Is still no one on this forum interested in the tanning pharmacetical Melanotan? I posted a bunch of info on the supplier forum about Melanotan and posted an abstract from PubMed about it's powerful neuroprotective effects. It's the only substance currently in existence that increases melanin in mammals and is in stage IIIb trials at the pharmaceutical company Epitan who are going to market it for skin cancer prevention medication because it creates a protective tan in humans without needing UV exposure.
Here's one of many abstracts on it's powerful neuroprotective effects:
The potent melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan-II promotes peripheral nerve regeneration and has neuroprotective properties in the rat.
Ter Laak MP, Brakkee JH, Adan RA, Hamers FP, Gispen WH.
Department of Medical Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
The neurotrophic and neuroprotective potential of the alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) analog cyclo-[Ac-Nle(4),Asp(5),D-Phe(7),Lys(10)]alpha-MSH-(4-10) amide (melanotan-II), a potent melanocortin receptor agonist, was investigated. The sciatic nerve crush model was used as a paradigm to investigate the neurotrophic properties of melanotan-II. Melanotan-II significantly enhanced the recovery of sensory function following a crush lesion of the sciatic nerve in the rat at a dose of 20 microg kg(-1) per 48 h, s.c., but not at a dose of 2 or 50 microg kg(-1). In addition, we observed that melanotan-II also possesses neuroprotective properties, as it partially protected the nerve from a toxic neuropathy induced by cisplatin. Thus, the present data for the first time demonstrate the effectiveness of the potent alpha-MSH analog melanotan-II in nerve regeneration and neuroprotection.
PMID: 12591111 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]