Syn-Ake

A synthetic tripeptide designed as a mimetic of waglerin-1, a temple-viper venom peptide toxin — marketed as "topical Botox" on the idea of mild local muscle relaxation smoothing expression lines. A staple of K-beauty formulations.

It is designed as a waglerin-1 mimetic, but clinically meaningful delivery through intact skin to muscle has not been established. Supporting studies are small and largely supplier-funded, measuring modest wrinkle metrics.

Essentially cosmetic-grade: irritation potential and expectation mismatch with actual Botox — which it is not. Included here so the name resolves; nothing about it belongs in an injection conversation.

US: cosmetic ingredient — not subject to FDA drug preapproval, but cosmetics remain regulated under federal cosmetics law.

• Immobilization with atrophy induces de novo expression of neuronal nicotinic α7 acetylcholine receptors in muscle contributing to neurotransmissionAnesthesiology · 2014
• 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 studiesInt J Cosmet Sci · 2026
• Waglerin-1 inhibits GABA(A) current of neurons in the nucleus accumbens of neonatal ratsBrain Res · 1999
• Waglerin-1 selectively blocks the epsilon form of the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptorJ Pharmacol Exp Ther · 1999
• Protein engineering of venom toxins by synthetic approach and NMR dynamic simulation: status of basic amino acid residues in waglerin IBiochem Biophys Res Commun · 1996
• A study on the cause of death due to waglerin-I, a toxin from Trimeresurus wagleriToxicon · 1995
• De Novo Assembly of Venom Gland Transcriptome of Tropidolaemus wagleri (Temple Pit Viper, Malaysia) and Insights into the Origin of Its Major Toxin, WaglerinToxins (Basel) · 2023
• Structure-function studies of waglerin I, a lethal peptide from the venom of Wagler's pit viper, Trimeresurus wagleriToxicon · 1995
• Waglerin-1 modulates gamma-aminobutyric acid activated current of murine hypothalamic neuronsJ Pharmacol Exp Ther · 1997
• Binding of Ni2+ and Cu2+ ions to peptides with a Cys-His motifDalton Trans · 2008
• Determination of three-dimensional solution structure of waglerin I, a toxin from Trimeresurus wagleri, using 2D-NMR and molecular dynamics simulationBiochim Biophys Acta · 1996
• Effects of waglerin-I on neuromuscular transmission of mouse nerve-muscle preparationsToxicon · 1995