Epithalon
Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly
About
Epithalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide composed of alanine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and glycine (AEDG), derived from epithalamin - a polypeptide extract of the pineal gland. It was developed in the 1980s by a research team led by Professor Vladimir Khavinson at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, and has since been studied in cell cultures, animals, and humans. Research has explored its relationship to telomerase activity, telomere length, sleep, and age-related processes; much of the work is concentrated within a single research group.
Research Applications
- Anti-aging and longevity
- Sleep enhancement
- Telomerase and telomere activity
- Disease prevention
Mechanism of Action
Epithalon is described as upregulating telomerase activity and elongating telomeres, with reported effects of delaying aging processes in reproductive and immune systems and increasing longevity in test subjects.
Molecular Info
- Class
- Peptide
- Structure
- Tetrapeptide: alanine-glutamic acid-aspartic acid-glycine (AEDG)
- Derived from
- Epithalamin, a pineal-gland polypeptide extract
- Primary research areas
- Telomerase activity, aging, sleep, and longevity
Dosing Guidance
- Range
- Research discussions emphasize proper sterile reconstitution and administration over a fixed amount; specific research amounts vary by context.
- Frequency
- Frequency varies across research contexts and is presented here as educational background only.
- Timing
- Timing is not consistently defined across the available research references.
- Cycle length
- Cycle length is not consistently defined across the available research references.
- Notes
- These details are educational context only, with emphasis on sterile technique and current literature. Protocol values are examples and should not be treated as medical instructions.
Known Risks
- Injection-site pain reported
Regulatory & Evidence Status
- Evidence level
- Long-term human safety not well established; much of the research originates from a single group, which limits independent verification.
- FDA status
- Not approved for therapeutic use.
References
Epithalon Peptide Induces Telomerase Activity and Telomere Elongation in Human Somatic Cells
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine · 2003
DOI: 10.1023/a:1025493705728
AEDG Peptide (Epitalon) Stimulates Gene Expression and Protein Synthesis during Neurogenesis: Possible Epigenetic Mechanism
Molecules · 2020
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25030609
[Peptides and CCL11 and HMGB1 as molecular markers of aging: literature review and own data].
Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii · 2014
PMID: 25826983
Effects of pineal peptide preparation Epithalamin on free-radical processes in humans and animals.
Neuro endocrinology letters · 2001
PMID: 11335874
Inhibitory effect of the peptide epitalon on the development of spontaneous mammary tumors in HER‐2/neu transgenic mice
International Journal of Cancer · 2002
DOI: 10.1002/ijc.10570
Effect of epithalamin on the rhythm of immune and endocrine systems functioning in patients with chronic coronary disease
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine · 2007
DOI: 10.1007/s10517-007-0159-y
[Geroprotective effect of thymalin and epithalamin].
Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii · 2002
PMID: 12577695
Effect of Pineal Peptide Preparation (Epithalamin) on Life Span and Pineal and Serum Melatonin Level in Old Rats
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 1992
DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1992.tb27436.x
[Normalizing effect of the pineal gland peptides on the daily melatonin rhythm in old monkeys and elderly people].
Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii · 2007
PMID: 17969590
Synthetic tetrapeptide epitalon restores disturbed neuroendocrine regulation in senescent monkeys.
Neuro endocrinology letters · 2001
PMID: 11524632
Effect of Peptide Preparation Epithalamin on Circadian Rhythm of Epiphyseal Melatonin-Producing Function in Elderly People
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine · 2004
DOI: 10.1023/b:bebm.0000035139.31138.bf
[Protective effect of melatonin and epithalon on hypothalamic regulation of reproduction in female rats in its premature aging model and on estrous cycles in senescent animals in various lighting regimes].
Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii · 2013
PMID: 28976150
Melatonin's Impact on Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Reprogramming in Homeostasis and Disease
Biomolecules · 2020
DOI: 10.3390/biom10091211
Effect of Epithalon on the Incidence of Chromosome Aberrations in Senescence-Accelerated Mice
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine · 2002
DOI: 10.1023/a:1015899003974
Effects of intranasal administration of epitalon on neuron activity in the rat neocortex
Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology · 2007
DOI: 10.1007/s11055-007-0095-3
Molecular Cellular Mechanisms of Peptide Regulation of Melatonin Synthesis in Pinealocyte Culture
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine · 2012
DOI: 10.1007/s10517-012-1689-5
Effect of melatonin and pineal peptide preparation epithalamin on life span and free radical oxidation in Drosophila melanogaster
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development · 1997
DOI: 10.1016/s0047-6374(97)01897-6
Effect of pineal tetrapeptide on antioxidant defense inDrosophila melanogaster
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine · 2000
DOI: 10.1007/BF02439268
Antioxidant properties of geroprotective peptides of the pineal gland
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics · 2007
DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2007.01.029
Epithalon Inhibits Tumor Growth and Expression of HER-2/neu Oncogene in Breast Tumors in Transgenic Mice Characterized by Accelerated Aging
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine · 2002
DOI: 10.1023/a:1015555023692
Effect of the synthetic pineal peptide epitalon on spontaneous carcinogenesis in female C3H/He mice.
In vivo (Athens, Greece) · 2006
PMID: 16634527
Effect of Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly peptide on life span and development of spontaneous tumors in female rats exposed to different illumination regimes
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine · 2007
DOI: 10.1007/s10517-007-0441-z
Geroprotective effect of Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly peptide in male rats exposed to different illumination regimens
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine · 2008
DOI: 10.1007/s10517-008-0121-7
Peptide Geroprotector from the Pituitary Gland Inhibits Rapid Aging of Elderly People: Results of 15-Year Follow-Up
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine · 2011
DOI: 10.1007/s10517-011-1332-x
For research and educational purposes only. Not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any peptide. All calculations should be independently verified.
