Glossary

Amino Acid: Organic molecule serving as building block of peptides and proteins. 20 standard amino acids. Peptides are defined by their sequence — BPC-157 is 15 amino acids, HGH 191AA is 191.
Anabolic: Metabolic processes that build complex molecules from simpler ones — muscle protein synthesis, for example. GH-related peptides are researched for potential anabolic effects on lean tissue.
Anterior Pituitary: Front portion of the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. Produces GH and other hormones. Target of many GH-related peptide research protocols.

Bacteriostatic Water (BAC Water): Sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol as preservative. Standard diluent for reconstituting peptides. The benzyl alcohol inhibits bacterial growth, allowing multi-dose use over 25–30 days when refrigerated.
Bioavailability: Proportion of a substance that enters systemic circulation after administration. SubQ injection provides high bioavailability for peptides. Oral bioavailability for most peptides is very low.
Bioidentical: Structurally identical to a molecule produced naturally in the body. Somatropin (HGH 191AA) is bioidentical to natural pituitary GH.
Blend: A single vial containing two or more peptides pre-mixed in lyophilized form. Reconstituted and injected as one solution. Ratio of peptides is fixed after reconstitution. Compare: Stack.
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157): Synthetic pentadecapeptide (15 amino acids) derived from a protective protein found in gastric juice. One of the most widely researched peptides for tissue repair, wound healing, and gastrointestinal protection.

Certificate of Analysis (COA): Document from manufacturer or third-party lab reporting results of batch testing — typically purity (via HPLC), identity, endotoxin/sterility. Does not guarantee FDA-regulated pharmaceutical quality.
Concentration: Amount of peptide dissolved per unit volume after reconstitution. Expressed as mg/mL or mcg/mL. Determined by how much diluent you add to the vial. Example: 5 mg + 2 mL = 2.5 mg/mL.
Cycle: Defined period during which a peptide protocol is followed. Many protocols specify an “on” period followed by an “off” period. Length varies by peptide and research goal.

DAC (Drug Affinity Complex): Chemical modification (maleimidopropionic acid linker) that extends a peptide’s half-life by binding to albumin in the bloodstream. CJC-1295 with DAC has a days-long half-life vs minutes without DAC.
Diluent: Liquid used to dissolve lyophilized peptide powder. Most common: bacteriostatic water. Sterile water and sodium chloride also used in some contexts.
Dose / Dosage: Specific amount of peptide administered per injection. Expressed in mg, mcg, or IU. Protocol specifies how much, how often, and for how long.

GH (Growth Hormone): 191-amino acid peptide hormone produced by the anterior pituitary. Stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration. Recombinant forms (somatropin/HGH 191AA) used in clinical medicine.
GHRH (Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone): Hypothalamic peptide stimulating the pituitary to release GH. Synthetic analogues: CJC-1295, Sermorelin, Tesamorelin. Work by amplifying the body’s own GH pulses rather than replacing GH directly.
GHRP (Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide): Class of synthetic peptides stimulating GH release through the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R). Examples: GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Ipamorelin, Hexarelin. Work differently than GHRH analogues and can be combined synergistically.
GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1): Incretin hormone involved in glucose metabolism, appetite regulation, and insulin secretion. GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide) are among the most researched peptides in metabolic medicine.

Half-Life: Time for half of a substance to be eliminated or lose biological activity. Determines dosing frequency. Short half-life peptides (CJC-1295 no DAC: ~30 min) need frequent dosing. Long half-life (semaglutide: ~7 days) allows weekly dosing.
HGH 191AA: Recombinant human growth hormone with native 191-amino acid sequence. Also called somatropin. “191AA” distinguishes from the older 192-amino acid somatrem variant.
HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography): Analytical technique determining peptide purity. Results expressed as percentage (e.g. “98% purity by HPLC”). Typically found on COA.

IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1): Hormone primarily produced by the liver in response to GH stimulation. Mediates many of GH’s anabolic effects. Blood levels commonly monitored during GH protocols.
IM (Intramuscular): Injection directly into muscle tissue. Less common than SubQ for peptides. Used for HCG and some GH protocols. Results in faster absorption than SubQ.
International Unit (IU): Unit measuring biological activity, not weight. Used for specific peptides where potency is standardized through bioassay — primarily HGH (~3 IU per 1 mg) and HCG. Not interchangeable with syringe “units.”
IV (Intravenous): Injection directly into a vein. Rarely used for peptide research protocols. Most peptides administered SubQ or IM.

Loading Dose: Initial higher dose at the start of a protocol to rapidly reach therapeutic concentration, followed by lower maintenance doses. Some protocols (like GLP-1 agonists) use the opposite — titration starting low and ramping up.
Lyophilization (Freeze-Drying): Process removing water from a substance by freezing then reducing pressure to allow frozen water to sublimate. Peptides are lyophilized for stability — powder form can be stored much longer than liquid, reconstituted before use.

mcg (Microgram): Weight unit: one-millionth of a gram, or one-thousandth of a milligram (1 mg = 1,000 mcg). Many peptides dosed in micrograms. Sometimes written μg.
mg (Milligram): Weight unit: one-thousandth of a gram. Used for vial content (e.g. “5 mg vial”) and per-injection doses for peptides at milligram scale.
mL (Milliliter): Volume unit. Used for BAC water volume and syringe measurements. On U-100 syringe: 1 mL = 100 units.

Peptide: Short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Generally 2–50 amino acids. Longer chains are classified as proteins. Serve as signaling molecules, hormones, and structural components in biological systems.
Potency: Measure of biological activity per unit of weight. Influenced by purity, storage, and reconstitution. Degraded peptides may lose potency even if the weight of powder remains the same.
Reconstitution: Process of dissolving lyophilized peptide powder in liquid diluent (typically BAC water) to create an injectable solution. Involves adding diluent along the vial wall and letting the powder dissolve without shaking.

Secretagogue: Substance stimulating secretion of another substance. In peptide context: “GH secretagogues” stimulate natural GH release (CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, GHRP-2, MK-677) vs exogenous GH (HGH 191AA) which replaces hormone directly.
Somatropin: Generic pharmaceutical name for recombinant human growth hormone with native 191-amino acid sequence. Brand names: Humatrope, Genotropin, Norditropin. Also called HGH 191AA in research contexts.
Stack: Protocol involving two or more separate peptide vials used together. Unlike a blend (one vial), a stack requires separate reconstitution and injection of each peptide. Example: BPC-157 and TB-500 from separate vials on the same schedule.
Sterile Water: Water sterilized to be free of microorganisms but containing no preservative. If used for reconstitution instead of BAC water, the solution should be used within 24–48 hours.
SubQ / SC (Subcutaneous): Injection into the fatty tissue layer beneath the skin. Most common injection method for peptide protocols. Common sites: lower abdomen, thigh, upper arm.

TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4 Fragment): Synthetic peptide based on a naturally occurring 43-amino acid protein involved in cell migration, tissue repair, and inflammation modulation. Commonly researched alongside BPC-157 in tissue-recovery protocols.
Titration: Gradually adjusting dose — usually starting low and increasing incrementally — to find the optimal effective dose while minimizing side effects. GLP-1 agonist protocols follow strict titration schedules over several weeks.

U-100 Syringe: Insulin syringe calibrated so 100 units = 1 mL. Each unit = 0.01 mL. Most common syringe type in peptide protocols. Also available in U-50 (50 units = 0.5 mL) and U-30 (30 units = 0.3 mL) for smaller precise volumes.
Units (Syringe Units vs. International Units): Critical distinction: syringe units are volume marks (U-100: 100 units = 1 mL, so 1 unit = 0.01 mL). International Units measure biological potency for specific peptides like HGH and HCG. Completely different measurements.
Vial: Small sealed glass container holding lyophilized peptide powder. Sealed with rubber stopper and aluminum crimp cap. Label indicates peptide name and total content (e.g. “BPC-157 5 mg”). After reconstitution, solution is drawn through the rubber stopper.

WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency): International organization maintaining the Prohibited List for competitive sports. Many peptides are prohibited: growth hormone, GH fragments, GH secretagogues (CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, MK-677), and GLP-1 agonists in certain competition contexts.

Your cart is empty

Glossary

Peptide Glossary

Never Miss a Restock