In this article
Humanin is a small protein fragment (called a peptide) that comes from the mitochondria, the energy-making structures inside cells. It is studied in research on aging, metabolism, and nerve cell protection. It is not approved by the FDA for any use.
Humanin
What it is
Humanin is a mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP). In plain terms, it is a short protein fragment made by the mitochondria, the tiny structures inside cells that produce energy (think of them as miniature power plants). It is built from just 24 amino acids, the small building blocks that make up all proteins. The instructions for making Humanin are written inside the mitochondria's own genetic material, in a region called MT-RNR2. Scientists first identified it in 2001. It belongs to a small group of similar peptides that includes MOTS-c and the SHLP series.
Research context and categorization
Humanin is often grouped with peptides studied in aging and longevity research. It also appears in studies on metabolism (how cells take in and use energy) and neuroprotection (keeping nerve cells safe from damage). In research settings, scientists look at how it fits into the ways cells respond to stress and the signals that mitochondria send out.
It has been studied across several experimental areas, including:
- Protection of nerve cells, including early work using lab models of amyloid-beta toxicity (amyloid-beta is a protein fragment used in research models to study cell damage)
- Oxidative stress (harm caused by unstable molecules called free radicals) and apoptosis (a controlled process in which a cell destroys itself) in cells grown in a lab dish
- Metabolic regulation and how cells handle glucose (sugar)
- Lab models of skeletal muscle atrophy (the wasting or loss of muscle tissue)
- Measurements of lifespan and overall health in laboratory animals
Key point: Humanin is strictly an investigational compound; it is not FDA-approved, and current research remains predominantly preclinical.
These are investigational research directions only. Humanin is not FDA-approved, and none of the uses described above are confirmed, established, or approved benefits in humans. The existing evidence is mostly preclinical (meaning cell and animal studies), with very limited human clinical data.
Status
- Regulatory status: Research use only. Not FDA-approved for any purpose. No completed human trials have established a therapeutic use.
- Sport status: Humanin is not listed by name on the WADA Prohibited List. However, WADA category S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics) uses broad language that can cover peptides affecting certain biological pathways. Athletes should confirm current status with their sport's anti-doping authority rather than assume it is permitted.
Reconstitution notes (general)
For a lyophilized (freeze-dried) research peptide, concentration equals the milligrams of peptide in the vial divided by the millilitres of bacteriostatic water added.
For example, 5 mg of peptide reconstituted with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water gives a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. You can work this out for any vial and target concentration with the reconstitution calculator at peptide calculator.
Dilution and handling notes (compound-specific)
Concentration and Solubility
Humanin is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder and dissolves in water. A common lab practice is to first dissolve it at a concentration of at least roughly 100 micrograms per millilitre, then dilute it further into the desired water-based buffer. This approach is easier than trying to add a very small drop of water to a large amount of dry powder.
Humanin is amphipathic, meaning the same molecule has both water-loving and water-avoiding sections (similar to how a soap molecule has one end that grabs water and one end that grabs grease). Because of this, it can clump together (aggregate) in solution. Working at lower concentrations helps keep it dissolved more reliably.
Mixing Instructions
Add the fluid slowly along the inner wall of the vial, then swirl it gently to dissolve. Do not shake or vortex the vial vigorously. These peptides foam easily, and rough mixing can physically stress the peptide and make it harder to dissolve.
If the solution turns cloudy in plain water, the first step is to reduce the concentration by adding more solvent volume. For longer-term stability of a prepared solution, some lab protocols add a carrier protein (for example, 0.1% HSA or BSA). This is a lab-stability measure and is not required for short-term handling.
Handling and storage
Store the freeze-dried powder somewhere cold and dry, away from moisture and light. For long-term storage, a freezer works best. After mixing, keep the vial in a refrigerator at 2 to 8 C, away from direct light.
Wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab before drawing from the vial, and write the mix date on the label.
A mixed solution is generally usable for up to about 4 weeks when kept cold. Discard it sooner if it becomes cloudy or discolored, or if you see particles floating in it.
Related reading
Tools and supplies
- peptide calculator
- Bacteriostatic Water 30 ml
- Gansulin Metal Reusable Pen
- 3 ml Glass Cartridges (10-pack)
- Complete Starter Kit
Reminder: research and educational reference only. Preppin Peppers sells hardware and materials, not peptides. Not medical, dosing, or health advice, not evaluated by the FDA, and not intended for human or animal use.
Frequently asked questions
What is Humanin peptide and where does it come from?
Humanin is a 24-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) encoded by the MT-RNR2 region of mitochondrial DNA. First identified in 2001, it belongs to a class that includes MOTS-c and the SHLP series, and is studied in preclinical aging and neuroprotection research.
How is a lyophilized Humanin vial reconstituted for laboratory use?
Divide the vial's milligram content by the volume of bacteriostatic water added to obtain mg/mL concentration. For example, 5 mg dissolved in 2 mL yields 2.5 mg/mL. A peptide reconstitution calculator can determine exact water volumes for any target concentration.
Is Humanin listed on the WADA Prohibited List?
Humanin is not named explicitly on the WADA Prohibited List. However, WADA category S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics) uses broad language. Athletes must confirm current status directly with their sport's anti-doping authority.
What the research community gets wrong about Humanin
- It is not a lab-invented designer peptide. Humanin is naturally encoded inside mitochondrial DNA, in a stretch of the MT-RNR2 gene. It was found in cells, not built from scratch, even though the vial on your bench holds a synthesized copy.
- There is more than one length. People often quote 24 amino acids as the only form, but a 21-amino-acid version also appears in the literature depending on where it is expressed. If you compare results across papers, check which form the study actually used.
- Dissolving in water does not mean it stays dissolved. Humanin is amphipathic (one part likes water, one part avoids it), so it can clump together in solution even after it looks clear. A cloudy vial is often a concentration problem, not a bad batch. Adding more solvent to lower the concentration is the first thing to try.
- Foaming is not harmless. Shaking or vortexing pushes the peptide against air and liquid surfaces and adds shear stress, which can make aggregation worse. Add water down the vial wall and swirl gently instead.
- Preclinical is not proven. Most of what is published comes from cells in a dish and animal models, with very limited human data. A result in a mouse or a cell line is a research finding, not a settled fact about people.
From our bench: If you have reconstituted Humanin, tell us what concentration (in mg/mL) it stayed visibly clear at, and at what point you saw cloudiness or particles. Note the solvent you used, whether you added a carrier protein, and the storage temperature. Share your real numbers, not an estimate, so other researchers can compare handling notes.
Sources
- Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP , FDA/DailyMed label (0.9% benzyl alcohol)
- Duerkop et al., Biotechnol J 2018 , Impact of Cavitation, High Shear Stress and Air/Liquid Interfaces on Protein Aggregation
- Sigma-Aldrich (Merck) , Handling and Storage Guidelines for Peptides and Proteins
- Woodhead et al., High-intensity interval exercise increases humanin, a mitochondrial encoded peptide, in the plasma and muscle of men , Journal of Applied Physiology (2020), PMC7717117
- Zuccato et al., Mitochondrial-derived peptide humanin as therapeutic target in cancer and degenerative diseases , Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets (2019), PMID 30582721
- Voigt & Jelinek, Humanin: a mitochondrial signaling peptide as a biomarker for impaired fasting glucose-related oxidative stress , Physiological Reports (2016), PMID 27173674
✔ Reviewed by Bryan Le, PharmD, RPh
Bryan is a licensed pharmacist (Doctor of Pharmacy, Registered Pharmacist). Reconstituting lyophilized preparations is core pharmacy practice, so he reviews The Lab’s content for technical accuracy and to keep it within a research-and-education scope, with no medical or dosing advice. View profile on LinkedIn.
