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Epitalon — Alphagenics vial
Longevity and Cellular Health

Epitalon

Epithalon · AEDG

Synthetic tetrapeptide (analog of pineal epithalamin)

Molecular weight390.3 g/mol
CAS307297-39-8
Length4 amino acids
Available presentations
Spray format
Certificate of analysis (COA)
50mg
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About Epitalon

Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson's group at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, based on epithalamin, an extract of the pineal gland.

It has been studied in relation to telomerase activity, melatonin regulation and markers of aging. Most of the evidence comes from this research group.

Quick guide · 5 key points

Epitalon, telomeres and aging

Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) based on epithalamin, an extract of the pineal gland. Here are five things the research shows.

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  1. 1

    A tetrapeptide that switches on telomerase

    In human fetal fibroblasts with no active telomerase, Epitalon has been shown to induce expression of the telomerase catalytic subunit, its enzyme activity, and lengthening of the telomeres.1,2

    4 aaAla-Glu-Asp-Gly, the full sequence of the peptide
  2. 2

    Cells that pass the Hayflick limit

    In human fetal lung fibroblasts that stopped dividing at passage 34, Epitalon was associated with telomeres back to early-passage length and 10 extra divisions, with the cells still dividing.2

    +10extra cell divisions compared with control in culture
  3. 3

    Longer maximum lifespan in mice

    In female mice treated from 3 months of age until natural death (54 per group), Epitalon did not change mean lifespan, but was associated with a 12.3% longer maximum lifespan and 6-fold less leukemia, with no change in total tumor incidence.3

    +12.3%Maximum lifespan compared with control mice
  4. 4

    Melatonin and glucose in older monkeys

    In rhesus monkeys aged 20 to 27, Epitalon was associated with higher night-time melatonin, which had fallen with age, and lower baseline glucose and insulin. No changes were seen in young monkeys.4

    20–27 yrsAge of the rhesus monkeys in which the effect was seen
  5. 5

    Limited evidence, mostly from one group

    Nearly all the evidence comes from the St. Petersburg group that developed the peptide. The human survival data are with the pineal extract (epithalamin), not Epitalon: in a study of 266 older people followed for 6–8 years, the epithalamin-treated group had 1.6–1.8 times lower mortality than the control group.5,1,3

    266older people in the survival study with epithalamin
References
  1. Khavinson VKh, et al. Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2003;135(6):590-2. PMID 12937682
  2. Khavinson VKh, et al. Peptide promotes overcoming of the division limit in human somatic cell. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2004;137(5):503-6. PMID 15455129
  3. Anisimov VN, et al. Effect of Epitalon on biomarkers of aging, life span and spontaneous tumor incidence in female Swiss-derived SHR mice. Biogerontology. 2003;4(4):193-202. PMID 14501183
  4. Goncharova ND, et al. Pineal peptides restore the age-related disturbances in hormonal functions of the pineal gland and the pancreas. Exp Gerontol. 2005;40(1-2):51-7. PMID 15664732
  5. Khavinson VKh, Morozov VG. Peptides of pineal gland and thymus prolong human life. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2003;24(3-4):233-40. PMID 14523363

Structure and sequence

2D structure generated from PubChem CID 219042

Sequence

AlaGluAspGly (AEDG)

Five findings from studies

Summary of results reported in the scientific literature. Each finding describes what was observed in the cited study, in its specific population and conditions; it does not constitute a therapeutic indication.

  1. In vitro

    In cultured human fibroblasts, epitalon has shown induction of telomerase activity and telomere elongation.

    Khavinson VKh et al. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2003;135:590-592 · PMID 12937682
  2. In vitro

    In human somatic cells, epitalon has been observed to allow cells to overcome the Hayflick limit, with an increase in the number of cell divisions.

    Khavinson VKh et al. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2004;137:503-506 · PMID 15455129
  3. Preclinical

    In female mice, long-term administration of epitalon did not change mean life span or total tumor incidence, but it has been associated with an increase in maximum survival (12.3%) and a lower incidence of leukemia.

    Anisimov VN et al. Biogerontology. 2003;4:193-202 · PMID 14501183
  4. Preclinical

    In aged rhesus monkeys, epitalon has been associated with an increase in nighttime melatonin levels, which had declined with age.

    Goncharova ND et al. Exp Gerontol. 2005;40:51-57 · PMID 15664732
  5. Clinical study

    In a 6-8-year follow-up study in 266 older adults, the group treated with epithalamin (the pineal extract, not synthetic epitalon) has been associated with 1.6-1.8-fold lower mortality than the control group.

    Khavinson VKh, Morozov VG. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2003;24:233-240 · PMID 14523363

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