Epithalon
Also known as Epitalon, Epithalone, AEDG, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly
Epithalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) modeled on a pineal gland extract. Researchers study it for reported effects on telomerase, telomere length, melatonin rhythm, and life span in animal models.
Preclinical research
Size
2 options- Catalog no.
- ET10
- Specification
- 10mg*10vials
- Per kit
- 10 vials
For laboratory research use only. Not for human or animal consumption. Buyers must be 21 or older.
Overview
Epithalon, also spelled Epitalon, is the synthetic tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG). It was developed by Vladimir Khavinson's group at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, based on the amino acid composition of epithalamin, a polypeptide extract of bovine pineal glands. Most published work comes from that group and its collaborators and covers telomerase activity, melatonin secretion, gene expression, and life span and tumor incidence in rodents. Small human studies, mainly on melatonin rhythm in older adults, have appeared in Russian-language journals. Independent work, including a 2025 cell-line study, has examined its effects on telomere length.
Class: Synthetic pineal tetrapeptide (Khavinson short-peptide bioregulator)
Mechanism of action
How the compound acts, as described in the literature.
In telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblasts, reported to induce expression of the telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT), telomerase enzyme activity, and telomere elongation.
A 2025 study reported telomere lengthening through hTERT and telomerase upregulation in normal human cells, and mainly through alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) in breast cancer cell lines.
Studied for effects on pineal function: reports in aged monkeys and older adults describe restored nighttime melatonin release and a more regular daily melatonin rhythm.
The developer's group proposes that short peptides such as AEDG bind DNA or histone proteins and change chromatin state and gene expression. Independent confirmation of this model is limited.
Published research
Selected studies, each linked to its PubMed record. Summaries describe what the studies reported.
2003
In vitro
PMID 12937682Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells.
Khavinson VKh, et al. · Bull Exp Biol Med
Adding Epithalon to telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblast cultures was reported to induce expression of the telomerase catalytic subunit, telomerase activity, and telomere elongation.
2003
Rodent study
PMID 14501183Effect of Epitalon on biomarkers of aging, life span and spontaneous tumor incidence in female Swiss-derived SHR mice.
Anisimov VN, et al. · Biogerontology
Female SHR mice given Epitalon from 3 months of age showed no change in mean life span, but higher maximum life span, fewer bone marrow chromosome aberrations, and less leukemia than saline controls.
2025
In vitro
PMID 40908429Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines through telomerase upregulation or ALT activity.
Al-Dulaimi S, et al. · Biogerontology
In normal human epithelial and fibroblast cells, epitalon produced dose-dependent telomere lengthening with hTERT and telomerase upregulation. In breast cancer cell lines, lengthening occurred mainly through ALT activation.
Evidence & safety
What the research does not show, and the adverse events and regulatory status it reports.
Most evidence comes from one St. Petersburg research group and its collaborators, often in Russian-language journals, with little independent replication, and human data are limited to small studies without large controlled trials. Epithalon is not an approved drug in the US. Because it is reported to activate telomerase, and it lengthened telomeres in breast cancer cell lines through ALT, its effects on tumor cells are an open safety question.
Specifications
All sizes, exactly as catalogued.
| Catalog no. | Product | Specification | Vials per kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ET10 | Epithalon | 10mg*10vials | 10 |
| ET50 | Epithalon | 50mg*10vials | 10 |
For laboratory research use only. Not for human or animal consumption. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Research summaries are provided for educational purposes and do not describe this product’s use.