Humanin

HN · [Gly14]-Humanin

Anti-AgingNot ApprovedAnimalResearchSubQ

Popular for:Cytoprotection, neuroprotection, metabolic health

2

Registered Trials

7

Trial Publications

517

PubMed References

Animal

Evidence Level

Overview

Humanin is a mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) encoded by the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of mitochondrial DNA. The short version: people usually care about it for cytoprotection, neuroprotection, metabolic health, but the strength of the evidence depends heavily on indication and study type.

Humanin is a mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) encoded by the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of mitochondrial DNA. Discovered in 2001 during Alzheimer's disease research, it is a 24-amino acid peptide with potent cytoprotective and neuroprotective effects.

Humanin is part of a family of mitochondrial-derived peptides (including MOTS-c and SHLPs) that act as retrograde signaling molecules from mitochondria to the rest of the cell and body. Circulating humanin levels decline with age and are inversely correlated with age-related diseases.

Research Snapshot

What the evidence says

Animal

Humanin currently shows 2 registered trials from ClinicalTrials.gov, 7 PubMed trial publications (4 RCT-tagged), and 517 PubMed references matching the stored source query. Treat PubMed references as literature surface area, not a count of clinical trials.

Known vs uncertain

Known signals

  • 2 registered trials are tracked from ClinicalTrials.gov intervention records.
  • 7 PubMed clinical-trial publications are indexed.
  • 4 PubMed randomized controlled trial publications are indexed.
  • 517 PubMed references are tracked separately from trial counts and can include animal, in-vitro, review, mechanism, or clinical records.

Open questions

  • Evidence strength may vary by indication, route, formulation, and population.
  • Public anecdotes can highlight interest or concern but do not establish clinical efficacy.
  • Regulatory status and compounding access can change independently from the research literature.

Mechanism of Action

Humanin exerts its cytoprotective effects through multiple mechanisms: it binds to IGFBP-3, modulating the IGF signaling axis; it interacts with BAX, preventing mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis; and it activates the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Key Research Benefits

Potent cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic effects
Studied for neuroprotection in Alzheimer's disease models
Researched for improved insulin sensitivity
May support cardiovascular health through cardiac cell protection
Circulating levels correlate inversely with age-related disease

Clinical Evidence Summary

Research Pipeline

Preclinical
Animal
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Approved

2

Registered Trials

7

Trial Publications

4

RCT Publications

517

PubMed References

ClinicalTrials.govPubMed ESearchExact-name queryChecked May 3, 2026

Registered trials are ClinicalTrials.gov intervention records. Trial publications are PubMed records tagged as clinical trials or randomized controlled trials. PubMed references are broader source-query matches and can include animal studies, in-vitro work, reviews, mechanism papers, and trial publications.

2

Registered trials

7

Trial publications

4

RCT publications

517

PubMed references

80

Reviews

0

Meta-analyses

Registered trials source

Jun 1, 2026

Humanin

Uses the exact compound name as a ClinicalTrials.gov intervention query.

View source

Publication counts source

May 3, 2026

Humanin

Uses the exact display name.

View source

Not FDA-approved. Pre-clinical research compound. Discovered 2001. Active area of academic research in aging, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disease.

Key PubMed References

517 PubMed references · showing top 25 by relevance

View all on PubMed

The neuroprotective role of Humanin in Alzheimer's disease: The molecular effects.

Review

Alqahtani SM, Al-Kuraishy HM, Al-Gareeb AI, et al. · European journal of pharmacology · 2025

PMID: 40090538

Ameliorative effects of Gly[14]-humanin on cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian insufficiency and underlying mechanisms.

In Vitro

Huang J, Liu Y, Zou L, et al. · Reproductive biomedicine online · 2025

PMID: 40639309

Diagnostic relevance of Humanin, GAS5 and miR-21/miR-103 in prostate disease risk stratification.

Human Study

Coradduzza D, Cruciani S, Sibono L, et al. · Clinical and experimental medicine · 2025

PMID: 40768089

Impaired Expression of Humanin during Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

Human Study

Blatkiewicz M, Szyszka M, Olechnowicz A, et al. · International journal of molecular sciences · 2024

PMID: 38256114

Myeloid cells coordinately induce glioma cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic pathways for chemoresistance via GP130 signaling.

In Vitro

Cheng J, Li M, Motta E, et al. · Cell reports. Medicine · 2024

PMID: 39053460

Anecdotes & Sentiment

Public discussion, not clinical evidence

This section summarizes what people are talking about in public sources. It can be useful for spotting questions, hype cycles, and recurring concerns, but it is separate from the evidence sections above.

No curated public-discussion themes are live for Humanin yet.

Side Effects & Safety

- Very limited human safety data - Research primarily in cell culture and animal models - Long-term effects not characterized - Injection site reactions

Very limited human safety data
Research primarily in cell culture and animal models
Long-term effects not characterized
Injection site reactions

Known Interactions

No curated interaction entry is live for Humanin yet.

Until the interaction table is fully populated, use the interaction checker and related peptides below to explore adjacent compounds and likely research pairings.

Comparison Pages

Comparison pages

All

No comparison page is linked yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Research Disclaimer

This page is for research and educational purposes only. The information presented is based on published scientific literature and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Regulatory status can vary by compound, formulation, indication, and jurisdiction. Check official labeling, registry records, and qualified professional guidance before making any health-related decision. The studies referenced are linked to their original PubMed sources for verification.