Epithalon

Also known as: Epitalon, Epithalone, AGAG

Anti-Aging
C14H22N4O9

Epithalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide based on the natural peptide Epithalamin produced by the pineal gland. It has been studied for effects on telomerase activity and longevity.

Research Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only. This peptide is intended for laboratory research use only and is not approved for human use. Consult qualified professionals before conducting research.

Epithalon Overview & Molecular Profile

Epithalon is a synthetic version of Epithalamin, a peptide naturally produced by the pineal gland. Developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, it has been the subject of extensive research in Russia for anti-aging applications. The peptide is proposed to work by stimulating telomerase activity, potentially affecting cellular aging.

Mechanism of Action: Cellular Health & Telomere Research

Epithalon is believed to stimulate the production of telomerase, an enzyme that adds telomeric DNA to telomeres, the protective caps on chromosome ends. By maintaining telomere length, cells may continue dividing and functioning beyond their normal lifespan. Additionally, Epithalon may affect melatonin production through its action on the pineal gland.

Research-Observed Effects

Telomerase Activation

Moderate Research

Groundbreaking research demonstrates Epithalon's ability to stimulate telomerase activity in human somatic cells, with studies showing 2-3 fold increases in telomerase expression in treated cells compared to untreated controls. Telomere lengthening research has revealed that Epithalon activates the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT), enabling the enzyme to add telomeric DNA sequences to chromosome ends and potentially reversing cellular aging markers. Studies in human fibroblast cultures have documented significant telomere elongation after Epithalon treatment, with some research showing extensions of up to several hundred base pairs over treatment periods of 10-14 days. The peptide's telomerase activation mechanism involves direct interaction with gene expression pathways that regulate telomerase synthesis in cells approaching replicative senescence. This anti-aging cellular rejuvenation research has significant implications for understanding age-related telomere shortening, developing interventions for premature aging syndromes, and exploring strategies to extend healthy cellular lifespan in aging research models.

Pineal Gland Function

Moderate Research

Extensive research demonstrates Epithalon's significant effects on pineal gland function including normalization of melatonin production and restoration of circadian rhythm regulation in aging organisms. Studies in elderly subjects have shown that Epithalon treatment can increase nocturnal melatonin secretion by 50-100% toward levels observed in younger individuals, addressing age-related pineal gland involution and melatonin deficiency. Research indicates the peptide promotes pinealocyte health and function through enhancement of protein synthesis and reduction of lipofuscin accumulation in pineal tissue, markers associated with glandular aging. The restoration of melatonin rhythm has downstream effects on sleep quality improvement, immune function enhancement, and overall hormonal balance regulation. These chronobiology and circadian rhythm research findings have implications for addressing sleep disorders in elderly populations, jet lag management research, and understanding the pineal gland's role in the aging process.

Antioxidant Effects

Preliminary Research

Research demonstrates Epithalon's significant antioxidant properties through multiple mechanisms including upregulation of endogenous antioxidant enzyme systems such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in various tissue types. Studies show that Epithalon treatment reduces markers of oxidative stress including lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde) and protein carbonyl groups by 25-40% in aging animal models. The peptide appears to enhance mitochondrial function and reduce mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, addressing a key source of age-related oxidative damage at the cellular level. Research indicates Epithalon's antioxidant effects may contribute to its overall anti-aging properties by protecting DNA, proteins, and lipids from oxidative modification that accumulates with age. These cellular protection mechanisms have implications for neuroprotection research, cardiovascular aging studies, and development of comprehensive anti-aging intervention strategies targeting oxidative stress pathways.

Longevity Research

Preliminary Research

Remarkable lifespan extension studies in animal models have documented significant increases in maximum lifespan following Epithalon treatment, with some rodent studies showing 10-25% extension of life expectancy compared to control groups. Research conducted over multiple decades by the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology has demonstrated that Epithalon-treated animals exhibit delayed onset of age-related pathologies including tumors, metabolic disorders, and immunological decline. Studies suggest the peptide's longevity effects operate through multiple mechanisms including telomerase activation, antioxidant enhancement, immune system modulation, and neuroendocrine regulation restoration. Long-term human observational studies in elderly populations treated with Epithalon have reported reduced all-cause mortality rates and improved functional capacity compared to age-matched controls. These anti-aging and lifespan extension research findings have generated significant interest in Epithalon as a geroprotective agent for human longevity research and healthy aging intervention development.

Immune System Modulation

Preliminary Research

Research demonstrates Epithalon's immunomodulatory effects through restoration of age-related thymic involution and enhancement of T-lymphocyte function in aging subjects. Studies show the peptide can increase CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations while improving their functional capacity for immune surveillance and response to pathogens, addressing immunosenescence that contributes to increased infection susceptibility in elderly populations. Research indicates Epithalon enhances natural killer cell activity and promotes balanced cytokine production, shifting the aging immune system toward more effective pathogen defense and reduced chronic inflammation. The peptide's effects on thymic hormone production may contribute to maintained immune competence through enhanced T-cell maturation and differentiation processes. These immune rejuvenation findings have significant implications for research into age-related immunodeficiency, vaccine efficacy enhancement in elderly populations, and development of comprehensive healthy aging strategies.

Research Dosing Information

Research protocols have typically used 5-10 mg daily for 10-20 day periods, often in cycles. Various administration routes have been studied including subcutaneous injection.

Note: Dosing information is provided for research reference only and is based on published studies using research subjects. This is not a recommendation for any use.

Research Studies & References

Peptide bioregulation of aging: results and prospects

Khavinson VK, Malinin VV (2001). Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine

This foundational review from the laboratory that developed Epithalon presents over two decades of research on peptide bioregulation of aging, synthesizing findings from numerous animal and human studies. The authors detail the discovery of Epithalamin (the natural precursor) and the development of Epithalon as a synthetic tetrapeptide capable of replicating the anti-aging effects of pineal gland extracts. Key findings presented include documentation of lifespan extension in multiple animal species, restoration of pineal melatonin synthesis in aging organisms, and normalization of various age-related hormonal and immunological parameters. The review establishes the theoretical framework for peptide bioregulation as a geroprotective strategy, proposing that short regulatory peptides can restore gene expression patterns disrupted during aging. This work laid the foundation for subsequent research into Epithalon's telomerase-activating properties and positioned the peptide as a promising candidate for human anti-aging intervention research.

Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells

Khavinson VK, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA (2003). Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine

This mechanistic study investigated Epithalon's effects on telomerase activity and telomere length in human fetal fibroblast cultures approaching replicative senescence, providing direct evidence for the peptide's telomerase-activating properties. Researchers treated fibroblast cultures with Epithalon and measured telomerase activity using the TRAP (Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol) assay, documenting 2.4-fold increases in telomerase activity compared to untreated control cells. Telomere length analysis revealed that Epithalon-treated cells maintained significantly longer telomeres than control cells over multiple population doublings, with average extensions of approximately 33% above baseline. The study demonstrated that Epithalon overcomes the replicative limit (Hayflick limit) in treated cells, allowing continued cell division beyond the normal senescent threshold. These findings established the molecular mechanism underlying Epithalon's anti-aging effects and positioned the peptide as a unique research tool for studying cellular aging reversal and telomere biology in human cells.

Effect of Epithalon on aging and lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

Khavinson VK, Izmaylov DM, et al. (2000). Mechanisms of Ageing and Development

This lifespan study examined Epithalon's effects on aging and longevity using the Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) model, which allows for controlled assessment of interventions on complete lifespan within manageable experimental timeframes. Researchers administered Epithalon to flies throughout their lifespan and documented significant extensions in both mean and maximum lifespan, with treated groups showing approximately 11-16% increases in median survival compared to controls. The study observed delayed onset of age-related locomotor decline and preserved reproductive function in Epithalon-treated flies, indicating improvements in healthspan alongside lifespan extension. Analysis of mortality curves revealed that Epithalon reduced the age-dependent acceleration of mortality characteristic of aging organisms. These findings demonstrated that Epithalon's geroprotective effects extend across species and provided important validation for the peptide's potential as an anti-aging intervention in more complex organisms including mammals and potentially humans.

Comparative Research

Explore in-depth research analyses and comparative studies featuring Epithalon.

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