Research Peptide Glossary — Curated Compounds

A reference guide to common terms used in peptide and research compound science. All definitions are for educational and research purposes only.

Reconstitution & Preparation

Bacteriostatic Water (BW): Sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol, used as a solvent for reconstituting lyophilized peptides. The benzyl alcohol acts as a preservative, extending usable life after mixing.
Lyophilization: A freeze-drying process used to preserve peptides in powder form. The peptide is frozen and water is removed under vacuum, resulting in a stable powder that can be reconstituted before use.
Reconstitution: The process of dissolving a lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder in a solvent such as bacteriostatic water to create a solution suitable for research use.
Concentration (mg/mL): The mass of peptide dissolved per milliliter of solvent. Used to calculate draw volumes for precise research dosing.

HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography): An analytical technique used to separate, identify, and quantify components in a sample. Commonly used to verify peptide purity expressed as a percentage (e.g., >98% purity).
Mass Spectrometry (MS): An analytical method that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions to confirm the molecular identity and structure of a compound.
Certificate of Analysis (COA): A document issued by a qualified laboratory confirming the purity, identity, and test results for a specific batch of a compound.
Purity (%): A measure of how much of a sample is the target compound versus impurities, expressed as a percentage. Research-grade compounds typically exceed 98% purity.

Peptide: A short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Peptides are used extensively in biological and biochemical research to study cellular signaling, receptor interactions, and physiological processes.
GHS (Growth Hormone Secretagogue): A class of compounds studied for their ability to stimulate growth hormone release in research settings. Includes compounds such as Ipamorelin and CJC-1295.
BPC-157: Body Protection Compound-157. A synthetic peptide derived from a protein found in gastric juice, studied extensively in animal models for its role in tissue and cellular signaling research.
NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide): A coenzyme found in all living cells, involved in redox reactions and energy metabolism. Studied in research contexts related to cellular aging, mitochondrial function, and metabolic pathways.
RUO (Research Use Only): A classification indicating that a compound is intended solely for laboratory research and is not approved, cleared, or intended for human or veterinary diagnostic or therapeutic use.