Pal-GHK (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1)

Also known as: Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Biopeptide CL, Pal-GHK, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide (former INCI name)

Evidence: Preclinical

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Overview

Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 (Pal-GHK), a lipidated GHK sold mainly in the Matrixyl 3000 blend; found in human stratum corneum after topical use, with no published single-ingredient efficacy trial.

Pal-GHK is GHK with an N-terminal palmitoyl chain. It was sold for years as 'palmitoyl oligopeptide', a name that covered two molecules until it was renamed palmitoyl tripeptide-1 in 2013 (Resende et al., 2021). It is usually supplied with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 as Matrixyl 3000. Sederma authors reported that this blend improved dermal matrix structure versus placebo (Mondon et al., 2015). In three volunteers it was detected through every layer of the stratum corneum, between rather than inside cells (Trzaska et al., 2026). The CIR panel found it safe in cosmetics at typical use below 10 ppm (Johnson et al., 2018). No peer-reviewed study tests Pal-GHK alone for efficacy.

Benefits

Dermal matrix and junction changes vs placebo when blended with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (supplier-run human study), stratum corneum uptake (human in vivo, n=3)

Dosing reference

Research dose: Topical, typically under 10 ppm in finished products (CIR 2018); no trial-derived concentration for the peptide alone. No oral or injectable dose exists.

Topical only. CIR reports typical use under 10 ppm. Human data come from supplier studies of the Matrixyl 3000 blend with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, not the isolated peptide.

Mechanism

Proposed, by analogy to GHK. Supplier literature describes Pal-GHK as a matrikine signal peptide that stimulates collagen and glycosaminoglycans, and a review classes it as a signal peptide (Errante et al., 2020), but no peer-reviewed primary study measures these effects for Pal-GHK itself. The palmitoyl chain is meant to aid skin entry; in human volunteers the peptide stayed in intercellular spaces of the stratum corneum (Trzaska et al., 2026). TGF-beta activation and gene-level tissue repair are claims about GHK or GHK-Cu, not shown for this compound.

Evidence

Preclinical: animal or in vitro data only

Blend with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, sold as Matrixyl 3000, thinned the subepidermal low-echogenic band and improved dermal matrix structure vs placebo by in vivo confocal microscopy; Sederma-run (Mondon et al., 2015)
Detected through all stratum corneum layers, intercellularly, in 3 volunteers after a Matrixyl 3000 serum (Trzaska et al., 2026)
CIR panel: safe in cosmetics at present use, typically under 10 ppm, based on negative safety tests (Johnson et al., 2018)
Human-trial status: no published RCT of Pal-GHK alone; human efficacy data are blend studies from the supplier

References

Side effects

CIR reviewed negative safety test data and found no concern at use concentrations under 10 ppm (Johnson et al., 2018). No systemic data exist. Commonly reported (anecdotal): mild irritation or redness.

Storage

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

Pharmacology

Half-life: No published pharmacokinetic data in any species
Bioavailability: Topical (3 human volunteers, Matrixyl 3000 serum, 0.5 to 5 h): present in all stratum corneum layers, intercellular; deeper penetration not measured
Molecular weight: 578.75 Da
Sequence: Palmitoyl-Gly-His-Lys

Stacks with

Rigin (Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7)