Overview

Epithalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues, based on the earlier polypeptide preparation Epithalamin extracted from bovine pineal glands. The published research programme has focused on telomere biology, circadian and endocrine effects attributed to pineal function, and long-term follow-up cohorts of older adults treated with Epithalamin or Epithalon in the Russian literature.

Most of the primary research is published in Russian gerontology journals. Independent replication in Western academic groups is limited.

Mechanism (as reported in the literature)

  • Telomerase activation. In vitro studies of human somatic cell lines report increased telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and enzymatic activity after exposure to AEDG (Khavinson et al., 2003; PMID 12937680).
  • Chromatin and gene expression. Research characterises AEDG as binding to specific promoter regions and modulating heterochromatin state in older cell populations.
  • Pineal-endocrine axis. Studies indicate Epithalon administration modulates melatonin secretion patterns and pineal-related circadian output in animal models.

Research findings

  • Cell-culture telomere extension. Studies of human fibroblasts and lymphocytes report extension of telomere length and increased proliferative capacity after AEDG exposure.
  • Rodent longevity studies. Long-term studies in mice and rats report increases in mean lifespan and reductions in spontaneous tumour incidence in some cohorts (Anisimov et al., 2003).
  • Long-term human follow-up. Russian follow-up cohorts of older adults given Epithalamin or Epithalon courses report reduced all-cause mortality over 6–12 year intervals in retrospective analyses (Khavinson et al., 2011).

Common dosing (from published research protocols)

Russian research protocols most commonly describe a 10-day course of 5–10 mg per day, subcutaneous, repeated once or twice per year. Community writeups follow the same course structure.

Reconstitution

A 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water yields a 5,000 mcg/mL solution.

  • 5,000 mcg = 1.00 mL = 100 units on a U-100 syringe
  • 10,000 mcg = 2.00 mL — the full vial

Storage

Lyophilised Epithalon is described as stable at ambient temperature for shipping. Reconstituted solutions are refrigerated at 2–8 °C and used within approximately 14–30 days.

  • MOTS-c — a distinct longevity-relevant peptide of mitochondrial origin.
  • NAD+ — a small-molecule cofactor commonly discussed in the same longevity research context.

Common stacks

References

  • Khavinson, V. Kh., et al. (2003). “Peptide promotes overcoming of the division limit in human somatic cell.” Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 134(6). PMID 12937680.
  • Anisimov, V. N., et al. (2003). “Effect of Epithalon on biomarkers of aging, life span and spontaneous tumor incidence in female CBA mice.” Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 124(10). PMID 14580620.
  • Khavinson, V. Kh. (2002). “Peptides and aging.” Neuroendocrinology Letters, Special Issue.
  • Anisimov, V. N., Khavinson, V. Kh. (2010). “Peptide bioregulation of aging: results and prospects.” Biogerontology, 11(2). PMID 19898988.