Evidence Grade E — Very limited evidence. 0 published studies. 1 registered clinical trial.
Medically reviewed by a licensed medical professional
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is a cosmetic peptide ingredient designed to reduce skin inflammation, making it the anti-inflammatory half of the Matrixyl 3000 combination. Developed under the trade name Rigin, it targets the inflammatory signalling that contributes to skin ageing. It has no pharmaceutical approval.
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is also known by these brand and alternate names:
No published studies found on PubMed.
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 has no pharmaceutical authorisation. It is used as a cosmetic ingredient, primarily as a component of Matrixyl 3000 (#135). A standalone study (17 subjects) reported improvements in skin firmness and wrinkle reduction.
Its anti-inflammatory mechanism provides a different approach to skin ageing compared to collagen-stimulating peptides. It is a topical cosmetic ingredient.
Research suggests Pal-GQPR suppresses the inflammatory signalling molecule IL-6, which increases in skin with age and UV exposure and contributes to collagen breakdown. In vitro studies report up to 86% suppression of UV-induced IL-6 production. The anti-inflammatory approach to skin ageing is biologically plausible but has not been confirmed through pharmaceutical-grade clinical trials.
Research suggests a small standalone study (17 participants) reported improvements in skin firmness and wrinkle reduction. Laboratory studies show suppression of an inflammatory signalling molecule (IL-6) in UV-exposed cells, but this has only been demonstrated in cell cultures, not in human skin. All data are manufacturer-sponsored with small sample sizes. No large independent trials exist. It is a topical cosmetic ingredient.
PeptideTrace tracks 1 registered clinical trial for Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Trial Assessing the Impact on Facial Skin Quality, Hydration, and Skin Barrier of Three (3) Hydrafacial Treatments in Adults of All Skin Types.
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (Pal-GQPR, Rigin) is a 4-amino acid lipopeptide with the sequence Pal-Gly-Gln-Pro-Arg. Its molecular weight is approximately 694.9 Da (CAS 221227-05-0). Developed by Sederma under the trade name Rigin, it is derived from an immunoglobulin G fragment (positions 224-227). Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is the anti-inflammatory component of the Matrixyl 3000 combination, complementing the collagen-stimulating activity of Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1.
Research suggests Pal-GQPR suppresses IL-6 production by up to 40% under basal conditions and 86% under UV-induced stress conditions. The anti-inflammatory mechanism mimics aspects of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) activity, with in vitro comparisons showing comparable UV-cytokine reduction (37% versus 34%). By reducing inflammation-driven collagen degradation, Pal-GQPR complements the direct collagen synthesis stimulation of Pal-GHK. The specific molecular mechanism by which this IgG fragment suppresses IL-6 remains undefined.
A standalone study (N=17, 15 ppm, 1 month) reported face firmness increase of 19%, neck firmness increase of 40%, elasticity improvement of 17% (face) and 27% (neck), deepest wrinkle reduction of 56% at 15 days, and roughness reduction of 14%. As a component of Matrixyl 3000, additional efficacy data are available from the combined formulation studies. The IL-6 suppression data are in vitro only. The in vitro comparison to DHEA activity provides a reference point for potency.
The information on this page is provided for educational and research reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.
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GHK has no pharmaceutical authorisation. Small cosmetic studies of the copper-complexed form (GHK-Cu) have reported improvements in skin appearance measures. No pharmaceutical clinical trials for injectable use have been completed. As with GHK-Cu (#85), the cosmetic evidence base for topical use should be distinguished from claims about injectable use. Gene expression profiling studies have reported broad effects, but observational genomic changes do not constitute evidence of therapeutic efficacy. This entry overlaps substantially with GHK-Cu (#85).
Argireline has no pharmaceutical authorisation. It is widely available as a cosmetic ingredient in over-the-counter skincare products. Small industry-sponsored studies have reported wrinkle depth reductions of 17–30% with topical application. The key scientific question is whether sufficient peptide penetrates intact skin to reach neuromuscular junctions and produce a meaningful effect. The molecule's size exceeds the conventional limit for transdermal absorption. Argireline's cosmetic use in formulated skincare products represents a fundamentally different risk profile from injectable use.
GHK-Cu has no pharmaceutical authorisation from any regulatory agency. It is widely available as a cosmetic ingredient in over-the-counter skincare products, where it is marketed for skin conditioning. A small study comparing GHK-Cu cream to vitamin C and retinoic acid creams reported improvements in skin appearance measures. No pharmaceutical clinical trials for injectable GHK-Cu have been completed. The compound's cosmetic use (topical, in formulated skincare products) should be clearly distinguished from its unregulated availability as an injectable research compound. These represent fundamentally different risk profiles.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health.
