MIF-1_Dosage, benefits & legal status
Also known as MIF-I, PLG, melanostatin, Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2, MSH release-inhibiting factor
A three amino acid brain peptide tested in Parkinson's and depression in the 1970s.
Common vial size is what vendors typically sell, not a recommendation. Enter your own vial in the calculator.
What is MIF-1?
Plain language first. The technical label stays, but it never stands alone.Overview
A three amino acid fragment of oxytocin that works on dopamine receptors. It was given to people in small studies decades ago, then largely dropped.
MIF-1 (Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2, melanostatin) is an endogenous tripeptide derived from oxytocin cleavage. It acts as a positive allosteric modulator at D2 and D4 dopamine receptors, crosses the blood-brain barrier and resists degradation in blood, but is poorly active by mouth.
What it's used for
Sold for mood, focus and Parkinson's research. The human work is old, small and not conclusive.
How does MIF-1 work?
What it does in the body, and where.MIF-1 is what is left when the tail is cut off oxytocin, and it does something completely different.
- 01It modulates dopamine receptorsActing as a positive allosteric modulator at D2 and D4 rather than switching them on directly.
- 02It reaches the brain easilyIt is unusually resistant to breakdown in blood and crosses the blood-brain barrier, which is rare for a peptide this small.
- 03The clinical story stalledReports in the 1970s described effects on tremor, rigidity and mood. Short duration of action and poor oral activity stopped it going further.
A schematic of the compound's mechanism, not a diagnostic image.
What else is it used for?
Each use below carries its own evidence level. Approved means regulators have cleared it for that purpose. Investigational means it is in trials. Early research means it is being studied and is not established.
- Parkinson's symptoms, tested with and without levodopa in the 1970sEarly research
- Depression and moodEarly research
- General nootropic claimsResearch only
The published record
Papers about MIF-1
Searched: MIF-1, Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2, melanostatin, MSH release-inhibiting factor.
91 papers tagged human · 70 not reviews or lab · 1 clinical trial publications
How the compound was given: 13 applied to skin · 114 injected · 9 by mouth or rectal · 288 route not stated in the abstract
Read from each paper's indexing terms and abstract, by rule. A paper that mentions a cream studied a cream, not necessarily the product being sold.
1 registered trials · 1 with posted results
Furthest stage reached: Published trials only, 1 clinical trial publication, no phased trial registered
Counted from Europe PMC indexing, not read by a person; a human tag can land on reviews, commentary or lab papers; clinical trial publications is the narrower count. A preprint and its journal version count once. 413 papers and 1 trials indexed in detail.
At a glance
Four things to know about MIF-1
Evidence
Category
Brain, mood and sleep
Common vial
50 mg
Half-life
Nothing published in humans
How much, and do you cycle it?
The range, and whether you take breaks.Research only, no established pattern. No established pattern No range
No published human study establishes a schedule.
Nothing published in humansNo figure
You can compare this against the whole library to see where it sits.
How is it given?
Dosing context and source notes.No flat reference range is recorded for this compound. The calculator only does the math on the dose you enter.
Choose your mix
Measuring the water1 mL = one full 100-unit syringe.
MIF-1 starts at $72.99 across 1 vendor.
1 listing, last read Oct 10, 2026. Shipping and card fees are not included.
How do you store it?
Before mixing, and after.Dry powder in the freezer or fridge. Once mixed, fridge, and use within about a month.
Unmixed lyophilized MIF-1 keeps for a long time cold. Once you add water the clock starts: most reconstituted vials hold up for roughly 28 to 30 days at fridge temperature. Keep it out of light, and do not freeze it after mixing.
What are the side effects and cautions?
Known cautions and warnings for this compound.Who should avoid it
- No modern safety review exists
- Pregnancy
Stop and get help
- Anything unusual, since there is no modern safety profile
- Signs of an allergic reaction such as face or throat swelling, hives, or trouble breathing
Common effects
- Not characterized in any modern trial
Where this page says nothing is established, that means nobody has studied it, not that a compound is safe.
Is MIF-1 approved?
And where the numbers on this page come from.No. MIF-1 is not approved for any use, anywhere. It is sold labeled for laboratory research only, and there is no legal route to buy it for human use.
- Approval statusResearch only
- RouteInjected. Poorly active by mouth
- Checked24 September 2026
- DoseFrom published human studies. Not approved by a regulator for this dose.
- Vial sizeFrom what vendors typically list; not a recommendation.
- Sources
What has happened recently
Not approved anywhere. No modern registered trial.
You can compare this against the whole library, or read how to check a seller.
What else is like MIF-1?
Others in Brain, mood and sleep, side by side.If you're weighing MIF-1, it's worth reading Taltirelin (Ceredist), Brenipatide (LY3537031), and Lumekefamide (Tafalgin) in the same class.
A three amino acid brain peptide tested in Parkinson's and depression in the 1970s.
- Dose
- Research only
- How often
- No established pattern
A modified TRH built to survive being swallowed and reach the brain. Approved in Japan since 2000 for ataxia; a Korean trial published in 2024 found an effect of under 1 point on a 40-point scale.
- Dose
- 5 mg per dose, 10 mg a day (Japanese and Korean labels)
- How often
- Twice daily, after morning and evening meals
A GLP-1 drug being developed for addiction and depression, not obesity.
- Dose
- No established dose
- How often
- Not established
A prescription opioid peptide marketed as not an opioid.
- Dose
- 4 mg per mL solution; the Russian label sets the regimen
- How often
- As the label directs
Guides for this compound
- How to Reconstitute a Peptide
Mix peptide powder with bacteriostatic water, step by step.
- How to Read an Insulin Syringe
Read the units, convert to millilitres, and draw the exact dose.
- mcg vs mg: The Peptide Dosing Mistake to Avoid
Your vial says mg and your protocol says mcg. Here is the conversion and how to check it.
- How to Read a Peptide COA
What the purity number does and does not tell you, and how to spot an edited report.
- How to Vet a Peptide Vendor
Independent COAs, HPLC purity, and the red flags that mean walk away.
Sources
- Khan RS, et al. Brain activation by peptide Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2 (MIF-1). Int J Pept(2010)Maps the brain regions MIF-1 activates and the signaling behind them; notes the older Parkinson's and depression work.
Beyond these, 414 records are indexed. Browse the records