At a glance
Type
Tetrapeptide · pineal bioregulator
Molecular weight
390.35 g/mol
Studied for
TelomeraseTelomere lengthMelatonin rhythmLongevity
Epithalon (also spelled Epitalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide — Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly — modeled on epithalamin, a natural peptide extracted from the pineal gland. It sits at the centre of a decades-long body of research from the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology into how short “peptide bioregulators” might influence aging, telomeres, and the body’s melatonin rhythm.
How epithalon works
Epithalon is studied as a bioregulator rather than a hormone. In cell-culture work it has been reported to switch on expression of the telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) — reactivating telomerase, the enzyme that maintains the protective caps (telomeres) on the ends of chromosomes — in cells that normally lack it. A second proposed pathway is the pineal gland: epithalon and its parent extract epithalamin have been reported to help normalise the day–night melatonin rhythm, which tends to flatten with age.
What the research shows
- Telomerase activation (Khavinson et al., 2003). In telomerase-negative human fetal fibroblasts, epithalon induced hTERT expression, telomerase activity, and telomere elongation.
- Lifespan & aging markers (Anisimov et al., 2003). In female mice, monthly epitalon injections increased maximum lifespan by ~12% and markedly reduced leukaemia development, without raising overall tumour incidence.
- Melatonin rhythm (Korkushko et al., 2004). In older adults, the pineal peptide preparation helped restore a more normal circadian melatonin rhythm.
- Independent replication (2025). A separate research group reported epitalon increased telomere length in human cell lines, attributing it to telomerase upregulation or alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT).
A candid note on the evidence: most of this work comes from a single research group and rests on cell and animal models, with human data still small and preliminary — though a 2025 independent study has begun to replicate the telomere finding. Any use belongs under a physician’s guidance.
Molecular specification
| Type | Tetrapeptide · pineal bioregulator (epithalamin analog) |
| Sequence | Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG) |
| Molecular formula | C14H22N4O9 |
| Molecular weight | 390.35 g/mol |
| CAS number | 307297-39-8 |
Quality and sourcing
Every batch of Azzurri Wellness epithalon is compounded through a Registered 503B outsourcing facility under GMP-compliant processes, HPLC-tested for purity and potency, and third-party lab verified. Shipped cold-pack when needed to protect stability.
References
- Khavinson VKh, Bondarev IE, Butyugov AA. Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2003;135(6):590–592. PubMed
- Anisimov VN, Khavinson VKh, et al. Effect of Epitalon on biomarkers of aging, life span and spontaneous tumor incidence in female mice. Biogerontology. 2003;4(4):193–202. PubMed
- Korkushko OV, Khavinson VKh, et al. Effect of the pineal peptide preparation on the circadian rhythm of melatonin in elderly people. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2004;137(4):389–393. PubMed
- Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines through telomerase upregulation or ALT activity. Biogerontology. 2025. Springer
Compiled by the Azzurri Wellness Research Team and checked against the cited literature. Educational only — not medical advice.
