Syn-Ake Peptide: What It Is, the 'Snake Venom Botox' Claims and What the Evidence Shows
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The Syn-Ake peptide is a synthetic cosmetic ingredient, listed on labels as dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate, that brands market as mimicking a snake venom peptide. It isn't made from venom. No human study has tested Syn-Ake on its own. The only human data come from a 5-active serum that also contained Argireline. Evidence: Lab / animal only.
Key takeaways
- The only Syn-Ake-specific study is a 2024 computer-modeling and lab paper. It tested binding to anti-aging enzyme targets and antioxidant activity, not muscle relaxation (Gok et al., 2024).
- The only human data come from a 2026 serum study (n = 50 and n = 42) that combined Syn-Ake with acetyl hexapeptide-8, niacinamide, gluconolactone and laminaria extract. Results were compared with baseline, not placebo (Zhu et al., 2026).
- Waglerin-1, the viper toxin behind the "snake venom" story, was studied in mice and lab receptors. It binds the human receptor less tightly than the mouse receptor (Molles et al., 2002).
- Botox (botulinum toxin type A) is an injected "hazardous neurotoxin" that reduces acetylcholine release (Hwang et al., 2020). No study has compared it with Syn-Ake.
- Poor skin permeability is one of the biggest drawbacks of cosmetic peptides (Pintea et al., 2025), and no Syn-Ake penetration data exist.
Syn-Ake belongs to the group sold as "neurotransmitter inhibitors." A 2020 mini-review describes this as 1 of 3 main categories of cosmetic peptides, alongside carrier and signal peptides (Errante et al., 2020). Our guide to peptide ingredients ranked by evidence covers each class.
What is the Syn-Ake peptide?
Syn-Ake is a trade name for a synthetic ingredient listed on labels as dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate. It's sold as a cosmetic ingredient, it isn't an approved drug, and it isn't made from venom.
The label name is the INCI name, the standardized ingredient name used on cosmetic packaging. "Dipeptide" means the core is built from 2 linked amino acids, and the rest of the name describes chemical groups added to that core. The authors of the 2026 serum study describe it as "a snake venom-mimicking peptide" that works similarly to botulinum toxin (Zhu et al., 2026). That is the authors' description of the claimed mechanism. It isn't something their study tested.
You'll see the ingredient in branded Syn-Ake creams and serums, often alongside other peptides. For a broader look at what peptides can and can't do, see what peptides do for your skin by concern.
Where does the "snake venom" idea behind the Syn-Ake peptide come from?
The idea comes from waglerin peptides, toxins in the venom of Tropidolaemus (temple or Wagler's pit vipers) that block the receptor muscles use to receive nerve signals. None of the waglerin research tested Syn-Ake.
A 2017 letter on the molecular origin of waglerins notes their "industrial application in skin cream products to paralyse facial muscles and thus reduce the incidence of wrinkles" (Debono et al., 2017). That is the authors' description of how the cosmetics industry uses the idea, not evidence that a cream works.
Here is what the waglerin studies actually showed. All of these findings come from animal or lab experiments:
- Mouse muscle. Waglerin-1 cut the response of adult mouse muscle endplates to acetylcholine, with an IC50 (the concentration that halves the response) of 50 nM. It was lethal in adult mice. Newborn mice, and adult mice lacking the receptor's epsilon subunit, resisted it (McArdle et al., 1999).
- Receptor selectivity. Waglerins show a 2,000-fold preference for the adult receptor's alpha-epsilon binding site over other sites (Taylor et al., 1998). Waglerin-1 is a high-affinity, highly selective inhibitor of the adult muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), the docking site on muscle that receives the nerve's chemical signal (Teichert et al., 2008).
- Species differences. Waglerin-1 binds 100-fold more tightly to the mouse receptor's alpha-epsilon site than to the rat or human version, and the human receptor has lower affinity overall (Molles et al., 2002).
- Venom potency. In a binding assay using receptor mimics from several species, including humans, Tropidolaemus venoms were "much more potent" than the other Asian viper venoms tested (Harris et al., 2020).
| Feature | Waglerin-1 | Syn-Ake |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Natural venom toxin | Synthetic cosmetic ingredient |
| Size | 22-amino-acid peptide | Dipeptide derivative (per its label name) |
| Source | Tropidolaemus viper venom | Lab-made; not made from venom |
| Where tested | Mice and lab-expressed receptors | Computer models, cell tests, 1 multi-ingredient serum study |
| Human receptor data | Binds human receptor less tightly than mouse | No study tests Syn-Ake at this receptor |
Bottom line: The venom research describes waglerin-1, not Syn-Ake. No study in our review links the two experimentally.
Waglerin-1 is a 22-amino-acid peptide (Molles et al., 2002, Biochemistry). Syn-Ake's label name describes a far smaller dipeptide derivative. We found no published study showing that Syn-Ake binds the same receptor, at any strength, in mice or humans. Evidence: Lab / animal only (waglerin-1, not Syn-Ake).
Does the Syn-Ake peptide reduce wrinkles?
No study shows that Syn-Ake on its own reduces wrinkles. The only human data come from a serum containing Syn-Ake plus 4 other actives, measured against baseline with no placebo arm, so any benefit can't be credited to Syn-Ake.
The serum study (Zhu et al., 2026)
The serum ("Formula 1") contained acetyl hexapeptide-8 (Argireline), dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate (Syn-Ake), gluconolactone, niacinamide and laminaria extract. The ex vivo tests, done on donated skin samples, included control groups, and the serum raised elastic and collagen fiber biomarkers (Zhu et al., 2026).
The 2 clinical studies compared people's skin with their own starting point:
- Study 1 (n = 50, static wrinkles): static wrinkle appearance improved within the first week. After 12 weeks, mean clinical scores had improved 35% to 69% across wrinkle types (all p < 0.001). Smoothness improved 30%, radiance 27%, pores 43%, elasticity 33% and firmness 36%.
- Study 2 (42 completers of 49, dynamic wrinkles): dynamic-wrinkle scores improved 10% to 13% (all p < 0.001).
We found no placebo or vehicle arm in the full text, and no Syn-Ake concentration. The authors declare no conflicts of interest, and we couldn't verify the funding source. Because Argireline, niacinamide and the other actives were in the same bottle, the study can't show what Syn-Ake contributed.
The lab study (Gok et al., 2024)
The only study of Syn-Ake alone used computer docking and lab assays. Syn-Ake was predicted to bind SIRT1 (sirtuin 1, a protein linked to cell aging) at −9.32 kcal/mol and to sit stably in the active sites of MMP-13 and SIRT1 over 50-nanosecond simulations. MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) are enzymes that break down the skin's supporting matrix. Antioxidant activity in a DPPH test rose with concentration (Gok et al., 2024). The study didn't test any muscle-relaxing effect, and the record names no specific funder beyond non-US government research support.
| Zhu 2026, clinical study 1 | 50 | 12 weeks | Not found | Static wrinkle scores improved 35%–69% vs baseline |
| Zhu 2026, clinical study 2 | 42 of 49 completed | 12 weeks | Not found | Dynamic wrinkle scores improved 10%–13% vs baseline |
| Gok 2024 | Not applicable | Not applicable | Safe dose set; value not stated | Predicted SIRT1 and MMP binding; concentration-dependent antioxidant activity |
| McArdle 1999 | Mice | Not applicable | IC50 50 nM | Waglerin-1 blocked adult mouse muscle receptor |
Zhu 2026, clinical study 1
Result: Static wrinkle scores improved 35%–69% vs baseline
5-active serum with Syn-Ake and acetyl hexapeptide-8; no placebo or vehicle arm found; authors declare no conflicts.
Zhu 2026, clinical study 2
Result: Dynamic wrinkle scores improved 10%–13% vs baseline
Same serum; cannot isolate Syn-Ake's effect.
Gok 2024
Result: Predicted SIRT1 and MMP binding; concentration-dependent antioxidant activity
Computer modeling plus MTT, Ames and DPPH lab tests. No human or muscle data.
McArdle 1999
Result: Waglerin-1 blocked adult mouse muscle receptor
Tests waglerin-1, not Syn-Ake.
No single-ingredient, placebo-controlled human trial of Syn-Ake was found.
This gap is typical of the category. A 2026 review found that most evidence for "botox-like" peptides comes from in vitro and ex vivo work rather than randomized trials (Shomorony & Denton, 2026). A systematic review of over-the-counter anti-aging ingredients called the supporting evidence "oftentimes lacking" (Imhof & Leuthard, 2021). Evidence: Lab / animal only for Syn-Ake alone.
Is Syn-Ake really "Botox in a jar"?
No. Botox is an injected prescription neurotoxin with a known mechanism, while Syn-Ake is a topical cosmetic ingredient with no isolated human data and no head-to-head comparison.
Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) inhibits muscle contractions by reducing acetylcholine release from nerves. Because it's a "hazardous neurotoxin," only medical doctors can inject it (Hwang et al., 2020). Waglerin-1 works at a different point. It blocks the receptor on the muscle side rather than the nerve's release of acetylcholine (McArdle et al., 1999). So even the venom peptide Syn-Ake is compared with doesn't work the same way Botox does. That gap matters for specific areas too: no cream or peptide has been tested on bunny lines, the nose creases injectors treat with toxin.
| Feature | Botox (BoNT/A) | Argireline | Syn-Ake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route | Injection by medical doctors | Topical | Topical |
| Claimed mechanism | Reduces acetylcholine release | Interferes with the SNARE complex | Marketed as mimicking a venom peptide |
| Human evidence | Described as one of the most effective wrinkle treatments (Hwang 2020) | Small RCTs (Wang 2013) | 1 multi-ingredient study, no placebo (Zhu 2026) |
| Status | Prescription neurotoxin | Cosmetic ingredient (An 2019) | Cosmetic ingredient; not an approved drug |
If you get injections, our guide to which Botox aftercare rules have evidence covers what to apply and when. Evidence: Limited for Syn-Ake (one multi-ingredient study only).
Can the Syn-Ake peptide get into your skin?
We don't know. No study has measured Syn-Ake penetration, and poor permeability is a known problem for cosmetic peptides as a class.
A 2025 review calls poor permeability through membranes "one of the most significant drawbacks" of cosmetic peptides, limiting their delivery and effectiveness. It lists microneedles, iontophoresis (a small electric current), radiofrequency, lasers and nano-carriers such as liposomes as ways researchers try to get around it (Pintea et al., 2025).
Syn-Ake's small size might suggest it absorbs more easily than larger peptides. That is a hypothesis, not a measured result. Even if Syn-Ake does enter the skin, no study shows it reaching the muscle receptors waglerin-1 targets. For the wider picture, see what penetration studies show about peptide absorption. Evidence: Lab / animal only (class-level review; no Syn-Ake data).
Syn-Ake vs Argireline vs SNAP-8: which has more evidence?
Argireline has the most independent human evidence of the three, though it's still small. Syn-Ake has none on its own, and no study compares any of them head to head.
Argireline's human studies, using each study's ingredient name:
- Argireline (Wang et al., 2013): randomized, placebo-controlled trial, n = 60 (3:1 Argireline to placebo), applied around the eyes twice daily for 4 weeks. Subjective anti-wrinkle efficacy was 48.9% vs 0% for placebo, and roughness parameters fell (p < 0.01). The abstract doesn't report the funder (Wang et al., 2013).
- Acetyl hexapeptide-3 (Raikou et al., 2017): randomized controlled study, n = 24 healthy volunteers, 60 days, 4 arms including a no-peptide group. Several skin microtopography and water-loss measures differed significantly between groups. Funding isn't reported in the abstract (Raikou et al., 2017).
- AHP-8 in a microneedle patch (An et al., 2019): double-blind, randomized, split-face trial, 52 women enrolled and 50 completed, once weekly for 29 days. The AHP-8 patch beat the patch alone on wrinkles (p < 0.05). The authors had nothing to disclose. This tested microneedle delivery, not a cream (An et al., 2019).
The Zhu serum contained Argireline as well as Syn-Ake. Any improvement could partly reflect the better-studied peptide. We cover Argireline in depth in what Argireline does, what the trials show over time in Argireline before and after, and how it stacks up against a signal peptide in Argireline vs Matrixyl. SNAP-8's evidence is summarized on our SNAP-8 peptide page. Evidence: Limited for Argireline; none for Syn-Ake alone.
Is Syn-Ake safe?
We don't have human safety data for Syn-Ake on its own. A lab study ran cell-toxicity and genotoxicity tests and set a "safe dose," but the abstract doesn't state the value.
In the 2024 lab study, researchers used an MTT assay (a cell-toxicity test) and an Ames test (a screen for DNA-damaging potential) and then determined a safe dose (Gok et al., 2024). Cell and bacterial tests can't predict irritation or allergy on human faces. The serum study abstract reports no adverse-event data for the formula (Zhu et al., 2026).
Reviews note that the long-term benefits of peptide cosmeceuticals haven't been fully tested (Husein El Hadmed & Castillo, 2016), and no long-term Syn-Ake data exist either. Patch testing a new product on a small area for a few days before using it on your face is clinic convention, not a Syn-Ake finding. If you have reactive or eczema-prone skin, ask a dermatologist before adding it. Evidence: Lab / animal only.
Should you buy Syn-Ake "research peptide" powder?
We wouldn't. A powder sold "for research" has no published human safety data, and its purity and identity are unverified.
A 2026 review notes that peptide products are widely available with limited regulatory oversight (Shomorony & Denton, 2026). The only human data involving Syn-Ake come from a finished, formulated serum (Zhu et al., 2026). A powder stirred into a DIY base has unknown stability, dose and delivery, and penetration is already the class's weak point (Pintea et al., 2025).
No study has tested injected Syn-Ake in humans. Don't inject it or self-dose it. For injectable treatment of expression lines, talk to a licensed clinician. Evidence: Limited. No human data exist on DIY or injected use.
How do you read a Syn-Ake product label?
Look for "dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate" in the ingredient list. Expect the concentration to be undisclosed, and note whether other peptides share the formula.
- Find the label name. "Syn-Ake" on the front is a trade name. The ingredient list should show the label name.
- Don't shop by percentage. Concentration is usually not disclosed, and we found no independent data on effective levels. Even the Zhu full text didn't give a Syn-Ake concentration.
- Watch for blends. If the product also lists acetyl hexapeptide-8 or other actives, any change you see can't be credited to Syn-Ake alone.
- Set modest expectations. Our editorial judgment, not a study finding, is to expect subtle texture changes at most, not frozen expression lines.
What the one human study measured (5-active serum, not Syn-Ake alone)
- BaselineStarting scores
Wrinkles scored before use; no placebo arm.
- Week 1Early static change
Static wrinkle appearance improved significantly (Zhu 2026).
- Week 12Final assessment
Static wrinkle scores improved 35%–69%; dynamic 10%–13% (Zhu 2026).
- Any other timelineClinic convention
Advice like 'give it X weeks' isn't based on Syn-Ake data.
Evidence: Limited (one multi-ingredient study).
Where the evidence stops
- No Syn-Ake-only human trial. The single human study used a 5-active serum compared with baseline (Zhu et al., 2026).
- No mechanism data in skin. The waglerin research is mouse and lab work on a different, much larger peptide (Molles et al., 2002).
- No penetration, concentration or long-term data for Syn-Ake.
- No head-to-head comparison with Argireline, SNAP-8 or Botox.
- No human irritation data, and the lab "safe dose" value isn't published in the abstract (Gok et al., 2024).
We'll update this page if an independent, placebo-controlled trial of Syn-Ake is published.
FAQ
Does Syn-Ake contain snake venom?
No. Syn-Ake is a synthetic ingredient that isn't made from venom, though brands market it as mimicking a snake venom peptide. The peptide it's compared with, waglerin-1, is a 22-amino-acid toxin from temple viper venom that has been studied only in lab and animal settings.
Is Syn-Ake 'Botox in a jar'?
No study supports that claim. Botox is an injected neurotoxin that reduces acetylcholine release, while the only human data that include Syn-Ake come from a 5-active serum with no placebo arm, which reported 10% to 13% better dynamic-wrinkle scores after 12 weeks.
Does Syn-Ake actually work?
It's unproven on its own. The only Syn-Ake-specific study used computer modeling and lab tests, and the only human study mixed Syn-Ake with 4 other actives, including Argireline, so its own contribution can't be separated out.
Is Syn-Ake better than Argireline?
No head-to-head study exists. Argireline has small independent human trials, including a 60-person placebo-controlled study, so it currently has more human evidence than Syn-Ake.
How long does Syn-Ake take to work?
No study has timed Syn-Ake on its own. In the one human study, a 5-active serum containing Syn-Ake improved static-wrinkle scores within the first week and was assessed at 12 weeks. Any other timeline you see is clinic convention.
Is Syn-Ake safe?
A lab study used cell toxicity and Ames genotoxicity tests to set a safe dose, but the abstract doesn't give the value, and we found no human irritation data for Syn-Ake. Patch testing first is clinic convention, and people with reactive skin should check with a dermatologist.
Can I use Syn-Ake if I get Botox?
No study has tested Syn-Ake alongside neurotoxin injections, so there are no interaction data. Ask your injector or prescriber before adding it around a treatment.
Should I buy Syn-Ake powder from research-peptide sites?
We wouldn't. Powders sold as research peptides have no published human safety data, and a 2026 review notes that peptide products are widely available with limited regulatory oversight.
References
- Zhu M, et al. The effect of a serum containing acetyl hexapeptide-8, dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate and gluconolactone on skin biomarkers, wrinkles and skin texture: Ex vivo and clinical studies. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2026. Ex vivo plus 2 clinical studies (n = 50; n = 42 of 49 completed), 12 weeks, compared with baseline; 5-active serum; authors declare no conflicts; funding not verified. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41668671/
- Gok B, et al. Anti-aging activity of Syn-Ake peptide by in silico approaches and in vitro tests. J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2024. In silico and in vitro (MTT, Ames, DPPH); no human data; non-US government research support. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37349941/
- Debono J, et al. Viper Venom Botox: The Molecular Origin and Evolution of the Waglerin Peptides Used in Anti-Wrinkle Skin Cream. J Mol Evol. 2017. Letter; molecular evolution analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27864608/
- McArdle JJ, et al. Waglerin-1 selectively blocks the epsilon form of the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1999. Mouse electrophysiology; government-funded. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10087048/
- Molles BE, et al. Identification of residues at the alpha and epsilon subunit interfaces mediating species selectivity of Waglerin-1 for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. J Biol Chem. 2002. Receptor mutagenesis (lab). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11724791/
- Molles BE, et al. Residues in the epsilon subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor interact to confer selectivity of waglerin-1 for the alpha-epsilon subunit interface site. Biochemistry. 2002. Receptor mutagenesis (lab). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12069578/
- Taylor P, et al. Toxins selective for subunit interfaces as probes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor structure. J Physiol Paris. 1998. Review of lab data. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9782448/
- Teichert RW, et al. Peptide-toxin tools for probing the expression and function of fetal and adult subtypes of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008. Lab expression systems and mouse tissue. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18567854/
- Harris RJ, et al. Evolutionary Interpretations of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Targeting Venom Effects by a Clade of Asian Viperidae Snakes. Neurotox Res. 2020. Venom binding assay (lab). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32394055/
- Hwang W, et al. Topical application of Zanthoxylum piperitum extract improves lateral canthal rhytides by inhibiting muscle contractions. Sci Rep. 2020. Lab plus topical human study (n not stated); authors declare no competing interests; cited here for botulinum toxin background only. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33299102/
- Wang Y, et al. The anti-wrinkle efficacy of argireline, a synthetic hexapeptide, in Chinese subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2013. RCT, n = 60 (3:1), 4 weeks; funder not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23417317/
- Raikou V, et al. The efficacy study of the combination of tripeptide-10-citrulline and acetyl hexapeptide-3. A prospective, randomized controlled study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2017. RCT, n = 24, 60 days, 4 arms; funding not reported in abstract. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28150423/
- An JH, et al. Anti-Wrinkle Efficacy of Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid-Based Microneedle Patch with Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Epidermal Growth Factor on Korean Skin. Ann Dermatol. 2019. Double-blind split-face RCT, n = 52 (50 completed), 29 days; authors had nothing to disclose; microneedle delivery. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33911590/
- Shomorony A, Denton AJ. Peptides in Facial Plastic Surgery: Emerging Applications in Aesthetics and Rejuvenation. Facial Plast Surg. 2026. Review; authors declare no conflict of interest. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41839222/
- Pintea A, et al. Peptides: Emerging Candidates for the Prevention and Treatment of Skin Senescence: A Review. Biomolecules. 2025. Review; authors declare no conflicts. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39858482/
- Imhof L, Leuthard D. Topical Over-the-Counter Antiaging Agents: An Update and Systematic Review. Dermatology. 2021. Systematic review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32882685/
- Husein El Hadmed H, Castillo RF. Cosmeceuticals: peptides, proteins, and growth factors. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2016. Review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27142709/
- Errante F, et al. Cosmeceutical Peptides in the Framework of Sustainable Wellness Economy. Front Chem. 2020. Mini-review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33195061/
Disclosure: This article is for general information only. It is not medical advice. Peptide Skincare has no affiliate links in this article and received no payment from any manufacturer mentioned. Syn-Ake is a cosmetic ingredient, not an approved drug; talk to a dermatologist about wrinkle treatments.