Substance P
Research profile · How we handle evidence
Substance P is an endogenous 11-amino-acid neuropeptide of the tachykinin family, first discovered in 1931. It signals primarily through the NK1 receptor and is one of the most-studied neuropeptides in pain (nociception), neurogenic inflammation, mood regulation, and gastrointestinal function.
Evidence Score
Preclinical signal
Category
Therapeutic area
Standard Dose
Research context only
Half-life
Plasma elimination
Route
Subcutaneous
Safety Tier
Limited data
Overview
Substance P is a natural signaling molecule your nervous system uses to communicate pain and stress-related information, and it's also implicated in mood and nausea/vomiting reflexes (it's the reason NK1-receptor blockers like aprepitant are used as anti-nausea drugs). It's studied as a research reagent, not sold as a self-administration protocol peptide.
Mechanism of Action
Substance P is a natural signaling molecule your nervous system uses to communicate pain and stress-related information, and it's also implicated in mood and nausea/vomiting reflexes (it's the reason NK1-receptor blockers like aprepitant are used as anti-nausea drugs). It's studied as a research reagent, not sold as a self-administration protocol peptide.
Benefits
- Central research tool for studying pain/nociception pathways
- Studied in neurogenic inflammation and wound-healing research
- Studied in mood and stress-response research (NK1 receptor pathway)
Side Effects
- No established human self-administration safety profile
- Elevated Substance P/NK1 signaling is associated with pain and inflammatory states in the literature, which informs why it is studied rather than supplemented
- Effects are highly context- and route-dependent in the animal literature
Contraindications
- No established human therapeutic use - research reagent only
- Not evaluated for pregnancy, pediatric, or long-term safety
Structure & Sequence
Verified structure
Substance P
Sequence illustration backed by PubChem match.
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2 (RPKPQQFFGLM-NH2)
- Molecular Weight
- 1,347.63 Da
- Chemical Formula
- C63H98N18O13S
- CAS Number
- 33507-63-0
- InChIKey
- ADNPLDHMAVUMIW-CUZNLEPHSA-N
Stack & Route Context
Stacks with
No entries listed.
Administration
Subcutaneous
Research Status
Extensively studied endogenous neuropeptide since its 1931 discovery, with a large preclinical literature; human therapeutic development in this space has focused on NK1-receptor antagonist drugs (e.g., aprepitant) rather than Substance P itself.
Approval Status
Preclinical
Sports Legal
Permitted
References
- 1View source
Biochemistry, Substance P - StatPearls
2023
This profile summarizes research literature for education only. It is not medical advice, and it does not diagnose, treat, or recommend a dose. Consult a qualified professional before changing a protocol.