What it is
Epithalon, also written epitalon, is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly. It was derived from Epithalamin, a pineal gland peptide preparation developed in St Petersburg. It appears in gerontology and telomere biology research.
How it works
Epithalon is proposed to enter cells and act on gene transcription, and cell culture work reports induction of the telomerase catalytic subunit. The mechanism is proposed rather than established.
Regulatory status
- Cosmetic ingredient
- Research compound
- In clinical trials
- Approved medicine
Not approved as a medicine by the FDA or the EMA. Some are registered in individual countries. Supplied for laboratory research only.
What published research is studying
- Telomerase activity and telomere length in cultured human somatic cells
- The division limit of human fetal fibroblast cultures
- Life span, chromosome aberrations and tumour incidence in mice
- Mortality and cardiovascular ageing in elderly cohorts given the Epithalamin preparation
Key findings
In telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblast culture, Epithalon induced expression of the telomerase catalytic subunit, telomerase activity and telomere elongation.
Khavinson VKh et al., Bull Exp Biol Med 2003In female SHR mice given Epitalon from 3 months of age, mean life span was unchanged, while maximum life span rose 12.3% and leukaemia incidence fell 6-fold.
Anisimov VN et al., Biogerontology 2003In a 6-8 year observation of 266 elderly people, the group given the pineal preparation Epithalamin had a 1.6 to 1.8-fold lower mortality rate than controls.
Khavinson VKh and Morozov VG, Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2003In a 12-year randomized study in elderly people with coronary disease, cardiovascular mortality was 2-fold lower in the Epithalamin group than in the control group.
Korkushko OV et al., Bull Exp Biol Med 2006
What the studies measured
Study durations
- Mouse life span study: monthly 5-day courses from 3 months of age until natural death (Anisimov 2003).
- Elderly cohort observation: 6-8 years, with the peptide preparations applied over the first 2-3 years (Khavinson and Morozov 2003).
- Randomized elderly coronary disease study: 12 years of follow-up (Korkushko 2006).
Endpoints
- Telomerase catalytic subunit expression and enzyme activity
- Telomere length in fibroblast culture
- Mean and maximum life span in mice
- All-cause and cardiovascular mortality
- Chromosome aberration frequency in bone marrow cells
How strong is the evidence?
Human data on the synthetic tetrapeptide itself are minimal; the longevity figures come from non-blinded cohorts given the Epithalamin preparation, reported almost entirely by one research group.
Common questions
Is Epithalon an approved medicine?
Research compound. Not approved as a medicine by the FDA or the EMA. Some are registered in individual countries. Supplied for laboratory research only.
How much human research is there on Epithalon?
Human data on the synthetic tetrapeptide itself are minimal; the longevity figures come from non-blinded cohorts given the Epithalamin preparation, reported almost entirely by one research group.
Does UU supply Epithalon?
Yes, as premium-grade research material for laboratory use. Every batch is tested by an independent lab and the certificate of analysis is published.