KPV
Anti-inflammatory tripeptide
Also KPV peptide, Lys-Pro-Val, Alpha-MSH 11-13, α-MSH(11-13), KPV tripeptide
- Evidence
- CAnimal and cell studies
- FDA status
- Not approvedas of 2026-10-27
- Route
- Several routes
- Studies cited
- 0 human2 animal or cell
A peptide sold online for gut problems and skin conditions. It has only been tested in mice.
Sold for
KPV is sold as an anti-inflammatory peptide for gut problems, skin conditions and general inflammation.
Studies say
KPV reduces colitis in mice when given systemically or in oral nanoparticles, but there is no human data at all, so the grade is C.
Why grade C. For gut inflammation, the use KPV is best known for, the evidence is two mouse colitis studies and a review of the alpha-MSH peptide family. No human study of KPV has been published for any indication. 123
FDA. KPV is not approved by the FDA for any use and is sold online as a research chemical, in oral, topical and injectable forms. The FDA moved it out of its category 2 safety-risk list in April 2026 after the nomination was withdrawn, and in July 2026 the FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted 8-6 to recommend adding it to the list of substances pharmacies may compound. That vote is advisory and does not by itself allow compounding.
Written from 3 cited sources. Fact-checked 2026-10-27: 12 claims checked, 2 corrected. Last refreshed 2026-10-27. Not physician reviewed.
What this means for you
- What people take it for
- Gut and skin inflammation
- Can a US doctor prescribe it?
- No. It is not approved and is sold as a research chemical.
- Properly tested in people?
- No. It has only been tested in mice, and no human study exists.
Evidence checklist
- Randomised controlled trial No human studyno
- Human study over 100 people No human datano
- More than one research group Few groups, mouse workno
- Clinical outcomes, not surrogate markers Mouse colitis scores onlyno
- Human safety data beyond case reports No human safety datano
Drawn from the cited studies below. A dash means the sources give no information.
What it is
KPV is the three-amino-acid tail (lysine-proline-valine) of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, the pituitary peptide better known for darkening skin. Researchers found that most of alpha-MSH's anti-inflammatory activity sits in this C-terminal tripeptide, and that KPV keeps that activity while losing the pigmentation effect. 3
It is sold online as capsules, creams and injectable vials, with claims covering inflammatory bowel disease, eczema and acne. The published work is in animals and cell culture. 31
How it works
Alpha-MSH signals through melanocortin receptors, and KPV was assumed to do the same, but the mouse colitis work found its benefit persisted in mice lacking the melanocortin-1 receptor, so at least part of its action is receptor-independent. Inside cells KPV dampens NF-kB, the master switch for inflammatory gene expression. Gut epithelial cells take it up through PepT1, a transporter for small peptides, which makes oral delivery to the gut lining plausible. 12
What human research shows
There are none. Kannengiesser and colleagues gave KPV to mice with two forms of colitis and found faster recovery, better weight regain and less inflammation on histology. Xiao and colleagues loaded KPV into hyaluronic acid-coated nanoparticles, gave them by mouth in a hydrogel, and found they protected the colon lining and lowered the inflammatory signal TNF-alpha in mice with colitis more effectively than KPV nanoparticles without the hyaluronic acid coating. A 2007 review of alpha-MSH-related peptides summarised anti-inflammatory effects in animal models of arthritis, colitis and skin inflammation. 123
| Study | Model | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Kannengiesser 2008, mouse colitis | Mice, DSS colitis and T-cell transfer colitis, including MC1R-deficient mice | KPV improved recovery, weight regain and histological inflammation, and rescued all treated MC1R-deficient mice from death, so the effect is partly independent of the melanocortin-1 receptor. 1 |
| Xiao 2017, oral nanoparticles | Mice with colitis, oral KPV in hyaluronic acid nanoparticles | Hyaluronic acid-coated KPV nanoparticles reduced colitis more than uncoated KPV nanoparticles. 2 |
| Luger 2007, alpha-MSH peptides review | Narrative review of animal and cell studies | The anti-inflammatory activity of alpha-MSH resides largely in the KPV tripeptide, shown in models of arthritis and other inflammation. 3 |
Safety
No human safety data exist. In mice, KPV produced no reported toxicity, and its parent hormone alpha-MSH is a natural human peptide. The theoretical attraction of KPV over alpha-MSH is that it avoids the skin-darkening and appetite effects of melanocortin receptor activation, but that has not been checked in people. Online products are untested for purity or sterility. 31
Questions for your clinician
- Is there any human trial of KPV for gut or skin problems?
- What approved treatments exist for my bowel inflammation?
- How can I verify what is in an oral or topical KPV product?
Questions people ask
Is KPV FDA-approved?
No. KPV has never been tested in a clinical trial and has no approved use. It is sold as a research chemical. 3
Does KPV help inflammatory bowel disease?
In mice, yes: both systemic KPV and oral nanoparticle KPV reduced colitis. No person with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis has been treated with KPV in a published study. 12
How is KPV related to alpha-MSH?
It is the last three amino acids of alpha-MSH. Research in the 1990s and 2000s found this fragment carries most of the hormone's anti-inflammatory effect without its pigmenting effect. 3
Citations
- Kannengiesser 2008, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease doi.org
- Xiao 2017, Molecular Therapy: orally targeted delivery of KPV via hyaluronic acid-functionalised nanoparticles in colitis doi.org
- Luger and Brzoska 2007, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases: alpha-MSH related peptides as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating drugs doi.org