Pair page
GHK Basic with Glutathione
Mechanism-tag overlap and published literature for GHK Basic and Glutathione, pulled verbatim from each Kalios compound profile. Kalios is a literature reference, not a recommendation.
Mechanism overlap
Mechanism tags are verbatim labels on each compound's profile. Generic tags ("peptide", "small-molecule", "research-chemical") are excluded from this overlap view. Tags are descriptive — not an inference about combined effect.
GHK Basic unique
matrikine-cosmetic-signaling-peptide
Shared
tripeptide
Glutathione unique
master-endogenous-antioxidant
Quick facts
GHK Basic
RouteTopical (cosmetic) / research SubQ
Half-lifeMinutes (plasma, extrapolated)
FDA statusCosmetic ingredient only
WADANot specifically named; plausibly S0 by analogy
Glutathione
RouteIV / IM / SubQ / nebulized / liposomal oral
Half-lifeNot listed
FDA statusNo drug approval; supplement & compounded injectable
WADANot listed
Literature table
Classified references from each compound profile. Click a column header to sort. Click a PMID to open PubMed. Findings are quoted verbatim from each profile's literature_summary; nothing here is added or interpreted.
| Year | Compound | Source | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | GHK Basic | Choi HR, Kang YA, Ryoo SJ, Shin JW, Na JI, Huh CH, Park KC. Stem cell recovering effect of copper-free GHK in skin. J Pept Sci. 2012;18(11):685-690. doi:10.1002/psc.2455. (Key paper for copper-free GHK: stem-cell preservation in human skin equivalents without copper coordination… | human study |
| 2011 | GHK Basic | Hostynek JJ, Dreher F, Maibach HI. Human skin penetration of a copper tripeptide in vitro as a function of skin layer. Inflamm Res. 2011;60(1):79-86. PMID: 20835751. (Topical penetration data — relevant to cosmetic copper-free formulations.) PMID 20835751 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 1988 | GHK Basic | Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu²⁺. FEBS Lett. 1988;238(2):343-346. PMID: 3169264. (Foundational collagen-stimulation paper… PMID 3169264 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2017 | GHK Basic | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. The Effect of the Human Peptide GHK on Gene Expression Relevant to Nervous System Function and Cognitive Decline. Brain Sci. 2017;7(2):20. PMID: 28212278. PMID 28212278 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2008 | GHK Basic | Beretta G, Arlandini E, Artali R, Anton JM, Maffei Facino R. Acrolein sequestering ability of the endogenous tripeptide glycyl-histidyl-lysine (GHK): characterization of conjugation products by ESI-MSn and theoretical calculations. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2008;47(3):596-602. | mechanism / discovery |
| 1973 | GHK Basic | Pickart L, Thaler MM. Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells and stimulates growth in neoplastic liver. Nat New Biol. 1973;243(124):85-87. PMID: 4351857. (Original isolation of GHK from human plasma.) PMID 4351857 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2026 | GHK Basic | WADA Prohibited List 2026. World Anti-Doping Agency. wada-ama.org. | regulatory / registry |
| 2025 | GHK Basic | FDA. Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding — 503A and 503B Categories. FDA.gov. Updated 2025-2026. | regulatory / registry |
| 2018 | GHK Basic | Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. PMID: 29986520. (Comprehensive modern review; notes copper-dependent vs copper-independent activities.) PMID 29986520 | research article |
| 2015 | GHK Basic | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. PMID: 26236730. PMID 26236730 | research article |
| 2012 | GHK Basic | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. The human tripeptide GHK-Cu in prevention of oxidative stress and degenerative conditions of aging. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2012;2012:324832. PMID: 22666521. PMID 22666521 | research article |
| 2012 | GHK Basic | Trapaidze A, Hureau C, Bal W, Winterhalter M, Faller P. Thermodynamic study of Cu²⁺ binding to the DAHK and GHK peptides by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) with the weaker competitor glycine. J Biol Inorg Chem. 2012;17(1):37-47. PMID: 21748269. (Quantifies the very high c… PMID 21748269 | research article |
| 2015 | Glutathione | Richie JP Jr, Nichenametla S, Neidig W, Calcagnotto A, Haley JS, Schell TD, Muscat JE. Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione. Eur J Nutr. 2015;54(2):251-263. PMID: 24791752. (Pivotal oral-glutathione bioavailability RCT.) PMID 24791752 | human trial |
| 2012 | Glutathione | Arjinpathana N, Asawanonda P. Glutathione as an oral whitening agent: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Dermatolog Treat. 2012;23(2):97-102. PMID: 20524875. PMID 20524875 | human trial |
| 2009 | Glutathione | Hauser RA, Lyons KE, McClain T, Carter S, Perlmutter D. Randomized, double-blind, pilot evaluation of intravenous glutathione in Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord. 2009;24(7):979-983. PMID: 19230029. (Subsequent double-blind placebo-controlled Parkinson's trial — more ambiguous re… PMID 19230029 | human trial |
| 2016 | Glutathione | Handog EB, Datuin MS, Singzon IA. An open-label, single-arm trial of the safety and efficacy of a novel preparation of glutathione as a skin-lightening agent in Filipino women. Int J Dermatol. 2016;55(2):153-157. PMID: 26471927. PMID 26471927 | human pilot |
| 2005 | Glutathione | Bishop C, Hudson VM, Hilton SC, Wilde C. A pilot study of the effect of inhaled buffered reduced glutathione on the clinical status of patients with cystic fibrosis. Chest. 2005;127(1):308-317. PMID: 15653999. (Nebulized glutathione in CF.) PMID 15653999 | human pilot |
| 1996 | Glutathione | Sechi G, Deledda MG, Bua G, Satta WM, Deiana GA, Pes GM, Rosati G. Reduced intravenous glutathione in the treatment of early Parkinson's disease. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1996;20(7):1159-1170. PMID: 8992335. (Parkinson's IV glutathione pilot.) PMID 8992335 | human pilot |
| 1977 | Glutathione | Prescott LF, Park J, Ballantyne A, Adriaenssens P, Proudfoot AT. Treatment of paracetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning with N-acetylcysteine. Lancet. 1977;2(8035):432-434. PMID: 70646. (Foundational NAC-acetaminophen antidote paper.) PMID 70646 | human study |
| 2009 | Glutathione | Lu SC. Regulation of glutathione synthesis. Mol Aspects Med. 2009;30(1-2):42-59. PMID: 18601945. (Cellular glutathione synthesis review.) PMID 18601945 | mechanism / discovery |
| 1992 | Glutathione | Witschi A, Reddy S, Stofer B, Lauterburg BH. The systemic availability of oral glutathione. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1992;43(6):667-669. PMID: 1362956. (Early skepticism paper documenting poor standard-oral bioavailability.) PMID 1362956 | pharmacology |
| 2026 | Glutathione | WADA Prohibited List 2026. World Anti-Doping Agency. wada-ama.org. (Glutathione not listed.) | regulatory / registry |
| — | Glutathione | FDA. Acetadote (acetylcysteine) Injection Prescribing Information. FDA.gov. (NAC FDA approval reference for acetaminophen overdose.) | regulatory / registry |
| 2017 | Glutathione | Mischley LK, Lau RC, Shankland EG, Wilbur TK, Padowski JM. Phase IIb Study of Intranasal Glutathione in Parkinson's Disease. J Parkinsons Dis. 2017;7(2):289-299. PMID: 28436395. (Intranasal glutathione trial.) PMID 28436395 | research article |
Related pair pages
More research context
Frequently asked
Have GHK Basic and Glutathione been studied together?
No co-administration studies between GHK Basic and Glutathione are catalogued on Kalios. The pair page lists only the individual published literature for each compound and any shared mechanism tags.
What mechanisms do GHK Basic and Glutathione share?
GHK Basic and Glutathione share these mechanism tags on their Kalios profiles: tripeptide. Tags are descriptive and verbatim from each compound profile — not an inference of combined effect.
What is the FDA status of GHK Basic and Glutathione?
GHK Basic: Cosmetic ingredient only. Glutathione: No drug approval; supplement & compounded injectable. FDA-status text is pulled verbatim from each compound profile. See /fda-pcac-2026.html for the broader FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee context.
Where can I find the full research on GHK Basic and Glutathione?
Full citation lists, dosing tables from the literature, reconstitution data, and the FDA / WADA status are on the individual compound profiles: the GHK Basic profile and the Glutathione profile. The Kalios Stack Research Tool hub lists every compound covered.
Last updated: April 2026