Confronto
Afamelanotide vs. Oxytocin
Due peptidi a confronto — identità, base di evidenze, stato legale ed eventi avversi noti.
Identità
Categoria
Ricerca (altro)
Ricerca (altro)
N. CAS
75921-69-6
50-56-6
Peso molecolare
1646.87 g/mol
1007.19 g/mol
Emivita
12 h
0.05 h
Sequenza
Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH2Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2Meccanismo d'azione
Afamelanotide
Afamelanotide is a synthetic analogue of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It differs from native α-MSH by two substitutions — norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7 — which make it metabolically more stable and more potent. As an agonist at the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) on melanocytes, it activates adenylate cyclase, raises cAMP and increases tyrosinase activity via the transcription factor MITF. This shifts pigment synthesis toward eumelanin, which absorbs UV and visible light and has antioxidant properties — the presumed mechanism of photoprotection in EPP.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is synthesised in the hypothalamus and released via the posterior pituitary. Peripherally it binds the oxytocin receptor, a G-protein-coupled receptor, and through the phospholipase-C cascade and calcium release triggers contraction of uterine smooth muscle and milk ejection — the pharmacological basis of the obstetric approval. Centrally, oxytocin acts as a neuromodulator and has been linked to social bonding, trust and modulation of stress and anxiety circuits. Its central effects in humans are mechanistically incompletely understood, particularly because it is unclear to what extent peripherally or intranasally administered oxytocin crosses the blood-brain barrier.
Base di evidenze
Evidenza più alta
RCT sull'uomo
RCT sull'uomo
Studi
4
4
di cui sull'uomo
4
4
Effetti registrati
4
3
Contraddizioni aperte
1
1
Eventi avversi documentati
4
0
Stato legale
Voci complete
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between Afamelanotide and Oxytocin?
- Afamelanotide is classified as "Ricerca (altro)", while Oxytocin is classified as "Ricerca (altro)". Afamelanotide: Afamelanotide (brand name Scenesse) is a synthetic 13-amino-acid analogue of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and a melanocortin-1 receptor agonist. Unlike most peptides covered here, it is a regularly approved medicine: EMA approval in 2014/2015, FDA approval in 2019, in each case as a subcutaneous implant for the prevention of phototoxicity in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). It promotes eumelanin formation in the skin. Oxytocin: Oxytocin is an endogenous nonapeptide hormone of the posterior pituitary. In synthetic form (Pitocin, Syntocinon) it has been approved for decades to induce and augment labour and to control postpartum uterine bleeding. Strictly separate from this is intranasal use to influence social behaviour, trust, anxiety or autism symptoms: this use is unapproved, purely experimental, and yields inconsistent and often negative results in controlled trials. This page contrasts both neutrally and source-based — with no usage or dosing recommendation.
- Which peptide is better supported by science, Afamelanotide or Oxytocin?
- The highest available evidence level is "RCT sull'uomo" for Afamelanotide and "RCT sull'uomo" for Oxytocin. A higher evidence level means more robust data, but says nothing about suitability for an individual. The full body of evidence is on each peptide's own page.
- What is the legal status of Afamelanotide and Oxytocin in Germany and the United States?
- Germania: Afamelanotide — Su prescrizione, Oxytocin — Su prescrizione. Stati Uniti: Afamelanotide — Su prescrizione, Oxytocin — Su prescrizione. These are factual summaries with source and review date on the individual pages.