The following is a summary based on individual experiments and research papers. Please use this material for educational purposes, focusing on understanding the key functional benefits rather than seeking academic-level precision.
1. Traditional Efficacy Of Seahorse
In traditional medicine texts, seahorse is described as a remedy used to help with difficult childbirth, male reproductive weakness and physical fatigue. It was also used to treat lumps, abscesses or swelling on the body.
People believed that seahorses had a naturally warm energy, helping to balance yin and yang in the body. Especially for men, it was considered highly effective for boosting energy, stamina and reproductive vitality, and it was widely used as a natural tonic for both male and female health.
2. Antioxidant Effects Of Seahorse
Modern scientific studies have also confirmed that seahorse extract has strong antioxidant activity. In IC50 tests, seahorse extracts showed antioxidant activity in the range of 0.06–0.47 mg/mL, which is considered excellent among natural ingredients.
These extracts are made up of low-molecular-weight peptides, which are easily absorbed by the body and penetrate the skin well, making them suitable for both food supplements and cosmetics. In standard ABTS, DPPH and alkyl radical assays, seahorse extracts showed strong results. These benefits relate not only to skin ageing, but also to cellular protection, fatigue recovery, liver health and anti-ageing functions in general.
In simple terms: IC50 measures how much of a substance is needed to remove 50% of harmful free radicals. The lower the number, the stronger the antioxidant effect. Seahorse extract has an IC50 as low as 0.06 mg/mL. For comparison, green tea, mugwort and raspberry extracts usually have IC50 values of around 0.5 to 2 mg/mL or higher, so seahorse extract works at a much lower dose.
3. Seahorse Peptides As Cosmetic Ingredients
Low molecular weight. Peptides under 3,000 Da are considered low-molecular peptides, and those in the 1,000–3,000 Da range are commonly used in health supplements and high-performance cosmetics because they are well absorbed and stable. Seahorse peptides measure about 700–990 Da, which is even smaller, making them highly effective for both internal absorption and skin penetration.
Sequences and amino acids. Representative sequences include QIGIGGVGQ, QIGFIGGDQ and IGTGIPGIW, which are considered functional peptides related to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-regulating and anti-fatigue effects. They are mainly composed of glutamine (cell repair and immune support), glycine (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties), proline (collagen production, skin elasticity and structural strength) and tryptophan (fatigue recovery and immune response).
4. Compared With Animal-Based & Plant-Based Peptides
Animal-based peptides from land animals mainly include basic amino acids such as leucine, arginine and methionine, which suit muscle and circulation-related functions. Plant-based peptides often contain acidic amino acids such as glutamic acid, serine and alanine, and typically show lower skin penetration. Seahorse peptides come from marine reproductive proteins and consist of short, repeated sequences, giving them superior absorption, biocompatibility and antioxidant power.
5. Seahorse-Derived Tripeptide-1
Tripeptide-1, the main ingredient in La Rarita cosmetics, has a molecular weight of 340–400 Da, which is under the “500 Dalton Rule”. In dermatology and cosmetic science, this is a widely accepted guide: a substance smaller than 500 Da passes the skin barrier more easily. Tripeptide-1 is well absorbed and highly bioavailable, which supports its use for improving skin, increasing collagen and enhancing elasticity.
6. Clinical Results Of La Rarita Cosmetics
- Seahorse Antioxidant Cream: skin roughness (Ra) improved 3.15% after 2 weeks and 6.76% after 4 weeks; wrinkle depth (R3z) improved 3.02% after 2 weeks and 7.70% after 4 weeks; after a single use, skin elasticity increased by 10.89% and facial lifting improved by 1.81%.
- Seahorse Hydrating Moisture Cream: after a single use, soothing of irritated skin improved by 78.82% and skin glow by 53.82%.
- Seahorse Double Effect Peptide Serum: after a single use, skin elasticity increased by 19.06% and skin brightness by 0.63%.
- Jeju 8 Aquamarine Soothing Gel: skin cooling observed after a single application, with an absolute temperature drop of 6.28°C (16.72% relative reduction).
All products passed the primary skin irritation test and were confirmed to be non-irritating.
7. Research On Seahorse As A Functional Food Ingredient
Muscle mass and endurance. In an 8-week study, healthy older women consumed seahorse extract. Indicators of muscular endurance (such as push-ups and sit-ups) improved and muscle mass increased, while blood lactate (a fatigue marker) fell and liver enzyme levels remained stable. Body fat percentage was unchanged while muscle mass rose, suggesting seahorse extract may help prevent muscle loss in older adults.
Anti-fatigue and antioxidant synergy. When seahorse extract was combined with red ginseng, the mixture reduced fatigue and improved energy production at the cellular level. ATP (the energy molecule) and muscle glycogen increased, and the combination showed stronger synergistic effects than either ingredient alone.
Liver protection. In a mouse study where liver damage was induced by alcohol, enzymatically hydrolysed seahorse protein reduced the rise in liver enzyme levels and helped prevent or reduce liver damage.
8. Conclusion
As a single ingredient, seahorse offers both functional efficacy and unique storytelling value. It is a naturally derived ingredient with a long history of traditional use, and modern science supports its benefits from antioxidant effects on the skin to physical vitality. Its fast absorption and wide range of effects make it suitable for both cosmetics and functional foods. Research continues in Korea and other countries, and new benefits are still being discovered.
Explore Seahorse Products
See the La Rarita range and Haechunma M Gold.
Further Reading
- “Anti-fatigue activity of a mixture of seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) hydrolysate and red ginseng”, research article, 2017.
- “Big-bellied seahorse successfully mass-farmed in Jeju: excellent antihypertensive effects”, news report.
Results are from the manufacturers’ and researchers’ own testing and published studies. This article is for education only and is not medical advice. Food supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.