Epithalon (also written as Epitalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the amino acid sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, developed on the basis of Epithalamin — a polypeptide extract of the bovine pineal gland. First researched at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology by Professor Vladimir Khavinson, Epithalon has been studied extensively over 25 years across in vitro, in vivo, and early human models. In 2017 it was detected for the first time in physiological pineal gland extract, confirming its endogenous origin.
Mechanism of Action
Epithalon’s most documented mechanism is the activation of telomerase — the ribonucleoprotein enzyme responsible for adding telomeric repeats to chromosome ends. In most human somatic cells, telomerase activity is silenced, leading to progressive telomere shortening with each cell division. When telomeres reach a critically short length, cells enter senescence or apoptosis — a process closely associated with biological aging. Epithalon has been shown to upregulate hTERT, the catalytic subunit of telomerase, inducing enzymatic activity and telomere elongation in cell types that normally lack it.
Beyond telomerase, Epithalon has been studied for its effects across multiple cellular pathways including epigenetic remodeling through chromatin loosening and histone modulation, antioxidant activity via reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species, modulation of melatonin synthesis and circadian rhythm regulation, antimutagenic effects in lymphocyte chromatin models, mitochondrial health enhancement, and neuroprotective effects including reduction of DNA damage markers in neuronal models.
Preclinical and Clinical Research Summary
In a foundational study, addition of Epithalon to telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblast cultures induced expression of the catalytic subunit of telomerase, measurable enzymatic activity, and telomere elongation — suggesting reactivation of the telomerase gene in somatic cells. A 2025 study demonstrated Epithalon stimulates telomerase activity in bovine cumulus cells and cumulus-oocyte complexes, with concurrent improvements in mitochondrial health markers. In a published case report, a patient treated with Epithalon as part of a multimodal longevity protocol experienced a reduction in biological age of 7.9 years and an increase in telomere length from 6.45 to 6.59 kb over one year, alongside improvements in composite memory, verbal memory, reaction time, and psychomotor speed.
Product Specifications
- Sequence: Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG)
- Molecular Weight: 390.35 Da
- Form: Lyophilized powder
- Purity: ≥99% (HPLC verified)
- CAS: 307297-39-8
Regulatory Notice
This product is supplied for research use only. Epithalon is not approved by any drug regulatory agency for human therapeutic use. Not for human or veterinary use.
