BPC-157 is a pentadecapeptide, which means it is a chain of 15 amino acids derived from human gastric juice. It is a very stable peptide that interacts with a variety of cellular pathways. BPC-157 is being investigated for its regenerative effects and shows high efficacy for rats suffering toxic or surgical trauma, but there is currently little evidence that it provides benefits for people. Some tentative pre-clinical studies on animals and in vitro suggest possible benefits in wound healing and bowel disorders, although all of these studies come from a single research group. BPC-157 has various possible mechanisms of action, including promoting nitric oxide synthesis, activating cells involved in tissue repair, stimulating the synthesis of growth factors, and inhibiting inflammation.

BPC-157 has been found to heal wounds such as gastric ulcer, skin, cornea, muscle, colon-colon anastomosis, colocutaneous fistula, and even segmental bone defect. It can also improve blood flow and increase collagen production, and it repairs damaged tissues. BPC-157 is most often used for inflammatory bowel disease and soft tissue healing. It has also been found to speed up the healing process of transected rat Achilles tendon and even the medial collateral ligament of the knee.

BPC-157 can be taken orally, topically, or via injection. Oral ingestion of peptides like BPC-157 wouldn’t normally be expected to have a direct effect on tissues outside of the gastrointestinal tract because peptides aren’t easily absorbed into circulation. However, studies in rodents have suggested that oral ingestion can have systemic effects, meaning that the feasibility of this route of delivery can’t be ruled out. BPC-157 can also be injected, and this is the preferred medium to help administer inflammation, muscle sprains, ligament damage, and pain.

There is no clear toxicity or negative side effects reported in studies conducted in rodents, but this research is limited. Some users report mild side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness, but these were relatively mild and tended to dissipate shortly after. However, because BPC-157 has not been extensively studied in humans, no one knows if there is a safe dose, or if there is any way to use this compound safely to treat specific medical conditions. BPC-157 is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2022 under the S0 category of non-exempt substances. It is important to work with a qualified medical professional to help navigate the use of BPC-157, and remember that research on BPC-157 in humans is still limited, and more extensive studies are needed to fully understand its safety profile.