🧬Epithalon (Epitalon)
Tetrapeptide derived from pineal gland extract that directly activates telomerase (hTERT), extending telomeres and reversing cellular senescence. 30+ years of peer-reviewed research.
Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG)What Is Epithalon?
Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) is a synthetic tetrapeptide developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, derived from the pineal polypeptide extract Epithalamin. It is one of the most documented anti-aging peptides in the world, with over three decades of peer-reviewed research.
Key Mechanisms
- Telomerase (hTERT) activation — directly upregulates the enzyme that adds TTAGGG repeats to chromosomal ends
- Pineal gland normalisation — restores age-related decline in melatonin synthesis
- Epigenetic reprogramming — reactivates methylation-silenced tumour suppressors (p16, p21)
- Antioxidant enzyme upregulation — SOD, catalase, glutathione peroxidase
- Neuroendocrine reset — restores hypothalamic sensitivity to sex steroid feedback
Research Applications
- Telomere length and cellular senescence research
- Cancer prevention biology (HER2 tumour models)
- Aging and longevity mechanisms
- Immune system rejuvenation (thymic activity, NK cells)
- Cardiovascular risk in aged populations
Key References
- Khavinson VKh et al. "Epithalon induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells." Bull Exp Biol Med, 2003;135(6):590–592.
- Anisimov VN et al. "Effect of Epitalon on biomarkers of aging and spontaneous tumor incidence." Biogerontology, 2003;4(4):193–202.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — Epithalamin is the original crude pineal peptide extract; Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) is the specific synthetic tetrapeptide identified as its principal active component, developed by Khavinson's group for standardised research use.
Peer-reviewed research spans more than three decades, including some of the longest-running peptide longevity studies in the literature, primarily out of the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology.
Telomerase (hTERT) rebuilds the protective TTAGGG repeats lost from chromosome ends with each cell division. Because telomere attrition is a recognised hallmark of cellular aging, a compound reported to activate this enzyme directly is of particular interest in longevity research.