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No. 037 · Longevity & Immune · Longevity Peptide

Humanin

HNMT-RNR2-encoded peptide

C Tier C · Animal data how tiers work →
  • Not FDA approved
  • WADA ✗ S0
Compare Cite
Fingerprint 24 residues
Humanin sequence fingerprint
  • Nonpolar 14
  • Polar 4
  • Positive charge 4
  • Negative charge 2

Each dot is a residue placed around the ring from N- to C-terminus; its distance from the centre reflects its chemistry.

01

Evidence

  1. D In vitro
  2. C Animal
  3. B Human pilot
  4. A RCT
  5. S Approved

TIER C — Evidence comes mostly from animal studies.

Evidence comes from cell and animal (mostly rodent) studies. Human data only link circulating levels to age and disease; no interventional human trials have been published.

Tiers rate the strength of published evidence — not effectiveness, safety, or a recommendation.

02

At a glance

Residues
24 amino acids, N→C
Molecular weight
2,687.2 Da
Formula
C119H204N34O32S2
Discovered
2001 Identified by Hashimoto et al. from a cDNA library of an Alzheimer’s-disease brain region as a factor that protects neurons from death.
Routes studied
Subcutaneous, Intramuscular Routes used in published research
FDA
Not approved
WADA
Prohibited · S0 Non-approved substances
03

Sequence

N → C · 24 residues · hover, tap, or use arrow keys to inspect

Note Encoded within the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene (MT-RNR2). Many animal studies use the more potent S14G analogue (HNG).

04

Overview

A mitochondrial-derived peptide that protects cells from apoptosis and oxidative stress. It is associated with longevity in centenarian studies and is explored for Alzheimer neuroprotection.

Research status Published observational human data linking levels to longevity; preclinical interventional studies ongoing

05

Mechanism

Humanin is a 24-amino-acid peptide encoded in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. It inhibits apoptosis by binding to Bax and preventing its translocation to mitochondria, and also interacts with IGFBP-3 to modulate apoptotic signaling. It binds the CNTFR/WSX-1/gp130 tripartite receptor to activate STAT3 survival pathways.

06

Effects reported in research

Reported outcomes, not promises. These come mostly from preclinical (cell or animal) research and have not been confirmed in human trials.

  • Cytoprotection against oxidative stress
  • Neuroprotective anti-apoptotic signaling
  • Improved mitochondrial function
  • Associated with healthy aging biomarkers
07

Safety & unknowns

Endogenous mitochondrial-derived peptide with circulating levels correlated to longevity in humans. No formal human interventional safety data. Preclinical studies show good tolerability. Not FDA-approved. Theoretical concerns about anti-apoptotic mechanisms and cancer.

Unknowns. No randomized controlled trials in humans have been published, so human safety has not been established in controlled studies.

Informational only — not medical advice. peptidemeta publishes no dosing, protocols, or sourcing. Talk to a qualified clinician about any treatment decision.

08

Studies [2]

  1. Review 2013

    Humanin: a harbinger of mitochondrial-derived peptides?

    Lee C, Yen K, Cohen P. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism

    Review of humanin, a mitochondrially encoded peptide with cytoprotective actions in many stress and disease models, as the first of a class of mitochondrial-derived peptides.

    [pubmed] [doi]

  2. Preclinical 2001

    A rescue factor abolishing neuronal cell death by a wide spectrum of familial Alzheimer's disease genes and Abeta

    Hashimoto Y, Niikura T, Tajima H, et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA

    Discovery paper identifying humanin from an Alzheimer brain cDNA library as a peptide that protected cultured neurons against death caused by familial Alzheimer disease genes and amyloid-beta.

    [pubmed] [doi]

10

Status sources

Sources behind the tier, regulatory status, sequence and dates on this page.

11

Cite this entry

$ cite --format=apa

peptidemeta. (2026). Humanin. In peptidemeta: The peptide library, ranked by evidence. Retrieved November 8, 2026, from https://peptidemeta.com/p/humanin/

$ cite --format=bibtex 
@misc{peptidemeta-humanin,
  title = {Humanin},
  author = {{peptidemeta}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://peptidemeta.com/p/humanin/}},
  note = {Accessed 2026-11-08}
}

Accessed date reflects when you opened this page. Cite primary studies for scientific claims.

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