Compound Monographs
Clinical monographs for peptides and supplements, sourced from the IdeaVerse research backbone. Each entry covers indications and evidence, prescribing, safety, individual response modifiers, and an Ataraxia Verdict. Every PMID was live-verified before publication.
Peptides
14 peptides
§ PEPTIDE
moderate
BPC-157
BPC-157 is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide derived from a protein found in human gastric juice. Developed in the 1990s at the University of Zagreb, Croatia, as a gastric cytoprotective agent.
§ PEPTIDE
moderate
Cerebrolysin
Cerebrolysin is a porcine brain-derived neuropeptide preparation produced by Ever Neuro Pharma (Austria) since 1976. It is approximately 85% free amino acids and 15% low-molecular-weight peptides (<10 kDa), supplied as a sterile pre-mixed solution at 215.2 mg/mL of Cerebrolysin c
§ PEPTIDE
moderate
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys + Cu²⁺) found in human plasma, released during tissue injury from extracellular matrix protein degradation. Plasma levels decline ~60% with aging (200 ng/mL age 20 → 80 ng/mL age 60), which correlates with red
§ PEPTIDE
moderate
Glutathione
Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant intracellular thiol and the principal non-enzymatic antioxidant in mammalian cells. It is a tripeptide (glutamate-cysteine-glycine) synthesized endogenously, with cysteine availability as the rate-limiting step.
§ PEPTIDE
low
KPV
KPV is a synthetic tripeptide (Lys-Pro-Val) — the C-terminal fragment of α-MSH (alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone). Identified in the late 1980s by Lipton's NIH group as the minimal anti-inflammatory pharmacophore of α-MSH, it carries the cytokine-suppressive activity of the p
§ PEPTIDE
low-moderate
Melanotan II
Melanotan II (MT-2) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), first synthesized at the University of Arizona in the late 1980s by Hruby and Hadley. It is a non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist that binds MC1R, MC3R, MC4R
§ PEPTIDE
moderate
MK-677 (Ibutamoren)
MK-677 (ibutamoren mesylate) is a non-peptide, orally active growth hormone secretagogue that mimics ghrelin at the GHS-R1a receptor. Developed by Merck in the 1990s for GH deficiency, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and age-related frailty.
§ PEPTIDE
preliminary
MOTS-c
MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA Type-c) is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide discovered in 2015 by Lee et al. at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology (PMID: 25738459).
§ PEPTIDE
low
PP-405
PP-405 is a first-in-class topical small molecule that inhibits the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC), developed by Pelage Pharmaceuticals (UCLA spin-out). It reactivates dormant hair follicle stem cells by shifting their metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis
§ PEPTIDE
moderate-strong
Retatrutide
Retatrutide (LY3437943) is a synthetic peptide developed by Eli Lilly that simultaneously activates three metabolic receptors: GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon. It is the first triple agonist to reach Phase 3 clinical trials for obesity.
§ PEPTIDE
strong
Semaglutide
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist (glucagon-like peptide-1) with 94% structural homology to native human GLP-1, engineered for extended half-life (~7 days) via albumin binding and DPP-4 resistance. It is among the most extensively studied peptides in modern medicine, with 5
§ PEPTIDE
moderate
Sermorelin
Sermorelin is a synthetic 29-amino-acid peptide corresponding to the first 29 residues of endogenous growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-44). It binds to GHRH receptors on anterior pituitary somatotroph cells, stimulating synthesis and pulsatile secretion of endogenous growt
§ PEPTIDE
moderate
TB-500
TB-500 is the commercially available synthetic form of Thymosin Beta-4 (Tβ4), a naturally occurring 43-amino acid peptide encoded by the TMSB4X gene on the X chromosome. Tβ4 is ubiquitously expressed in nearly all tissues except erythrocytes, with highest concentrations in platel
§ PEPTIDE
strong
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is a once-weekly subcutaneous synthetic peptide (39 amino acids) engineered as a dual agonist of the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor. The dual mechanism — distinct from semaglutide and other
Supplements
55 supplements
§ SUPPLEMENT
preliminary
Agmatine
Agmatine is decarboxylated L-arginine, an endogenous neuromodulator produced in small amounts by human tissues and by gut microbiota. It is sold OTC as agmatine sulfate for three overlapping audiences: chronic neuropathic-pain sufferers (the only indication with a human RCT), bod
§ SUPPLEMENT
preliminary
Apigenin
Apigenin is the predominant flavone in parsley, celery, and chamomile, and the signature bioactive in Matricaria recutita. It rose to supplement-industry prominence via two narratives: (1) GABA-A benzodiazepine-site modulation underlying chamomile's mild anxiolytic/sedative effec
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate-strong
Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a keto-carotenoid produced by the microalga *Haematococcus pluvialis*. Humans cannot synthesize it; dietary sources include salmon, shrimp, and krill.
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Biotin
Biotin (vitamin B7) is a water-soluble B-vitamin that serves as an essential cofactor for four carboxylases involved in fatty acid synthesis, gluconeogenesis, and amino acid catabolism. It is one of the most overhyped supplements on the market — massively promoted for hair growth
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate-strong
Black Cumin
Black cumin (*Nigella sativa*) is a Ranunculaceae-family seed whose principal bioactive, thymoquinone (TQ), drives broad anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metabolic effects. The evidence base is unusually strong for a botanical supplement: a 2025 GRADE-assessed meta-analysis of
§ SUPPLEMENT
low
Black Walnut
Black walnut hull (from *Juglans nigra*, native to eastern North America) is primarily used in traditional and integrative medicine as an antiparasitic and antimicrobial agent. The active compound juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) generates reactive oxygen species via redox
§ SUPPLEMENT
low
Blackstrap Molasses
Blackstrap molasses is the concentrated syrup from the third boiling of sugarcane juice — the final byproduct of sugar refining. It retains the minerals stripped during crystallization: (3.6 mg/tbsp, 20% RDA), (293 mg), (48 mg), (41 mg), (0.1 mg), and manganese (0.5 mg).
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Boron
Boron is a trace metalloid (atomic number 5) obtained entirely from diet — fruits, nuts, legumes, wine. The body does not synthesize it.
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Calcium
Calcium is the body's most abundant mineral — 99% stored in bones and teeth as hydroxyapatite, 1% in blood and soft tissues tightly regulated at 8.5–10.5 mg/dL. It serves structural (bone mineralization), signaling (intracellular second messenger), neuromuscular (muscle contracti
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Choline
Choline is a conditionally essential nutrient required for cell membrane synthesis (phosphatidylcholine), neurotransmitter production (acetylcholine), lipid transport (VLDL assembly), and methyl group donation (one-carbon metabolism via betaine). Approximately 90% of Americans co
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is a lipophilic benzoquinone that functions as an electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (Complex I/II → Complex III) and as a potent lipid-soluble antioxidant. It exists in two interconvertible forms: ubiquinone (oxidized) and ubiquinol (redu
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate-strong
Collagen Peptides
is the most abundant protein in mammals (~30% of total body protein), providing structural integrity to skin, bone, cartilage, tendons, and blood vessels. Supplementation comes in two fundamentally different forms: hydrolyzed collagen peptides (2-15 kDa, absorbed as bioactive dip
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Copper
Copper is an essential trace mineral required as a cofactor for >20 cuproenzymes governing iron metabolism (ceruloplasmin), antioxidant defense (Cu/Zn-SOD1), mitochondrial energy production (cytochrome c oxidase), connective tissue integrity (lysyl oxidase), neurotransmitter synt
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Creatine Monohydrate
Creatine monohydrate is the most extensively studied dietary supplement in history, with 500+ RCTs spanning 30+ years and a safety record matched by few compounds. It is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative (synthesized from arginine, glycine, and methionine) that function
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Finasteride
Finasteride is a selective Type II 5α-reductase inhibitor. It blocks conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in androgen-dependent tissues (scalp, prostate), sparing the Type I isoform that dominates liver, skin, and CNS.
§ SUPPLEMENT
low
Fo-Ti
Polygonum multiflorum (Fo-Ti / He Shou Wu) is a TCM botanical from the Polygonaceae family with a complex phytochemistry centered on stilbene glycosides (primarily 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside, TSG) and anthraquinones (emodin, physcion, rhein). Traditional use
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Folate
Folate is a water-soluble B-vitamin essential for one-carbon metabolism, DNA synthesis, and methylation reactions. Humans cannot synthesize it — dietary or supplemental intake is required.
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate-strong
Glycine
Glycine is the simplest amino acid and one of the most metabolically versatile molecules in human physiology. It serves as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, NMDA receptor co-agonist, structural component of collagen (~33% of collagen amino acids), precursor to glutathione (the body
§ SUPPLEMENT
low
Honokiol
Honokiol is a biphenolic neolignan from *Magnolia officinalis* bark with centuries of use in traditional Chinese (houpu) and Japanese (koboku) medicine for anxiety, insomnia, and digestive complaints. Its two most compelling pharmacological properties are GABA-A receptor positive
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Iron
Iron (Fe) is the world's most common nutrient deficiency, affecting ~2 billion people globally (PMID 40263631, Nature Medicine 2025). The human body contains 3-5g of iron distributed across hemoglobin (65-70%), myoglobin (10%), enzymes (5%), and storage as ferritin/hemosiderin (2
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
L-Arginine
L-Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid and the substrate for nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Oral supplementation modestly raises plasma arginine, but ~40% first-pass arginase extraction in gut and liver means plasma arginine rises are smaller and shorter than equimolar
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate-strong
L-Theanine
L-Theanine (gamma-glutamylethylamide) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid found in tea leaves (Camellia sinensis, 1-3% dry weight) and certain mushrooms (Boletus badius). Not synthesized endogenously in humans.
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Lactobacillus reuteri
Limosilactobacillus reuteri (formerly *Lactobacillus reuteri*) is a gram-positive, heterofermentative bacterium that naturally colonizes the human GI tract, oral cavity, and urogenital system. It is the most clinically studied single-strain probiotic, with 258 registered clinical
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate-strong
Lion's Mane
Lion's Mane (*Hericium erinaceus*) is a medicinal and culinary mushroom producing two classes of neuroactive compounds: erinacines (from mycelia, cross BBB, stimulate NGF synthesis) and hericenones (from fruiting bodies, stimulate NGF peripherally). Beta-glucan polysaccharides pr
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Luteolin
Luteolin (3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) is a flavone found in celery, parsley, chamomile, artichoke, and green peppers. It is one of the most extensively studied dietary flavonoids, with 492+ publications in 2024-2026 alone and a rich preclinical evidence base spanning anti-infl
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Maca
Maca (*Lepidium meyenii*) is a Peruvian cruciferous root vegetable cultivated above 4,000 m in the Andes for ~2,000 years, consumed traditionally as both food and fertility aid. It is classified as an adaptogen in the supplement market.
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Magnesium
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and a cofactor in 600+ enzymatic reactions including ATP synthesis, protein synthesis, neurotransmitter regulation, and blood pressure control. Total body content is 21-28g, with 99% intracellular (50-60% bone, 39% soft ti
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Melatonin
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an endogenous neurohormone synthesized from via in the pineal gland, serving as the body's primary darkness signal and circadian phase marker. Exogenous melatonin at physiologic doses (0.3–3 mg) reduces sleep onset latency by 7–12 minut
§ SUPPLEMENT
mixed
Methylene Blue
Methylene blue (methylthioninium chloride, MB) is a phenothiazine-derived redox-cycling cation first synthesized in 1876 by Heinrich Caro and used as a textile dye, biological stain, and antimalarial. It is FDA-approved as USP-grade injection for acquired methemoglobinemia (1–2 m
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle (*Silybum marianum*) produces silymarin, a mixture of flavonolignans dominated by silybin (50-70%). It has been used for liver conditions for over 2,000 years and is one of the most studied herbal supplements globally.
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a vascular potassium-channel (Kir6.1/SUR2B) opener originally approved for severe refractory hypertension (1979, Loniten). Repurposed for androgenetic alopecia after clinical observation of hypertrichosis in hypertensive patients, topical 2% and 5% became FDA-approve
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Moringa Oleifera
(Moringa oleifera Lam., family Moringaceae) is a fast-growing tropical tree native to the Himalayan foothills, now cultivated worldwide. The leaves are one of the most nutrient-dense plant foods documented — 25–30% protein with all essential amino acids, exceptional mineral densi
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
N-Acetylcysteine
N-Acetylcysteine is the acetylated derivative of the amino acid , serving as the most clinically validated precursor for (GSH) synthesis. The acetyl group enhances oral stability while preserving the free thiol (-SH) group responsible for its antioxidant, mucolytic, and glutamate
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate-strong
NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is an essential coenzyme present in every living cell, serving as an electron carrier in >500 enzymatic reactions and a substrate for sirtuins (SIRT1-7), PARPs (DNA repair enzymes), and CD38 (immune signaling). NAD+ levels decline 40–50% b
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate-strong
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide
is a nucleotide precursor to (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) in the salvage pathway. NAD+ declines 30-50% by age 50-60 due to reduced NAMPT enzyme activity, impairing mitochondrial function, DNA repair, sirtuin signaling, and circadian rhythm regulation.
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA/DHA)
Omega-3 fatty acids — primarily eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) — are essential polyunsaturated fats that humans cannot synthesize de novo. They incorporate into cell membranes, modulate inflammatory signaling via eicosanoid pathways,
§ SUPPLEMENT
low
PABA (Para-Aminobenzoic Acid)
PABA is a naturally occurring aromatic amino acid and a precursor to folic acid — but only in bacteria and plants, not in humans. We lack the enzyme (dihydropteroate synthase) needed to incorporate PABA into folate.
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is the lipido-sterolic extract of Serenoa repens berries (Florida dwarf palm). It contains 85–95% free fatty acids (lauric, oleic, myristic, linoleic, palmitic) plus β-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and flavonoids.
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Shilajit
Shilajit is a humic-substance exudate from Himalayan, Altai, Caucasus, Hindu Kush, and Andean rock formations — a heterogeneous phytocomplex of fulvic acid (60-80%), humic acid (15-20%), dibenzo-α-pyrones (DBPs), trace minerals (85+ elements), phenolic compounds, and triterpenes.
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Spermidine
Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine central to cellular autophagy, eIF5A hypusination, and mitochondrial quality control. Endogenous synthesis declines 30-50% with age.
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate-strong
Spirulina
is a filamentous cyanobacterium (blue-green microalgae) cultivated commercially as *Arthrospira platensis* or *Arthrospira maxima*. Dried biomass contains ~60–70% protein, 10–20% (a blue photosynthetic pigment), 0.8–1.4% gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), carotenoids, and trace minerals
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Sulforaphane
Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate produced when the enzyme myrosinase hydrolyzes glucoraphanin in cruciferous vegetables (broccoli sprouts = highest concentration, ~10-100x mature broccoli weight-for-weight). It is the most-studied Nrf2 activator on the planet — and it is also th
§ SUPPLEMENT
preliminary
Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)
Superoxide dismutase is the enzyme family (Cu/Zn-SOD1 cytosol, MnSOD2 mitochondria, EC-SOD3 extracellular) that catalyzes dismutation of superoxide radical into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. It is the front-line antioxidant defense and a critical determinant of mitochondrial redo
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate-strong
Taurine
Conditionally essential sulfur-containing amino acid. Synthesized endogenously from cysteine/methionine via CDO1 + CSAD ( cofactor), with vegetarian/vegan plasma levels 20–30% lower than omnivores.
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Tongkat Ali
Tongkat Ali is a Southeast Asian herbal extract marketed as a natural testosterone booster. The clinical reality is narrower and weaker than the marketing: a modest, somewhat-replicated signal for raising testosterone in men already below the hypogonadal threshold, a small-RCT si
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate
Urolithin A
Urolithin A (UA) activates PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy — the selective clearance of damaged mitochondria — and stimulates PGC-1α-driven mitochondrial biogenesis. In adults ≥65 with muscle weakness, 1000 mg/day for 4 months improved 6-minute walk distance by 17% (p=0.005) vs
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an essential fat-soluble vitamin existing in two supplement-relevant forms: preformed retinoids (retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate — from animal sources, direct bioactive) and provitamin A carotenoids (β-carotene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin — from plants,
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Thiamine is an essential water-soluble vitamin whose active form (thiamine pyrophosphate, TPP) serves as a coenzyme for pyruvate dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, transketolase, and branched-chain α-KGDH. Humans cannot synthesize it; body stores last ~2–3 weeks.
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Vitamin B12
Cobalamin is a cobalt-centered corrinoid vitamin required for DNA synthesis (via methionine synthase → tetrahydrofolate regeneration) and mitochondrial succinyl-CoA production (via methylmalonyl-CoA mutase). Endogenous reserves in liver are 2–5 mg — enough for 3–5 years of deplet
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3 is a family of four clinically distinct compounds that share one destination (NAD+/NADP+) but diverge in pharmacology, safety, and indication: - Niacin (nicotinic acid) — GPR109A agonist; causes cutaneous flushing; historically used for dyslipidemia but definitively ab
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble essential nutrient. Humans lost L-gulonolactone oxidase ~60 million years ago, making dietary intake mandatory.
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble secosteroid hormone synthesized in skin from 7-dehydrocholesterol via UVB, then 25-hydroxylated in liver (→ 25-OHD) and 1α-hydroxylated in kidney (→ 1,25-(OH)₂D, the active form). The active metabolite binds the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR), a nuclear rece
§ SUPPLEMENT
moderate-strong
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is an obligate cofactor for γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX), which adds γ-carboxyl groups to glutamate residues in vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs): clotting factors II/VII/IX/X and protein C/S/Z (hepatic), osteocalcin and matrix-Gla-protein (MGP) (extrahepatic), plus
§ SUPPLEMENT
low
Wheatgrass
- Young wheat shoot (leaf stage, pre-grain) consumed as fresh juice, frozen juice, spray-dried or freeze-dried powder, or compressed tablets. Chlorophyll-rich (500–700 mg/100 g fresh); variable polyphenol content (apigenin, quercetin, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, catechin, coumari
§ SUPPLEMENT
strong
Zinc
Zinc is an essential trace mineral with the widest documented biological scope of any supplement in this library — cofactor for 300+ metalloenzymes, structural element in 2000+ zinc-finger transcription factors, essential for thymulin-driven T-cell maturation, and central to woun