Epitalon
Epitalon has been studied in 144 papers since 1993: 5 trials and 1 observational study in people, 74 in animals, 44 in cells, 18 reviews; 6 in the past year. It has not reached trials in people. The newest paper, Oct 8, 2026: “Epitalon and Epithalamin: A Narrative Review of Mechanistic, Preclinical, and Clinical Evidence”.
“AEDG peptide increases in 1,7 times the 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SOMT) excretion in the urine of middle-aged people.”
- 19 independent labs in 7 countries
- 4 findings against
- Funders: Academy of Medical Sciences and 2 more
- Human trial4
- Humans1
- Animals51
- Model organisms3
- Cells20
What did studies of Epitalon find?
69Studies of Epitalon measured 69 outcomes; the most studied are lifespan (10 studies), melatonin (4) and telomerase and telomere maintenance (3).
Lifespan
upin mice7no changein mice2no changein rats2upin flies1+1+12% maximum lifespan
10 studies
Lifespan
upin mice7no changein mice2no changein rats2upin flies1+1+12% maximum lifespan
Epitalon extends lifespan in mice (+12.3% maximum lifespan).
“increased maximum lifespan by 12.3%.”
Reviewfemales
Preprints.orgPreprint
Epitalon has no effect on lifespan in mice.
“In female mice, epitalon did not increase mean lifespan”
Reviewfemales
Preprints.orgPreprint
Epitalon extends lifespan in mice (+12.3% maximum lifespan).
“the maximum lifespan increased by 12.3%”
Reviewfemales
From Cellular Aging to Tissue Protection: Epitalon in Regenerative and Longevity Medicine
Preprints.orgPreprint
Epitalon has no effect on lifespan in rats.
“virtually did not change the mean lifespan of male rats”
Animalsunder different illumination regimenssubcutaneous injection, 5 times a week0.1 microg/ratuntil natural deathmales
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Epitalon extends lifespan in rats (+95 days maximum lifespan).
“while in rats exposed to the natural and constant light it promoted prolongation of the maximum life span by 95 and 24 days, respectively.”
Animalsin rats exposed to natural light0.1 microg daily 5 times a weekfemales
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Epitalon has no effect on lifespan in rats.
“Epithalon (0.1 microg daily 5 times a week from the age of 4 months) did not change the life span of rats living under conditions of standard day/night regimen”
Animalsin rats exposed to standard day/night regimen0.1 microg daily 5 times a weekfemales
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Epitalon extends lifespan in mice.
“Melatonin or epitalon treatment was followed by longer mean and maximum survival in the 10% of the last survivors among SAMP-1.”
Animalsin SAMP-1 mice (10% of last survivors)females
Voprosy onkologii
Epitalon extends lifespan in mice.
“showed life span extension under the influence of the pineal gland hormone Melatonin, synthetic peptide bioregulator Epitalon, delta-sleep-inducing peptide Deltaran, enterosorbent Aqualen and succinic acid containing preparation Neuronol (Noogam)”
Review
The influence of substances revealing geroprotective of spontaneous carcinogenesis in mice
Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii
Epitalon extends lifespan in mice (+12.3% maximum life span).
“and by 12.3% the maximum life span in comparison with the control group.”
Animals1.0 microg/mousefemales
Biogerontology
Epitalon has no effect on lifespan in mice.
“treatment with Epitalon did not influence food consumption, body weight or mean life span of mice.”
Animals1.0 microg/mousefemales
Biogerontology
All 13Fewer
Melatonin
upin rhesus monkeys2upin humans1no changein rats1
4 studies
Melatonin
upin rhesus monkeys2upin humans1no changein rats1
Epitalon increases melatonin in humans.
“The study of the polypeptide complex in the epiphysis and AEDG peptide revealed an effect on human circadian rhythms, as well as an increase in melatonin secretion in elderly people”
Review
Peptidergic regulation of expression of cellular aging marker proteins in buccal epithelium
Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii
Epitalon has no effect on melatonin in rats.
“Pineal tetrapeptide at the concentrations used (10(-4) to 10(-6) M) had no significant effect upon melatonin secretion whatever the age of the animals, young or old.”
Animalsin vitro perifusionpineal gland10(-4) to 10(-6) Mmales
Journal of endocrinological investigation
Epitalon increases melatonin in rhesus monkeys.
“Epitalon was proven to significantly stimulate melatonin synthesis in senescent monkeys in the evening”
Animalsin the eveningfemales
Synthetic tetrapeptide epitalon restores disturbed neuroendocrine regulation in senescent monkeys
Neuro endocrinology letters
Epitalon increases melatonin in rhesus monkeys.
“Epithalon stimulated evening melatonin production”
Animalsfemales
Regulatory effect of Epithalon on production of melatonin and cortisol in old monkeys
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Telomerase and telomere maintenance
upin human cells2upin humans1
3 studies
Telomerase and telomere maintenance
upin human cells2upin humans1
Epitalon activates telomerase and telomere maintenance in humans.
“telomerase activation and telomere elongation in human cell lines”
Reviewin human cell lines
Preprints.orgPreprint
Epitalon activates telomerase and telomere maintenance in human cells.
“In cancer cells, significant telomere length extension also occurred through ALT (Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres) activation.”
Cellsin 21NT and BT474 breast cancer cells
Biogerontology
Epitalon induces telomerase and telomere maintenance in human cells.
“Addition of Epithalon peptide in telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblast culture induced expression of the catalytical subunit, enzymatic activity of telomerase, and telomere elongation”
Cellsfibroblast
Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Oxidative stress and ROS signaling
downin flies1downin mice1downin reviews1
3 studies
Oxidative stress and ROS signaling
downin flies1downin mice1downin reviews1
Epitalon inhibits oxidative stress and ROS signaling.
“significant geroprotective and neuroendocrine effects of Epitalone, resulting from its antioxidant, neuro-protective, and antimutagenic effects”
Review
Overview of Epitalon-Highly Bioactive Pineal Tetrapeptide with Promising Properties
International journal of molecular sciences
Epitalon decreases oxidative stress and ROS signaling in mice.
“decelerated free redical processes”
Animalssynthetic tetrapeptideuntil deathfemales
Effect of pineal peptide on parameters of the biological age and life span in mice
Rossiiskii fiziologicheskii zhurnal imeni I.M. Sechenova
Epitalon decreases oxidative stress and ROS signaling in flies.
“A single dose of epithalone at the larval stage decreased the level of conjugated hydroperoxides and Schiff bases throughout the life span of imago.”
Model organisms
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Apoptosis
upin rats2downin humans1
3 studies
Apoptosis
upin rats2downin humans1
Epitalon inhibits apoptosis in humans.
“reducing the synthesis of proteins promoting apoptosis (p16, p21, p53)”
Review
Peptidergic regulation of expression of cellular aging marker proteins in buccal epithelium
Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii
Epitalon induces apoptosis in rats.
“In parallel, a high level of apoptosis was seen in the same group.”
Animals1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesiscolon tumors1 micro g6 monthsmalesn = 80
International journal of molecular medicine
Epitalon induces apoptosis in rats.
“morphological signs of hemorrhagic necrosis of tumor and increased apoptosis of tumor cells.”
Animalssubcutaneously-transplanted sarcoma M-12.5 micrograms/kg
Effect of epithalone on growth kinetics and functional morphology of M-1 sarcoma
Voprosy onkologii
TERT
upin human cells2
2 studies
TERT
upin human cells2
Epitalon increases TERT in human cells.
“qPCR and Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated dose-dependent telomere length extension in normal cells through hTERT and telomerase upregulation.”
Cellsin normal epithelial and fibroblast cells
Biogerontology
Epitalon induces TERT in human cells.
“Addition of Epithalon peptide in telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblast culture induced expression of the catalytical subunit”
Cellsfibroblast
Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Spontaneous tumors
downin rats2
2 studies
Spontaneous tumors
downin rats2
Epitalon decreases spontaneous tumors in rats.
“Epithalone injected to rats exposed to any photoregimen significantly inhibited the development of spontaneous tumors”
Animalsunder any photoregimensubcutaneous injection, 5 times a week0.1 microg/ratuntil natural deathmales
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Epitalon inhibits spontaneous tumors in rats.
“This peptide exhibited virtually no effect on the development of spontaneous tumors in rats exposed to standard and constant illumination, but significantly inhibited their development in rats exposed to natural light.”
Animalsin rats exposed to natural light0.1 microg daily 5 times a weekfemales
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Chromosome aberrations
downin mice2−20%
2 studies
Chromosome aberrations
downin mice2−20%
Epitalon decreases chromosome aberrations in mice (-17.1%, P<0.05).
“decreased the frequency of chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells (by 17.1%, P<0.05).”
Animalsbone marrow1.0 microg/mousefemales
Biogerontology
Epitalon decreases chromosome aberrations in mice (-20%).
“Treatment with Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) starting from the age of 2 months decreased the incidence of chromosome aberrations in SAMP-1, SAMR-1, and SHR mice by 20%, 30.1%, and 17.9%, respectively”
AnimalsAla-Glu-Asp-Glybone marrowfemales
Effect of epithalon on the incidence of chromosome aberrations in senescence-accelerated mice
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Retinal function
upin rats2
2 studies
Retinal function
upin rats2
Epitalon improves retinal function in rats.
“The application of Epitalon in Campbell rats is found to intensify the bioelectric and functional activity of the retina”
Animalsin congenital pigmented degeneration of the retinaretina
Pineal-regulating tetrapeptide epitalon improves eye retina condition in retinitis pigmentosa
Neuro endocrinology letters
Epitalon improves retinal function in rats.
“improved its function.”
Animalsin Campbell rats with hereditary pigmentary retinal degenerationstarting from birth
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Circadian clock
upin rhesus monkeys2
2 studies
Circadian clock
upin rhesus monkeys2
Epitalon improves circadian clock in rhesus monkeys.
“thereby normalising the circadian rhythm of cortisol secretion”
Animalsfemales
Synthetic tetrapeptide epitalon restores disturbed neuroendocrine regulation in senescent monkeys
Neuro endocrinology letters
Epitalon improves circadian clock in rhesus monkeys.
“normalized circadian rhythms of cortisol production in old monkeys”
Animalsfemales
Regulatory effect of Epithalon on production of melatonin and cortisol in old monkeys
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
All 69Fewer
What is Epitalon linked with?
6Studies link Epitalon with 6 measures, most often therapeutic efficacy (1 study), leukemia (1) and lung metastasis (1).
Therapeutic efficacy
mixedin humans1
1 study
Therapeutic efficacy
mixedin humans1
Epitalon is associated with therapeutic efficacy in humans.
“no adequately powered randomized trial has established therapeutic efficacy.”
ReviewClinical efficacy remains unestablished, rather than demonstrated absentsynthetic tetrapeptide
Epitalon and Epithalamin: A Narrative Review of Mechanistic, Preclinical, and Clinical Evidence
International journal of molecular sciences
Leukemia
downin mice1
1 study
Leukemia
downin mice1
Epitalon lowers the risk of leukemia in mice (6.0-fold).
“inhibited the development of leukemia (6.0-fold), as compared with the control group.”
Animals1.0 microg/mousefemales
Biogerontology
Lung metastasis
downin mice1
1 study
Lung metastasis
downin mice1
Epitalon lowers the risk of lung metastasis in mice (1.6 times decrease).
“The peptide decreased the incidence of breast adenocarcinomas, lungs metastases (by 1.6 times, p<0.05), and multiple tumors (by 2 times).”
Animalstransgenic HER-2/neu micesubcutaneously 5 times a week1 mgfemales
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Breast adenocarcinoma
downin mice1
1 study
Breast adenocarcinoma
downin mice1
Epitalon lowers the risk of breast adenocarcinoma in mice.
“The peptide decreased the incidence of breast adenocarcinomas, lungs metastases (by 1.6 times, p<0.05), and multiple tumors (by 2 times).”
Animalstransgenic HER-2/neu micesubcutaneously 5 times a week1 mgfemales
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
gene expression
mixedin mice1
1 study
gene expression
mixedin mice1
Epitalon is associated with gene expression in mice (98 clones).
“Epithalon modulated expression of 98 clones”
Animalsheart
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
Spontaneous tumor incidence
downin mice1
1 study
Spontaneous tumor incidence
downin mice1
Epitalon lowers the risk of spontaneous tumor incidence in mice.
“accompanying drop in spontaneous tumour incidence”
Animalssynthetic tetrapeptideuntil deathfemales
Effect of pineal peptide on parameters of the biological age and life span in mice
Rossiiskii fiziologicheskii zhurnal imeni I.M. Sechenova