primary study: a 2007 laboratory study in human hair follicles and dermal papilla cells. There are no published human clinical trials of AHK-Cu, and it is not an approved drug.

What Is AHK-Cu?

Tripeptides with a histidine-lysine sequence can bind copper(II) tightly. Early GHK research found that several His-Lys tripeptides had activity similar to GHK. GHK-Cu → Gly-His-Lys:Cu2+, naturally occurring in human plasma, much larger literature AHK-Cu → Ala-His-Lys:Cu2+, synthetic analog, very small literature GHK (copper-free) → the free tripeptide Findings for GHK-Cu should not be assumed to apply to AHK-Cu.

What Are Researchers Studying?

Hair follicle growth

In human scalp hair follicles kept alive in culture (ex vivo), AHK-Cu at very low concentrations increased hair-shaft elongation. This is the main basis for hair-growth marketing claims, but it is a lab result, not a clinical one.

Dermal papilla cell survival

In cultured dermal papilla cells (the cells that signal hair growth), AHK-Cu increased proliferation, raised the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and reduced markers of programmed cell death (cleaved caspase-3 and PARP). The reduction in apoptotic cell counts was not statistically significant.

Skin and fibroblast effects

Copper tripeptides have been described as stimulating dermal fibroblasts and VEGF production. This background is summarized in the AHK-Cu study itself, but most of that earlier work used GHK-Cu, not AHK-Cu.

How Does It Work?

Proposed (not established) mechanism: AHK-Cu ↓ delivery of copper and peptide to dermal papilla cells ↓ increased cell proliferation and anti-apoptotic signaling (higher Bcl-2/Bax ratio, less caspase-3 cleavage) ↓ prolonged growth of hair follicles in culture. The receptor or uptake mechanism has not been identified.

What Does the Research Show?

Human research

NONE published. No controlled human trials of AHK-Cu for hair loss or skin were found in PubMed.

Animal research

NONE identified in PubMed for AHK-Cu specifically.

In-vitro research

LIMITED: one ex vivo human hair-follicle and dermal papilla cell study.

Notable Studies

The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro

in-vitro

Pyo HK, Yoo HG, Won CH, et al. · 2007

Journal: Archives of Pharmacal Research. AHK-Cu (10^-12 to 10^-9 M) stimulated elongation of human hair follicles ex vivo and proliferation of cultured dermal papilla cells. At 10^-9 M it raised the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and lowered cleaved caspase-3 and PARP; the drop in apoptotic cell numbers was not statistically significant.

Limitations: Ex vivo and cell-culture only; single laboratory; no animal or human confirmation; does not show effects on hair density or hair loss in people.

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What We Still Don't Know

• Whether AHK-Cu improves hair growth or hair loss in people (no clinical trials) • Whether topical AHK-Cu reaches dermal papilla cells in meaningful amounts • How AHK-Cu compares with GHK-Cu or with approved hair-loss treatments • Long-term safety of repeated use • Independent replication: the literature is thin, with one primary study identified

Related Compounds

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Sources & References

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