Pygeum vs AHK-Cu
Side-by-side comparison of Pygeum and AHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
Pygeum
AHK-Cu
Pygeum
Pygeum (Prunus africana, formerly classified as Pygeum africanum) is a lipophilic bark extract derived from the African cherry tree — a large, slow-growing evergreen hardwood species native to the mountainous forests of…
No vendor price on file.
Full Pygeum profileAHK-Cu
AHK-Cu (Ala-His-Lys-Copper) is a copper chelating tripeptide related to but distinct from GHK-Cu (Gly-His-Lys-Copper). Where GHK-Cu is the most-studied copper peptide and naturally occurs in human plasma, AHK-Cu is a…
Lowest listed price: $44.99 across 5 listings
Full AHK-Cu profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Pygeum | AHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Herbal | Skin & Hair |
| Research Stage | Preclinical | Preclinical |
| Mechanism of Action | Pygeum's proposed mechanisms of action span anti-inflammatory, anti-androgenic, anti-proliferative, and bladder-protective effects, with the strongest mechanistic evidence for 5-lipoxygenase/leukotriene pathway inhibition and modest anti-growth-factor effects… | AHK-Cu delivers bioavailable copper ions to follicular and dermal tissues. Copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase (antioxidant), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. The tripeptide… |
| Half-Life | — | Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized) |
| Typical Dose Range | — | — |
| Dosing Frequency | — | once_daily |
| Administration | — | Topical, Subcutaneous, Intradermal |
| Side Effects | Pygeum's side effect profile is generally mild and comparable to placebo in clinical trials — one of the more favorable tolerability profiles among BPH interventions, and substantially better than pharmaceutical alternatives (alpha-blockers, 5-ARIs) which… | — |
| Molecular Weight | — | Free peptide (AHK): 354.41 Da (C15H26N6O4). Copper complex (AHK-Cu): 415.9 Da (C15H24CuN6O4, neutral 1:1 Cu(II) complex - Cu(II) displaces two protons from the tripeptide ligand). |
| Common Vial Sizes | — | 50, 100 |
Price History
2 data points- Ion Peptide
- Disguised Alpha
Pygeum: potential benefits
- No structured benefit list published.
AHK-Cu: potential benefits
- Hair follicle stimulation — activates anagen phase via Wnt/β-catenin in dermal papilla cells
- Reduction of follicle miniaturization in androgenetic alopecia models
- Enhanced scalp vascularity via VEGF upregulation
- Wound healing acceleration — copper cofactor for lysyl oxidase and collagen maturation
- Synergistic with GHK-Cu in multi-peptide scalp formulations
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Pygeum and AHK-Cu?
Pygeum is a herbal that pygeum's proposed mechanisms of action span anti-inflammatory, anti-androgenic, anti-proliferative, and bladder-protective effects, with the strongest mechanistic evidence for…. AHK-Cu is a skin & hair that ahk-cu delivers bioavailable copper ions to follicular and dermal tissues. copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (not reported vs Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, Pygeum or AHK-Cu?
Pygeum has a half-life of not reported. AHK-Cu has a half-life of Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Can you stack Pygeum and AHK-Cu?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Pygeum and AHK-Cu should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
See current vendor prices
Listings from the vendors we track. Prices change often, so check the vendor before you buy.
Before you buy Pygeum or AHK-Cu
Check the vendor trust score. Every supplier we track is rated 0-100 on COA verification, payment transparency, shipping, reviews, and listings: one published, reproducible methodology, applied to every vendor.
Related comparisons
Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. Every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.