Description
Melanotan II is a synthetic melanocortin peptide analog that exhibits thermogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherosclerotic activities; it non-selectively binds melanocortin receptors. Melanotan II was originally designed to promote skin pigmentation, but has since been shown to induce arousal and increase body temperature in clinical settings and animal models. Melanotan II also decreases fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in atherosclerotic plaques, decreases pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and increases aortic vasorelaxation in animal models of atherosclerosis.