Peptide Reference · Healing & Recovery
BPC-157
Body Protection Compound-157, a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide studied in preclinical models for tissue healing and gastrointestinal protection.
For research and educational purposes only · Not for human consumption
In Brief
BPC-157 is a lab-made fragment of a protein found naturally in human stomach juice. Researchers became interested in it because animals given the peptide healed faster from tendon, ligament, muscle, and gut injuries, and the effect appeared without the side effects that come with full growth hormone.
The evidence for BPC-157 is strong in rodents but limited in humans. Most published studies are preclinical (animal or in vitro), often from a small number of research groups, and the peptide is not approved for medical use in the United States, the European Union, or most other jurisdictions. Independent replication and large human trials are still missing.
Overview
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a synthetic peptide of 15 amino acids, identified within a larger gastric protein called BPC found in human gastric juice. It was first reported in the early 1990s and has been studied primarily by the laboratory of Predrag Sikiric and collaborators in Zagreb, Croatia. Unlike most peptides, BPC-157 shows remarkable stability in gastric acid, which means it has been investigated for both oral and injectable routes in animal models.
Interest in BPC-157 centres on its ability to accelerate healing across a wide range of tissues in preclinical models: tendon, ligament, skeletal muscle, gut mucosa, and even neural tissue. It appears to act through several converging mechanisms, including promotion of angiogenesis (new blood-vessel formation), modulation of nitric-oxide signalling, and interaction with the dopamine and serotonin systems. None of these effects has been confirmed in adequately-powered human trials.
Common research uses
Published studies have examined BPC-157 in the following contexts. None of these is an approved therapeutic indication.
- Tendon, ligament, and muscle repair: rat models of transected Achilles and medial collateral ligaments.
- Gastrointestinal mucosal protection: protection against NSAID, alcohol, and stress-induced ulceration in rodents.
- Inflammatory bowel models: colitis induced by chemical or immune challenge.
- Angiogenesis and blood-flow restoration: wound, fistula, and vessel-occlusion models.
- Neuroprotection: traumatic brain injury, stroke, and chemically induced neurotoxicity models.
- Bone healing: segmental defects and osteotomy models in rats and rabbits.
Outside the laboratory, BPC-157 is used informally by some athletes and biohackers for soft-tissue recovery. This use is unapproved, unregulated, and may violate sport anti-doping rules and federal drug laws depending on jurisdiction.
Mechanism of action
BPC-157 does not have a single well-defined receptor. Instead, preclinical work has identified multiple overlapping pathways that together appear to account for its observed tissue-healing effects:
- Angiogenesis: upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and the eNOS / nitric-oxide axis, promoting formation of new capillaries at injury sites.
- Growth-factor signalling: increased local expression of growth hormone receptors and amplification of the FGF, IGF-1 and TGF-β responses involved in tissue remodelling.
- Neurotransmitter modulation: interactions with the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems, hypothesised to underlie its anxiolytic and neuroprotective effects.
- Anti-inflammatory effect: reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) and modulation of leukotriene pathways in tissue injury models.
These mechanisms are inferred from rodent and in vitro studies. The precise binding partner(s) of BPC-157 at the molecular level have not been definitively identified.
Protocols
Quick Reference
Syringe units assume a 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL BAC water (5 mg/mL) drawn in a 1 mL / 100-unit insulin syringe.
Dosing protocols
Published sources differ on dosing. Compare all three below, each labelled by evidence tier. None is an approved human protocol.
| Protocol | ResearchPreclinical literature ↗ | ClinicalDr. W. Seeds, Peptide Protocols ↗ | CommunityPeptides For Men (N. Wells) ↗ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended dose | 0.5 mg | 0.25 mg | 0.3 mg |
| Units (1 mL syringe) | 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Timing | AM & PM | AM & PM at injury site | Morning / post-workout |
| Frequency | Twice daily | Twice daily | 1–2× daily |
| Duration | 8 weeks on, 8 weeks off | 6 weeks (cycle as needed) | 4–8 weeks |
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Administration Routes
Three routes have been studied or commonly applied in research contexts. Each has distinct considerations for onset, target tissue, and handling.
Subcutaneous (SC)
Injection into the subcutaneous fat layer, typically on the abdomen or flank. The most frequently used route in healing and tissue-repair studies. Provides systemic distribution with relatively slow absorption.
Intramuscular (IM)
Injection directly into muscle tissue. Used in some muscle repair and joint studies. Faster absorption than SC. Typically administered into the deltoid, glute, or thigh in research contexts.
Oral
BPC-157 is unusually stable in gastric acid compared to most peptides, making oral delivery viable. Studied in rodent models via drinking water for gastrointestinal and systemic endpoints. Bioavailability in humans is not characterised.
Reconstitution Guide
BPC-157 is typically supplied as a lyophilised (freeze-dried) powder. It must be reconstituted before use. New to this? See Peptides 101 for the fundamentals.
Gather supplies
Bacteriostatic water (BAC water), alcohol swabs, a 1 mL insulin syringe, and the peptide vial. BAC water contains 0.9% benzyl alcohol which prevents bacterial growth across multiple uses.
Calculate your dilution
A common dilution for a 10 mg vial: add 2 mL BAC water → concentration of 5 mg/mL. Adjust based on your target dose and syringe markings. Document your calculation.
Add the water slowly
Wipe both vial tops with an alcohol swab. Draw the BAC water into the syringe. Insert the needle and angle it so the stream runs down the inside wall of the vial, not directly onto the powder cake.
Mix gently
Once all water is added, swirl gently in a circular motion until the powder is fully dissolved. Do not shake or vortex; agitation can degrade the peptide structure.
Store correctly
Reconstituted peptide: refrigerate at 2–8°C, away from light. Use within 4–6 weeks. Lyophilised powder: store frozen at −20°C for long-term. Label with reconstitution date.
Reconstitution Calculator
Enter your vial size, water volume, and intended dose to calculate the exact volume and syringe markings.
⚠ This calculator is a reference tool only. Verify all calculations independently before use.
Active compound & chemistry
BPC-157 is a linear, 15-residue peptide with the sequence Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val. Its molecular formula is C₆₂H₉₈N₁₆O₂₂ and the average molecular weight is approximately 1419 Da. Because the sequence contains no cysteine residues, it does not form intramolecular disulfide bridges, unlike many other research peptides such as AOD9604.
The peptide is unusually stable in gastric acid and to human gastric proteases compared with most peptides of similar size; this stability is a recurring observation in the Sikiric group’s methodology papers and supports oral administration in rodent studies. Look up the compound in PubChem for full structural data, canonical SMILES, and InChI.
Evidence summary
The published evidence base for BPC-157 is large in volume but narrow in source: most studies come from the Sikiric laboratory and collaborators, with relatively few independent replications outside that group. Human clinical trials are sparse.
Accelerated Achilles tendon healing in rats
Rats with surgically transected Achilles tendons that received BPC-157 showed faster restoration of biomechanical strength and improved histology compared with saline controls. The effect appeared at both microgram-per-kilogram and nanogram-per-kilogram doses, suggesting a wide therapeutic window in this animal model.
Staresinic M et al. (2003) · J Orthop Res · View on PubMed →
Protection against NSAID-induced gastric injury
Multiple rodent studies have shown that BPC-157 reduces or prevents gastric lesions caused by NSAIDs, alcohol, and stress. The protective effect has been observed when BPC-157 was given orally in drinking water. Mechanistically, the effect appears to involve nitric-oxide-pathway modulation.
Sikiric P et al. (2006) · Curr Pharm Des · View on PubMed →
Phase II trial in inflammatory bowel disease (PL 14736)
Under the development code PL 14736, BPC-157 entered a phase II clinical trial for ulcerative colitis. The trial reported safety and signals of efficacy but did not progress to large phase III studies. This remains the most-cited human safety data point for the peptide.
Ruenzi M et al. (2005) · Clinical trial registries · View on PubMed →
Angiogenesis and VEGFR2 upregulation
In vitro and in vivo work has linked BPC-157’s healing effects to angiogenesis. The peptide upregulates VEGFR2 and downstream signalling through the eNOS / NO axis. This mechanism is consistent with its observed activity in wound-healing models, where new vessel formation is rate-limiting.
Hsieh MJ et al. (2017) · J Cell Mol Med · View on PubMed →
Warnings & cautions
- Not approved for human use in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia. The FDA placed BPC-157 on its list of substances not eligible for use in compounded medications in 2023.
- Banned in competitive sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) under S0 (Non-Approved Substances).
- Long-term safety data is missing. Most chronic-toxicity data comes from rodent studies. Human long-term exposure has not been characterised.
- Source quality is uncontrolled. Products sold for “research” are not FDA-regulated and may contain incorrect doses, contaminants, or different compounds than labelled.
- Angiogenic effects raise theoretical concerns in the context of active or recent cancer, since anything that promotes new blood-vessel growth may also support tumour vascularisation.
References
- Staresinic M, Sebecic B, Patrlj L, et al. (2003). Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 accelerates healing of transected rat Achilles tendon. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. PubMed
- Sikiric P, Seiwerth S, Brcic L, et al. (2006). Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in NSAIDs and other gastrointestinal mucosal lesions. Current Pharmaceutical Design. PubMed
- Ruenzi M, Stolte M, Veljaca M, et al. (2005). A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II study of PL 14736 enema in the treatment of mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. PubMed
- Hsieh MJ, Liu HT, Wang CN, et al. (2017). Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. PubMed
- FDA Compounding Notice (2023). Bulk drug substances proposed for use in compounding under section 503A, BPC-157. FDA
Reference links resolve to PubMed search queries. Verify the specific PMID before citing.
Important: This page is educational and reference-only. BPC-157 is not approved for human use in most jurisdictions and is prohibited in competitive sport. Nothing here is medical advice. Any research must comply with applicable laws and institutional review requirements. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health.