Substance P
Substance P (Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2)
Substance P is like your body's alarm system that got a little too enthusiastic about its job. This small protein molecule was originally discovered as a pain messenger, but scientists quickly realized it's involved in way more than just telling you "ouch" – it also plays roles in inflammation, gut health, mood, and even hair growth, which is why researchers are so fascinated by it.
Think of Substance P as a very chatty messenger that travels through your nervous system, constantly communicating between your brain, spine, gut, and other tissues. When something painful happens, like touching a hot stove, special nerve fibers release Substance P, which then docks onto receptor sites like a key fitting into a lock. Once connected, it doesn't just send a simple pain signal – it actually amplifies the alarm, making your spinal cord more sensitive to pain signals. This is why sometimes a small injury can feel disproportionately painful.
But here's where it gets interesting: this same messenger also talks to your immune system, telling blood vessels to widen and calling in immune cells when there's inflammation. In your gut, it helps control digestion and connects your stomach feelings to your brain. Surprisingly, around your hair follicles, too much Substance P can actually stress them out and contribute to hair loss, which is why blocking it might help with stress-related hair problems.
Dosage Information
Typical Dose
Research compound — no established therapeutic dosing
Frequency
N/A
Administration
IV, intradermal, or subcutaneous injection (research settings)
Half-Life
1–2 minutes
Notes
Substance P itself is primarily studied as a target for antagonist therapies rather than as a therapeutic agent. NK1R antagonists like aprepitant block Substance P signaling and are FDA-approved for chemotherapy-induced nausea.
Why this matters
Extremely rapid degradation; research use only with specialized delivery.
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Where does Substance P sit?
See how this peptide compares across all 150 peptides in our database.
Evidence Score
0.31
Compound Data
Molecular Formula
C63H98N18O13S
Molecular Weight
1347.60 g/mol
IUPAC Name
(2S)-2-[[(2S)-1-[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-1-[(2S)-2-amino-5-(diaminomethylideneamino)pentanoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl]amino]hexanoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl]amino]-N-[(2S)-5-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[2-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-amino-4-methylsulfanyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl]amino]-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-2-oxoethyl]amino]-1-oxo-3-phenylpropan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxo-3-phenylpropan-2-yl]amino]-1,5-dioxopentan-2-yl]pentanediamide
PubChem CID
36511Potential Side Effects
Substance P discussions
Quick Facts
- Administration
- IV, intradermal, or subcutaneous injection (research settings)
- Typical Dose
- Research compound — no established therapeutic dosing
- Frequency
- N/A
- References
- 0 curated + 41 from PubMed
- Evidence Score
- 0.3 / 100
Frequently Asked Questions about Substance P
What is Substance P?
Substance P is an 11-amino-acid neuropeptide belonging to the tachykinin family that functions as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. It is primarily known as a pain signaling molecule but has diverse roles in inflammation immune function mood regulation and hair growth. Substance P has attracted significant research interest for its role in the gut-brain axis stress response and as a potential therapeutic target for pain chronic inflammatory conditions and depression. It also plays a surprising role in hair follicle biology making it relevant to alopecia research.
How does Substance P work?
Substance P acts primarily through the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) which is widely distributed in the nervous system immune cells skin and gut. In pain signaling it is released from primary afferent neurons (C-fibers and A-delta fibers) in response to noxious stimuli and amplifies pain signals in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord — a process called central sensitization. In inflammation it acts as a vasodilator promotes mast cell degranulation and enhances immune cell recruitment. In the gut Substance P regulates motility secretion and the enteric nervous system. In hair follicles Substance P from perifollicular nerve fibers can trigger premature catagen entry — paradoxically making NK1R antagonists (which block Substance P) potentially useful for stress-related hair loss conditions like telogen effluvium.
What is the recommended dosage for Substance P?
The typical dose is Research compound — no established therapeutic dosing. N/A. Administration: IV, intradermal, or subcutaneous injection (research settings). Substance P itself is primarily studied as a target for antagonist therapies rather than as a therapeutic agent. NK1R antagonists like aprepitant block Substance P signaling and are FDA-approved for chemotherapy-induced nausea.
What are the side effects of Substance P?
Research compound — limited therapeutic use data. Pro-inflammatory effects at high doses. Pain sensitization with excess signaling
Questions reflect common community inquiries. This is not medical advice.