S-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic (XEP-018)

Characteristics

INCI: S-Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic
Ru.: XEP-018
CAS: 936616-33-0
IUPAC: L-Cysteinamide, 5-Oxo-L-Prolylglycyl-L-Cysteinyl-L-Cysteinyl-L-Asparaginylglycyl-L-Prolyl-L-Lysylglycyl-L-Cysteinyl-L-Seryl-L-Seryl-L-Lysyl-L-Tryptophyl-L-Cysteinyl-L-Arginyl-L-.Alpha.-Aspartyl-L-Histidyl-L-Alanyl-L-Arginyl-L-Cysteinyl-, Cyclic (3.Fwdarw.
Functions: skin protecting

s-mu-conotoxin cniiic is a single chain snail protein produced synthetically to be identical to mu-conotoxin cniiic which is found in conus. the protein contains 22 amino acids and consists of the proper sequence of the 20 standard amino acids.

Description

Though its name does not reveal it, Mu-Conotoxin Cniiic is a 22 amino acid peptide molecule that belongs to the "Botox-in-a-jar" type of topical muscle relaxers. (If you are new to these types of molecules, we wrote more about it at Argireline.)

It is a biomimetic peptide, meaning that it tries to copy the behavior of the natural peptide found in the venomous marine cone snail called Conus consors. Biologically speaking, the molecule acts as a modulator of the neuromuscular transmission that translates to being an instant line relaxer when it comes to cosmetics. According to the manufacturers in-vivo (made on people) study, a single application with 3% XEP-018 on 33 people results in a visible and significant reduction of wrinkle depth and rugosity 2 hours after application. Sounds pretty good.

Evidence & research

1

Favreau, Philippe, et al. "A novel µ‐conopeptide, CnIIIC, exerts potent and preferential inhibition of NaV1. 2/1.4 channels and blocks neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors." British journal of pharmacology 166.5 (2012): 1654-1668.
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