Regeneration or Risk? A Narrative Review of BPC-157 for Musculoskeletal Healing

Du Q-S, Xie N-Z, Huang R-B. Recent development of peptide drugs and advance on theory and methodology of peptide inhibitor design. Med Chem. 2015;11:235–47.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Fosgerau K, Hoffmann T. Peptide therapeutics: current status and future directions. Drug Discov Today. 2015;20:122–8.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Drasar PB, Khripach VA. Growing importance of natural products research. Molecules. 2020;25.

Liao H-J, Chen H-T, Chang C-H. Peptides for targeting chondrogenic induction and cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis. CARTILAGE. 2024;19476035241276406.

DeFoor MT, Dekker TJ. Injectable therapeutic Peptides—An adjunct to regenerative medicine and sports performance?? Arthroscopy. 2025;41:150–2.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Sikiric P, Seiwerth S, Grabarevic Z, Petek M, Rucman R, Turkovic B, et al. The beneficial effect of BPC 157, a 15 amino acid peptide BPC fragment, on gastric and duodenal lesions induced by restraint stress, cysteamine and 96% ethanol in rats. A comparative study with H2 receptor antagonists, dopamine promotors and gut peptides. Life Sci. 1994;54:PL63–8.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Veljača M, Krnić Ž, Brajša K, Mildner B, Pavić-Sladoljev D, Ševeljević-Jaran D et al. The development of PL 14736 for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. 2002. p. O–32.

Sikirić P, Seiwerth S, Grabarević Ž, Ručman R, Petek M, Jagić V, et al. The influence of a novel pentadecapeptide, BPC 157, on NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester and L-arginine effects on stomach mucosa integrity and blood pressure. Eur J Pharmacol. 1997;332:23–33.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Sikirić P, Seiwerth S, Dešković S, Grabarević Z, Marović A, Ručman R, et al. New model of cytoprotection/adaptive cytoprotection in rats: endogenous small irritants, antiulcer agents and indomethacin. Eur J Pharmacol. 1999;364:23–31.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Suresh Babu V. One hundred years of peptide chemistry. Resonance. 2011;16:640–7.

Google Scholar 

Chang C-H, Tsai W-C, Lin M-S, Hsu Y-H, Pang J-HS. The promoting effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on tendon healing involves tendon outgrowth, cell survival, and cell migration. J Appl Physiol. 2011;110:774–80.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Park JM, Lee HJ, Sikiric P, Hahm KB. BPC 157 rescued NSAID-cytotoxicity via stabilizing intestinal permeability and enhancing cytoprotection. Curr Pharm Des. 2020;26:2971–81.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Huang T, Zhang K, Sun L, Xue X, Zhang C, Shu Z et al. Body protective compound-157 enhances alkali-burn wound healing in vivo and promotes proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in vitro. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2015;2485–99.

Staresinic M, Sebecic B, Patrlj L, Jadrijevic S, Suknaic S, Perovic D, et al. Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 accelerates healing of transected rat Achilles tendon and in vitro stimulates tendocytes growth. J Orthop Res. 2003;21:976–83.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Cerovecki T, Bojanic I, Brcic L, Radic B, Vukoja I, Seiwerth S, et al. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (PL 14736) improves ligament healing in the rat. J Orthop Res. 2010;28:1155–61.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Staresinic M, Petrovic I, Novinscak T, Jukic I, Pevec D, Suknaic S, et al. Effective therapy of transected quadriceps muscle in rat: gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157. J Orthop Res. 2006;24:1109–17.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Gjurasin M, Miklic P, Zupancic B, Perovic D, Zarkovic K, Brcic L, et al. Peptide therapy with pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in traumatic nerve injury. Regul Pept. 2010;160:33–41.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Wang X-Y, Qu M, Duan R, Shi D, Jin L, Gao J, et al. Cytoprotective mechanism of the novel gastric peptide BPC157 in Gastrointestinal tract and cultured enteric neurons and glial cells. Neurosci Bull. 2019;35:167–70.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Perovic D, Kolenc D, Bilic V, Somun N, Drmic D, Elabjer E, et al. Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 can improve the healing course of spinal cord injury and lead to functional recovery in rats. J Orthop Surg. 2019;14:199.

Google Scholar 

Seiwerth S, Rucman R, Turkovic B, Sever M, Klicek R, Radic B, et al. BPC 157 and standard angiogenic growth factors. Gastrointestinal tract healing, lessons from tendon, ligament, muscle and bone healing. Curr Pharm Des. 2018;24:1972–89.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Keremi B, Lohinai Z, Komora P, Duhaj S, Borsi K, Jobbagy-Ovari G, et al. Antiinflammatory effect of BPC 157 on experimental periodontitis in rats. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2009;60:115–22.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Masnec S, Kokot A, Zlatar M, Kalauz M, Kunjko K, Radic B, et al. Perforating corneal injury in rat and pentadecapeptide BPC 157. Exp Eye Res. 2015;136:9–15.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Jozwiak M, Bauer M, Kamysz W, Kleczkowska P. Multifunctionality and possible medical application of the BPC 157 Peptide—Literature and patent review. Pharmaceuticals. 2025;18:185.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Gwyer D, Wragg NM, Wilson SL. Gastric pentadecapeptide body protection compound BPC 157 and its role in accelerating musculoskeletal soft tissue healing. Cell Tissue Res. 2019;377:153–9.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Staresinic M, Japjec M, Vranes H, Prtoric A, Zizek H, Krezic I, et al. Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and striated, smooth, and heart muscle. Biomedicines. 2022;10:3221.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Seiwerth S, Milavic M, Vukojevic J, Gojkovic S, Krezic I, Vuletic LB, et al. Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and wound healing. Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:627533.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Gojkovic S, Krezic I, Vrdoljak B, Malekinusic D, Barisic I, Petrovic A, et al. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 resolves Suprahepatic occlusion of the inferior caval vein, Budd-Chiari syndrome model in rats. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2020;11:1.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Ilic S, Brcic I, Mester M, Filipovic M, Sever M, Klicek R, et al. Over-dose insulin and stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157. Attenuated gastric ulcers, seizures, brain lesions, hepatomegaly, fatty liver, breakdown of liver glycogen, profound hypoglycemia and calcification in rats. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2009;60:107–14.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Kolovrat M, Gojkovic S, Krezic I, Malekinusic D, Vrdoljak B, Kovac KK, et al. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 resolves pringle maneuver in rats, both ischemia and reperfusion. World J Hepatol. 2020;12:184.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Vukojević J, Siroglavić M, Kašnik K, Kralj T, Stanćić D, Kokot A, et al. Rat inferior caval vein (ICV) ligature and particular new insights with the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157. Vascul Pharmacol. 2018;106:54–66.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Sever AZ, Sever M, Vidovic T, Lojo N, Kolenc D, Vuletic LB, et al. Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in the therapy of the rats with bile duct ligation. Eur J Pharmacol. 2019;847:130–42.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Xiong Y, Mahmood A, Meng Y, Zhang Y, Zhang ZG, Morris DC, et al. Treatment of traumatic brain injury with thymosin β4 in rats. J Neurosurg. 2011;114:102–15.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Tudor M, Jandric I, Marovic A, Gjurasin M, Perovic D, Radic B, et al. Traumatic brain injury in mice and pentadecapeptide BPC 157 effect. Regul Pept. 2010;160:26–32.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Lee E, Padgett B. Intra-Articular injection of BPC 157 for multiple types of knee pain. Altern Ther Health Med. 2021;27.

Perishable A, Advisory. Explanation of Key Changes on 2022 WADA Prohibited List| U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 Mar 14]. Available from: https://www.usada.org/athlete-advisory/key-changes-2022-prohibited-list/

Perishable. BPC-157: Experimental Peptide Creates Risk for Athletes [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Mar 14]. Available from: https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/bpc-157-peptide-prohibited/

Research C, for DE. and. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks. FDA [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Mar 14]; Available from: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks

Brcic L, Brcic I, Staresinic M, Novinscak T, Sikiric P, Seiwerth S. Modulatory effect of gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on angiogenesis in muscle and tendon healing. J Physiol Pharmacol Off J Pol Physiol Soc. 2009;60(Suppl 7):191–6.

Google Scholar 

Hsieh M-J, Liu H-T, Wang C-N, Huang H-Y, Lin Y, Ko Y-S, et al. Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation. J Mol Med Berl Ger. 2017;95:323–33.

Google Scholar 

Hsieh M-J, Lee C-H, Chueh H-Y, Chang G-J, Huang H-Y, Lin Y, et al. Modulatory effects of BPC 157 on vasomotor tone and the activation of Src-Caveolin-1-endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway. Sci Rep. 2020;10:17078.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Sikiric P, Boban Blagaic A, Strbe S, Beketic Oreskovic L, Oreskovic I, Sikiric S, et al. The stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 pleiotropic beneficial activity and its possible relations with neurotransmitter activity. Pharm Basel Switz. 2024;17:461.

Google Scholar 

Demirtaş H, Özer A, Yıldırım AK, Dursun AD, Sezen ŞC, Arslan M. Protective effects of BPC 157 on liver, kidney, and lung distant organ damage in rats with experimental Lower-Extremity Ischemia–Reperfusion injury. Med (Mex). 2025;61:291.

Google Scholar 

Vukojevic J, Milavić M, Perović D, Ilić S, Čilić AZ, Đuran N, et al. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and the central nervous system. Neural Regen Res. 2022;17:482–7.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Sikiric P, Seiwerth S, Rucman R, Turkovic B, Stancic Rokotov D, Brcic L, et al. Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157: novel therapy in Gastrointestinal tract. Curr Pharm Des. 2011;17:1612–32.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Chang C-H, Tsai W-C, Hsu Y-H, Su Pang J-H. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 enhances the growth hormone receptor expression in tendon fibroblasts. Molecules. 2014;19:19066–77.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Cilic AZ, Zemba M, Cilic M, Balenovic I, Strbe S, Ilic S, et al. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 counteracts L-NAME-induced catalepsy. BPC 157, L-NAME, L-arginine, NO-relation, in the suited rat acute and chronic models resembling ‘positive-like’symptoms of schizophrenia. Behav Brain Res. 2021;396:112919.

PubMed  Google Scholar 

Zemba Cilic A, Zemba M, Cilic M, Strbe S, Ilic S, Vukojevic J, et al. BPC 157, L-NAME, L-arginine, NO-relation, in the suited rat ketamine models resembling negative-like symptoms of schizophrenia. Biomedicines. 2022;10:1462.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Premuzic Mestrovic I, Smoday IM, Kalogjera L, Krezic I, Zizek H, Vranes H, et al. Antiarrhythmic sotalol, occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome in rats, and stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy. Pharmaceuticals. 2023;16:977.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Barisic I, Balenovic D, Udovicic M, Bardak D, Strinic D, Vlainić J, et al. Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 May counteract myocardial infarction induced by isoprenaline in rats. Biomedicines. 2022;10:265.

Comments (0)

No login
gif