Antimicrobial

Lactoferricin B

LfcinB · bovine lactoferricin · f(17-41)

Lactoferricin B is a ferociously potent antimicrobial peptide sheared directly from the core of bovine lactoferrin via gastric pepsin cleavage. It exists as a massively concentrated, biologically active fragment that possesses significantly higher pathogenic lethality than its parent protein. It is aggressively evaluated for extreme broad-spectrum annihilation of resistant bacteria, invasive fungi, and select malignant tumor lines.

Not FDA-approved - research chemical
Reviewed by CalcMyPeptide Editorial Team
Last updated: August 2026Evidence: Low1 peer-reviewed citation
Typical research dose
50-250 mcg (research)
Frequency
Per study protocol
Half-life
Short - minutes in circulation
Common vials
5 mg
Molecular weight
~2360 Da

Use-case scores

0–10 against the evidence we have, not a gym ranking. Hidden domains do not apply here.

  • Immune2/10

    In vitro AMP. Not lactoferrin protein powder and not an antibiotic.

Compound card

Class
Bovine lactoferrin-derived AMP fragment
Formula
C107H168N28O23S
Status
Not FDA-approved · research use
Dose it
5 mg + 2 mL BAC water → 2.5 mg/mL · 50 mcg ≈ 2 units (U-100)
Open in calculator

How it works

Lactoferricin B (LfcinB) is a cationic antimicrobial peptide derived from bovine lactoferrin through pepsin digestion. It is an amphipathic peptide (amino acids 17-41 of bovine lactoferrin) that kills bacteria by disrupting negatively charged microbial membranes. Unlike many AMPs, LfcinB also shows anticancer activity - it induces apoptosis in tumour cells via ROS generation and mitochondrial pathway activation. Additionally, it binds lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to neutralize endotoxin activity, providing anti-inflammatory effects in sepsis models.

Source: PMID: 18721608

Research Use Cases

  • ✓Antimicrobial Research: Emerging
  • ✓Anticancer (Preclinical): Emerging

Dosing

PhaseDoseFrequencyNotes
In vitro / AnimalVariable (µg/mL range)Research use onlyNo established human therapeutic dose. Oral delivery largely degraded in GI tract.

Administration

Route / form
Topical or oral (research). IV in preclinical.
Timing
No human protocol established
Empty stomach?
No - Food timing is not critical.

Timeline

Immediate (in vitro)
Rapid membrane disruption of bacterial pathogens and some cancer cell lines.

Who it is for

Antimicrobial Research

Emerging

Broad-spectrum activity including antibiotic-resistant pathogens (MRSA, Pseudomonas).

Anticancer (Preclinical)

Emerging

Induces apoptosis in colon, breast, and leukemia cell lines in vitro.

Reconstitution

VialWaterConcentrationExample dose
5 mg lyophilized2 mL BAC2.5 mg/mLResearch fragment. Not a capsule of bovine lactoferrin.

Change vial size or water volume? Open the reconstitution calculator.

Safety & Considerations

Research compound only. No human clinical trials at therapeutic doses. Derived from bovine lactoferrin - avoid in dairy protein allergy. Cytotoxic at high concentrations.

Regulatory & Legal Status

FDA Status (US)
Research Only
WADA Status (2026)
Not Listed

Not currently on the WADA 2026 Prohibited List. Policies may change - verify before competition.

Classification

Research Chemical

US Compounding: Not eligible / not available

⚠️ This information is for educational purposes only and may not reflect the most current regulatory updates. Always verify with official FDA, WADA, and jurisdiction-specific sources before use.

Limits of current evidence

  • This site will not treat infection from this page.

Verdict

Lactoferricin B is a fragment of lactoferrin. Supplement-aisle lactoferrin is a different product. Not a Lyme protocol.

Interactions & Contraindications

Research compound only. No human clinical trials at therapeutic doses. Derived from bovine lactoferrin - avoid in dairy protein allergy. Cytotoxic at high concentrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is lactoferricin B the same as lactoferrin?▼
No. Lactoferricin B is a specific bioactive peptide fragment released when bovine lactoferrin is digested by pepsin. Full lactoferrin is a glycoprotein - LfcinB is its most antimicrobially potent derived peptide.

References

  1. Bellamy W et al. “"Lactoferricin B: a new antibacterial peptide from bovine lactoferrin".” Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (1992). PMID: 1310476

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