Melanotan II is an artificial derivative of the naturally occurring peptide hormone, melatonin, which stimulates melanin production and increases sexual function in humans. It has been used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations for over forty years, click this service for details. Its use was originally aimed at alleviating sleep problems associated with menopause; however, it has now been widely used as a treatment for sexual dysfunctions including impotence and erectile dysfunction.
Although melanotan 2 has similar effects to those of melatonin, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved it for topical use only, and not for food intake. It does this by binding to and inhibiting the actions of melanocortin, the enzyme that causes pigmentary changes in the body. In effect, it suppresses the overall production of melanin. The FDA has approved its use for treatment of sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, and snoring, and to improve the effects of chemotherapy.
Like melanotan I, melanotan II functions by binding to and activating the transcription factors that activate melanogenesis. Melanogenesis is the process by which cells turn color during the daylight hours. The process is initiated by the stimulation of the transcription factors melanocyte-specific and follicle-specific. The melanocytes are responsible for initiating cell division and the resulting pigmentation.
Like melanotan I, melanotan 2 also inhibits the action of the amino acid superoxide dismutase (SOD), a highly catalytic enzyme that is responsible for neutralizing the reactive oxygen species produced during melanogenesis, click to learn about melanotan II. SOD is important for preventing the color of melanocytes from turning red during photoaging. As compared to melanotan I, the melanotan II peptide stimulates the production of melanin in a concentration-dependent manner, thus improving color intensity. It also enhances the cellular turnover rate, leading to increased cellular proliferation.
Although both peptides are active at the melanotan receptor, the difference lies in the manner in which they reach the melanocortin receptors. In contrast to melanotan I, which goes straight to the melanocortin receptors, melanotan II goes through the skin, where it gets metabolized by the lymphatic system and then enters the blood stream. Although both compounds cause side effects such as photoaging, those effects are much milder with melanotan 2 than with melanotan I.
Because of the limited effectiveness of melanotan II and its severe side effects, the only FDA-approved way of treating this condition is through the administration of a melanotan 2 peptide. The reason for this is that no single compound can give you complete relief from sexual dysfunction. However, combining two different melanotan peptides in a delivery system that allows the melanotan molecules to pass through the skin increases your chances of getting rid of erectile dysfunction and also your chances of getting better sexual health. Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanotan
