Pal-AHK

Also known as: Palmitoyl Tripeptide-52 Amide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-52, Pal-AHK-NH2

Evidence: Anecdotal

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Overview

Palmitoylated, amidated tripeptide Ala-His-Lys, known only from the EU cosmetic ingredient register (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-52 Amide); no published study of this compound exists.

Pal-AHK is listed in the EU CosIng register as Palmitoyl Tripeptide-52 Amide: a palmitoyl chain on Ala-His-Lys with a C-terminal amide. No paper in PubMed tests it, and PubChem has no entry. The old text's claims of better penetration, follicle delivery and prolonged activity had no source. The only related data are on the copper complex AHK-Cu, tested on human hair follicles ex vivo (Pyo 2007) and described in a 2026 review as ex vivo only (Fan 2026). Those results belong to the AHK-Cu entry and do not transfer to this compound. No human trial exists.

Benefits

None published for Pal-AHK. The copper complex AHK-Cu has ex vivo human hair follicle data only (see AHK-Cu entry)

Dosing reference

Research dose: Topical

Topical cosmetic ingredient. No published use concentration or dose, and no study of this compound in any model.

Mechanism

Unknown; no study has tested Pal-AHK. The old text borrowed GHK-Cu claims (VEGF, KGF, anagen prolongation) without a source. The palmitoyl chain raises lipophilicity by design, but no skin penetration study of this compound has been published. For the copper complex, see the AHK-Cu entry (Pyo 2007).

Evidence

Anecdotal: no peer-reviewed data

No published study of Pal-AHK in any model; identity rests on the EU CosIng entry Palmitoyl Tripeptide-52 Amide
A vitamin C-linker conjugate of AHK, a different molecule, stimulated BMP-2-induced osteogenic differentiation of mouse C2C12 myoblasts (Jung et al., 2018)
Human-trial status: none for Pal-AHK. Only the copper complex AHK-Cu has hair data, on human follicles ex vivo, with a non-significant change in apoptosis (Pyo et al., 2007; Fan et al., 2026); see the AHK-Cu entry

References

Side effects

No published safety data for this compound in any species. Commonly reported (anecdotal): irritation, redness or stinging with topical peptide products.

Storage

Storage: Room temperature, away from light
Lyophilized: 2 years at room temp
Reconstituted: N/A (ready to use)

Pharmacology

Half-life: No published data in any species
Bioavailability: Not measured; no skin penetration study of this compound has been published
Molecular weight: 591.84 Da
Sequence: [Palmitoyl]-AHK-[NH2] (Ala-His-Lys amide)