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Evidence: LowPeptide Research Only Cosmetic & Skin

Oligopeptide-68

also known as: GRGDYIWSLDTQ

A 12-residue 'TGF-β1 biomimetic' cosmetic peptide used for melasma products. Its human data come from creams combining it with diacetyl boldine and other agents.

Oligopeptide-68 is a synthetic 12-residue peptide, GRGDYIWSLDTQ, sold as a skin-lightening cosmetic ingredient and described as TGF-β1 biomimetic. In a 2016 randomized trial in 40 women with melasma it was one of several actives, with diacetyl boldine, other lightening and exfoliating agents and sunscreen, so the result belongs to the combination. It is not a drug.

No dosing data yet Details ↓

Dosing

Recommended Dosing

No dosing data yet

This page has no dosing data yet.

Mechanism of action

The 2016 trial paper describes it as inhibiting tyrosinase activity, the enzyme step that makes melanin; that description is the authors' summary, not a measurement of the peptide on its own in that trial.

Primary uses

Cosmetic skin-lightening and melasma products (in combinations)

Typical dosing

Not established for human use

No controlled study of the ingredient on its own states an amount used on skin, and a supplier's use level is not a source on this site, so none is given.

Regulatory status

Not a drug: used as a cosmetic ingredient under its INCI name. PubChem records it under its sequence (CID 163285842, synonym oligopeptide-68). Drugs@FDA and the EMA medicines list hold no record for it (searched October 28, 2026).

Status as of this entry's last review, October 28, 2026. Approvals, compounding rules and sport rules change; the regulatory tracker is checked more often.

What we checked

Oligopeptide-68 is a melasma-product peptide whose human data are combination trials; this section records what can be checked.

Identity, computed

Sequence	Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Tyr-Ile-Trp-Ser-Leu-Asp-Thr-Gln (GRGDYIWSLDTQ)
Formula	C62H91N17O21
Average mass	1410.51 g/mol
Monoisotopic mass	1409.6575 Da
Isoelectric point	4.11 (net charge -1.02 at pH 7)

PubChem's record (CID 163285842) is titled by this sequence and lists oligopeptide-68 as a synonym; the values below are computed for the free acid and agree with PubChem's formula.

Regulatory status, read October 28, 2026

Drugs@FDA: 0 records for “oligopeptide-68”. EMA medicines list: 0 records for “oligopeptide-68”. Run for semaglutide, the same queries return 6 and 5 records (and the registry search 80 trials), so a zero here is an absence, not a broken search. Not named on the WADA 2026 and 2027 Prohibited Lists. As a substance with no current approval for human therapeutic use, it falls under section S0 (non-approved substances), which is prohibited at all times; the lists were read on October 28, 2026.

What the studies show

A 12-week randomized, double-blind study in 40 women with facial melasma used two formulas containing diacetyl boldine and oligopeptide-68 with other hypopigmenting and exfoliating agents and sunscreen, and compared them with hydroquinone on normal skin (J Cosmet Dermatol, 2016). It tested combinations.

A three-month study in 20 women with melasma used a complex of oligopeptide-68, phytic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid and octinoxate and assessed it by reflectance confocal microscopy, with no comparison group described (Agozzino et al., 2020). It tested the combination.

What we looked for and did not find

No study of the peptide alone in people, no registry record and no drug approval.

Source	Query	Results, October 28, 2026	What it was
PubMed	("oligopeptide-68"[tiab] OR "oligopeptide 68"[tiab])	2	the hyphenated INCI name is matched word by word (Q958): a phrase search for a hyphen-numbered name misses papers
ClinicalTrials.gov	oligopeptide-68	0
Drugs@FDA (openFDA)	oligopeptide-68	0
EMA medicines list	oligopeptide-68	0

References

[other] PubChem CID 163285842, H-Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Tyr-Ile-Trp-Ser-Leu-Asp-Thr-Gln-OH: formula C62H91N17O21, molecular weight 1410.5. Read October 28, 2026. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/163285842
[clinical-trial] Pratchyapurit WO. "Combined use of two formulations containing diacetyl boldine, TGF-β1 biomimetic oligopeptide-68 with other hypopigmenting/exfoliating agents and sunscreen provides effective and convenient treatment for facial melasma. Either is equal to or is better than 4% hydroquinone on normal skin." J Cosmet Dermatol, 2016;15(2):131-44. PMID: 26833454.
[clinical-trial] Agozzino M, et al. "Reflectance Confocal Microscopy Assessment of the Depigmenting Agents Complex for Melasma Treatment." J Clin Aesthet Dermatol, 2020;13(9):41-44. PMID: 33133340.

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Guides & tools

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Disclaimer

This entry is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Dosing information reflects published regulatory or research data and is not a recommendation. Many compounds described here are not approved for human use in the United States. Consult a licensed medical professional before considering any peptide therapy.