Also known as: Epitalon, Epithalone, AEDG peptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly
Half-life: ~30 minutes (short half-life but biological effects persist due to gene expression changes)
Epithalon (also spelled Epitalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide consisting of four amino acids (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) that was developed as a bioregulatory peptide targeting the pineal gland and telomere maintenance. It is a synthetic version of epithalamin, a naturally occurring peptide extract from the pineal gland. The primary mechanism of interest is its ability to activate the enzyme telomerase, which adds telomeric repeats to the ends of chromosomes, potentially counteracting the telomere shortening that occurs with each cell division and is associated with cellular aging.
Beyond telomerase activation, Epithalon influences the pineal gland to restore melatonin production to more youthful levels, which has downstream effects on circadian rhythm regulation, antioxidant defense, and neuroendocrine function. The peptide has also been shown to regulate gene expression patterns associated with aging, including genes involved in cell cycle control, antioxidant response, and apoptosis. In animal studies, it has demonstrated the ability to extend lifespan and reduce the incidence of spontaneous tumors.
Research on Epithalon spans several decades, primarily conducted by Professor Vladimir Khavinson at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. While the body of evidence from Russian studies is substantial, the peptide has not undergone formal Western clinical trials, and its findings have not been independently replicated by laboratories outside of Russia. Users should weigh the promising preclinical data against the limited independent validation.
Epithalon was developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology in Russia, beginning in the 1980s. It is a synthetic version of epithalamin, a naturally occurring peptide extract from the pineal gland. Khavinson's research group conducted decades of work on peptide bioregulators, demonstrating that short peptides (2-4 amino acids) could regulate gene expression in specific tissues. The key study demonstrating telomerase activation was published in 2003 in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. Animal studies in rats and primates showed lifespan extension effects. Khavinson's work has been published in over 800 scientific papers, though much of the research has been conducted within Russian scientific institutions and some remains accessible primarily in Russian-language journals.
Epithalon has a favorable tolerability profile based on available data from Russian clinical and preclinical studies. As a very small tetrapeptide (only 4 amino acids), it has minimal immunogenicity and low potential for adverse effects. The most commonly reported side effects are mild injection site irritation and occasional drowsiness, the latter attributed to its effects on melatonin production by the pineal gland. It is typically used in short cycles (10-20 days, repeated once or twice annually), which further limits the potential for adverse effects. No serious safety signals have emerged from decades of Russian research, though Western clinical trial data is lacking.
Dose Range
5-10 mg
Frequency
Once daily (SubQ)
Duration
10-20 days, repeated 1-2 times per year
Dosing information is for educational purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional before using any peptide.
Typical Vial Size
10 mg
Water Type
Bacteriostatic water (BAC water)
Mixing Volume
2 mL
Half-Life
~30 minutes (short half-life but biological effects persist due to gene expression changes)
Molecular Weight
390.3 Da
Store reconstituted vial refrigerated at 2-8°C. Use within 21 days. Typically administered in short cycles of 10-20 days, repeated 1-2 times per year. Some practitioners recommend evening dosing due to melatonin-related effects.
FDA Status
Not FDA approved for human use. No clinical trials submitted to the FDA.
Legal Status
Unregulated research chemical in most Western countries. Studied extensively in Russian scientific institutions but not formally approved as a pharmaceutical drug anywhere.
USA
Not approvedNo FDA evaluation or clinical trials submitted
EU
Not approvedNot authorized by EMA
UK
Not approvedNot evaluated by MHRA
Australia
Not approvedNot evaluated by TGA
Russia
Research compoundStudied extensively at Russian scientific institutions but not formally approved as a drug
Canada
Not approvedNot authorized by Health Canada
Khavinson VKh, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine (2003)
Key study demonstrating that Epithalon activates telomerase in human somatic cells, enabling cells to overcome the Hayflick limit of cell division.
View Study →Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh, Popovich IG, Zabezhinski MA, Alimova IN, Rosenfeld SV, Zavarzina NY, Semenchenko AV, Yashin AI
Experimental Gerontology (2003)
Demonstrated that chronic Epithalon treatment extends lifespan and reduces spontaneous tumor development in mice, supporting its role as an anti-aging peptide.
View Study →Khavinson VKh, Linkova NS, Kvetnoy IM, Kvetnaia TV, Polyakova VO, Korf HW
Lung (2014)
Revealed that Epithalon and related short peptides regulate gene expression in specific tissues, supporting the peptide bioregulation theory underlying Epithalon's mechanism.
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