Epithalon Research Guide: Telomerase, Pineal & Longevity Studies
Epithalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide derived from the pineal extract Epithalamin, studied for telomerase activation and circadian/longevity endpoints.
What is Epithalon?
Epithalon (Epitalon, Epithalone) is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly. It was derived from Epithalamin, a polypeptide extract of the bovine pineal gland, by Russian gerontologist Vladimir Khavinson at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology.
It is among the most-studied peptides in the longevity research literature, with multi-decade rodent and limited human follow-up data published primarily out of Russia.
Mechanism of action
The most-cited mechanism is telomerase activation. In human somatic cell culture (fibroblasts), Epithalon has been reported to induce expression of the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT) and to extend telomere length beyond the Hayflick limit.
Half-life and stability
Plasma half-life is very short (<30 minutes), while the gene-expression effects described in the published Khavinson literature are reported to outlast plasma presence.
Compliance reminder
Epithalon is sold for laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption, diagnosis, treatment, or cure of any disease.
Frequently asked questions
What is Epithalon?
Epithalon (also spelled Epitalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) derived from a pineal-gland extract called Epithalamin, developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology.
Mechanism?
Cell-culture studies report Epithalon increases telomerase activity in somatic cells and extends telomere length. In aged rodent models it normalizes melatonin secretion and circadian rhythms via pineal-gland regulation.
Half-life?
Plasma half-life is very short — under 30 minutes — but research protocols typically use cyclic short courses based on the original Russian longevity studies.