Peptide & Peptides | Building blocks of life with biological effect and therapeutic potential

Peptides are short amino acid chains with a wide range of biological effects. They are used in medicine, cosmetics and nutrition - from skin care to metabolic regulation and other biological processes.

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Wissenswertes über "Peptides"

Peptides are short amino acid chains with a wide range of biological effects. They are used in medicine, cosmetics and nutrition - from skin care to metabolic regulation and other biological processes.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids.amino acids that are linked together via so-called peptide bonds. They are formed naturally in the body as intermediates or end products of protein metabolism or are specifically produced synthetically. Peptides play a central role in numerous biological processes - they act as hormones, neurotransmitters, enzymes, signalling substances or immune modulators, among other things. Depending on the number of amino acids, we speak of oligopeptides (2-10 amino acids), polypeptides (more than 10), or with more than 100 amino acids of proteins.

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Peptides are becoming increasingly important in medicine and health research, as many of them can specifically regulate physiological processes. They are used in wound healing, skin care, immunotherapy, tumour medicine, metabolic regulation and anti-ageing medicine. Certain bioactive peptides, e.g. from collagen hydrolysates, milk proteins or plant sources, show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory or blood pressure-lowering effects. Peptides are also popular in sports nutrition and regeneration - for example to support muscle building, tissue repair or hormone balance.

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In addition, synthetic or recombinant peptides play an important role in modern drug development.modern drug development, for example in insulin analogues, peptide hormones such as GLP-1 or therapeutic peptide vaccines. Peptides have also become central to cosmetics - for example as signalling agents for skin regeneration, collagen stimulation or wrinkle reduction. Their high specificity combined with low toxicity makes them one of the most promising active ingredient types of the future.

Examples of bioactive peptides and their effects:

Collagen peptides: Connective tissue strengthening, skin elasticity, joint protection
Casein derivatives (e.g. lactotripeptides): lowers blood pressure (ACE inhibition)
Antimicrobial peptides: Immune defence, mucosal protection
Skin-active peptides (e.g. Matrixyl, Argireline): Anti-ageing in cosmetics
Regeneration peptides (e.g. BPC-157): Tissue healing, sports medicine

Properties of peptides:

Highly specific biological effect
Faster absorption than proteins (usually limited when taken orally)
Variety of applications: Medicine, cosmetics, nutrition
Low side effect rate with targeted application
Often sensitive to digestive enzymes - therefore alternative forms of application (e.g. subcutaneous, nasal, transdermal)

Literature references:

Fosgerau, K. & Hoffmann, T. (2015). ""Peptide therapeutics: current status and future directions."" Drug Discovery Today.
Hartmann, R. & Meisel, H. (2007). ""Food-derived peptides with biological activity."" Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care.
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Möller, N. P. et al. (2008). ""Biologically active peptides - new options in food and therapy."" Trends in Food Science & Technology.