# Viper Venom and Synthetic Peptides: Emerging Active Ingredients in Anti-Ageing Cosmeceuticals
## 5 Conclusions  
Snake venom is primarily composed of proteins and peptides (90-95%), with trace amounts of metal ions, lipids and carbohydrates. In medicine and in the pharmaceutical industry, venom-derived proteins have led to the development of active substances, such as captopril, enalapril, triofiban, eptifibatide and batroxobin, with proven therapeutic properties, including antiplatelet, antihypertensive and analgesic effects. These proteins are also used for diagnostic purposes to assess factors like antithrombin activity and fibrinogen levels. In cosmetics, snake venom peptides are utilized for their neurotoxic effects, reducing wrinkle depth and length, thus providing anti-ageing properties. Additionally, these peptides contribute to moisturizing effects, enhancing the skin's hydration. In the cosmetic industry, peptides are used for their neurotoxic effects, acting at the neuromuscular junction, thus reducing the wrinkle length and depth. Thus, the claimed effect of snake venom in cosmetics is its anti-ageing effect. These are not the only properties for which snake venom or synthetic peptides are used in cosmetics; they are also used for their moisturizing effect. The selected cosmetic products in this study are produced by 105 cosmetic companies, found in 24 countries in Europe, Asia, the USA and Africa. Most manufacturers are based in European countries (n = 70) and produce almost three quarters of the analyzed products (n = 178). Considering 245 commercially available cosmetics claiming snake venom or viper venom in their composition, it was noticed that 31 incorporate snake or viper venom based on the product packaging INCI list, while other formulations contain the active ingredient SYN(r)-AKE, a synthetic peptide similar to snake proteins claiming various concentrations in the range from 0.01 to 4% in the final product. Venom of natural origin has a very high cost compared to other active ingredients claiming anti-ageing effects and, due to this consideration several manufacturers utilize various chemically synthesized peptides with similar properties, such as SYN(r)-AKE (Tripeptide), at a lower cost. Mass-Market cosmetics predominantly incorporate synthetic peptides instead of natural viper venom due to cost considerations. The extraction and purification of natural viper venom is complex and expensive, significantly increasing the final product's price. Synthetic alternatives, such as SYN-AKE(r), replicate the effects of viper venin at a lower production cost, making them a more viable and affordable option for Mass-Market brands. Considering the cosmetic product category, skin care products represent the largest share (n = 211), claiming primarily anti-ageing and moisturizing benefits, followed by body care (n = 29), possessing regenerating and revitalizing properties. The study's findings emphasize the increasing significance of snake venom and synthetic peptides in cosmeceuticals, particularly considering their anti-aging properties. A more in-depth investigation of the clinical evidence supporting these innovative ingredients and cosmetic formulations could provide greater insight into their effectiveness. Critical challenges remain related to efficacy and safety validation, together with regulatory compliance. Addressing these issues through future research and innovation could enhance the safety, efficacy and transparency of these active ingredients, ultimately shaping the next generation of cosmetic products. Future research could also focus on performing comparative clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of natural viper venom versus synthetic peptides, which could help to demonstrate whether premium cosmetics truly offer superior benefits compared to mass-market alternatives.