Epitalon
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) studied in preclinical longevity research for reported effects on telomerase activity and pineal/circadian regulation, and is not an approved medicine.
AEDG
- Nonpolar2
- Acidic (−)2
- 4 residues
Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (alanyl-glutamyl-aspartyl-glycine)
Epitalon (also spelled Epithalon; AEDG peptide) is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly. It was designed by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, based on the amino-acid composition of epithalamin, a peptide preparation derived from the bovine pineal gland.
In preclinical research, Epitalon has been reported to activate telomerase and promote telomere elongation in cultured human cells, and to influence pineal melatonin signaling, circadian gene expression, and the regulation of antioxidant and stress-response genes. Animal studies from the originating group have examined its effects on lifespan, tumor incidence, and age-related biomarkers. A 2025 review concluded that, while these findings are of interest, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely characterized and the bulk of the evidence comes from a single research group with limited independent replication.
Epitalon is not an approved medicine. It has not been authorized by the FDA, MHRA, or EMA and is supplied only as a research-grade chemical for laboratory use. Published reviews note that systematic toxicology — including short- and long-term toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, and drug-interaction data — has not been established. It should be regarded as an investigational research compound rather than a therapeutic product, and the reported effects should be treated as preliminary.
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) modeled on the amino-acid composition of epithalamin, a bovine pineal-gland extract. In cell-culture and animal studies it has been reported to induce telomerase activity and telomere elongation, to modulate pineal melatonin signaling and circadian gene expression, and to alter expression of antioxidant and other genes, though reviewers note the mechanism remains incompletely characterized.
- Human evidence
- Preclinical (cell-culture and animal models) with limited small human studies from one research group; no large independent clinical trials
- Regulatory status
- Not an approved medicine. NOT FDA-approved and not authorized as a medicine by the MHRA/EMA; sold only as a research chemical. Most published research originates from a single Russian institute, and secondary reviews flag a near-total absence of formal toxicology data.
- Investigated in vitro as a putative telomerase activator and modulator of cellular senescence and proliferation.
- Studied in animal models for effects on lifespan, tumor incidence, and age-related biomarkers.
- Examined in laboratory research on pineal function, melatonin rhythm, and circadian gene expression.
- Used as a tool compound in studies of antioxidant and stress-response gene regulation.
- Not approved for human or veterinary use by the FDA, MHRA, or EMA; supplied only as a research-grade chemical.
- A 2025 peer-reviewed review (PMC11943447) states that further short- and long-term toxicity studies, including genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, and food-drug/drug-drug interaction data, would be required before Epitalon could be considered as an active pharmaceutical ingredient.
- As a short peptide it is expected to degrade rapidly in vivo, and its physicochemical/stability profile remains poorly characterized.
- Much of the supporting evidence derives from a single research group, and independent replication is limited, so reported effects should be treated as preliminary.